The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-24
FOR WHITEBEAR LAKE.
RAMSEY COUNTY DELEGATION DE-
CIDEs TO ASK FOR $4,000
APPROPRIATION
LIMITS IT TO TWO YEARS

Others In a Protest Against the
Mcneil BiIl-If 1t BECOMES "a
Law st. Paul VIII BE Loser $1,000
a Year-Matt Jensen's Protest.
The Ramsey county delegation held the
usual weekly session last evening, but
| took decisive action on but one bill. That
| one provided for an annual appropria-
| ton of $3,oo0 for the next two years to
| be used in improvements in, on and about
White Bear lake under the direction of
| the board of county commissioners
II. T. Drake spoke in favor OF the ap-
preparation. The water in the lake had
| fallen three feet and the streams which
flowed into the lake had become clogged
| up so that the water was diverted from
| instead of into the lake. The benefits
would be for the people Of ST. Paul, and
| If the amount was appropriated large
sum could be secured from property own
| ers in addition to make improvements.
A. S. Tallmadge said the chamber Of
| commerce had approved of the plan and
| appropriation.
| County Commissioner Hardick said the
board was Wiling to do all in its power
| to improve the lake. but it had no money
| to do the work with The work of macad-
| amlzing mile and an eighth of the road
| between ST. Paul and the lake had been
| ordered and it was the intention to ma
| cadam the entire road between the city
| and the lake.
| Secretary Slime, Of the Commercial
| club, stated that the club had Endorsed
| the appropriation.
It was brought out that nothing could
| be done in the way of dredging, as a
dredge board would cost about $4,000.
Representative Fulton, who resides at
White Bear. informed the delegation that
the village of White Bear would spend
this summer about $500 on an improve
ment which would divert water which
now went to Bald Eagle lake to White
Bear.
The delegation limited the appropria-
ton to two years and then recommended
the bill to pass.
President Zimmerman, of the school
board, and a delegation in the interests
of the kindergarten schools, appeared
and protested against the passage Of the
Mcneil bill, introduced In the house and
recommended 10 pass ny Tic SoiiilhiISOC
on education.
The bill changes the school law so as
to allow only children between the ages
of six and twenty-one years to attend
school. An exception is made so that
children under six years can attend
kindergarten schools, but those attend
ing are not allowed to figure In the state
apport1onment.
President Zimmerman said the bill
was directly against the kindergarten
schools, particularly as 1t cut down the
amount received from the state appor-
tionment ST. Paul contributed $4,000,
and received back only $4,000 The bill
would reduce the amount received about
$1,000, and as ST. Paul contributed about
| $40, 900 more to the schools OF the state
than it received, the bill was a bad one
for st. Paul, as well as Minneapolis and
Duluth.
Supt Smith, Of the public schools, said
| the bill would shut off the apportton-
ment a considerable amount, as most of
| the kindergarten pupils were between
| five and six years OF. age.
| Representative Dunn said there was
| every indication that the bill would pass,
| and the only thing the delegation could
do was to put In an amendment which
would allow children under six years to
attend school, but not allow them to
| share In the -apportionment.
P. ]. Sma1ley, president Of the st. Paul
| Public School union, presented figures
| showing that in 1897 st. Paul received
| from the state apportionment $4,000 and
| paid to the state school fund over $685.
| an excess of over $4,000. The total state
apportionment for 1897 was 81, 029, 76S, and
| Of this amount $569, 700 was derived from
| the mill tax and $451, $3.50 from the school
| fund. The figures showed that Ramsey
county received back about $4,000, and
| this left SIS, $780, which the county con-
| tributed to the schools of the state. If
the apportionment for 1000 kindergarten
pupils was to be cut off, this would make
| about $4,000 difference in the amount
| received.
President Zimmerman called atten-
| ton to the Argetsinger bill, which had
passed the house, giving state high
| schools $500 per year. This was also
another instance where st. Paul received
| the worst of 1t. The st. Paul high school
received $500 year, under the BILL for
| LOO pupils, while a seven-up county
| high school with a dozen or more pu-
| pills received the same amount. This
meant a per capita of rs cents for the
| st. Paul high school and $40 for the
country high school.
Senator Ives said 1t was simply a ques-
ton of highway robbery, and the only
| thing the delegation could do was to
trust to the conscience Of the country
| members The delegation promised to
| do what was possible In opposition to
! the bill.
County Commissioner Wright made a
| talk in favor Of the bill raising the sal
aries of the county commissioners from
| $500 to $500 per year.
Secretary Tallmadge, Of the chamber
of commerce, announced that the cham
| Der was opposed to the raising of the
| salaries of the commissioners.
City Clerk Jensen objected to the bill
| which reduced his salary from $1,000 to
| So, 1000 per year. If other city officials
were to be reduced and the taxes low
| ered he would not object, but the bill
| was simply political spite. The plan to
| give the council the power to fix the
| salary was poor policy.
| Senator McNamee denied that there
| was any politics in the bill, as he had
| introduced it without reference to poll
| tics, the same as he had introduced the
| bill fixing the coroner on a fee basis, In
| stead of salary.
Mr.. Jensen fastened to say that he did
| not accuse Mr.. McNamee of anything
| but good purposes, but he felt sure that
| the action was the result Of political
| spite on the part of a former official OF
| the city. The delegates went into ex-
| ecutive session, but took no action on
any measure, except the White Bear i'm
| provement bill.
| Senator Ives will have talk with
| Senator Somerville, with view of hav-
| ing the sheriff's bill amended 80 as to
allow the Ramsey county sheriff a
| chance to draw 80 cents on each person
| al property tax citation returned not
| found or uncollected. AS the bill reads
| now Ramsey and Hennepin counties are