The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29

approval " McCardy Said 1t
WHaId Hurt the Administration
to Issue Bonds, So 1t Was Decid-
| ed to Smother the Resolution
Question as to Responsibility.
Inc resolution passed by both bodies of
the city council, asking the legislature for
authority to issue bonds to the amount of
$l50.000 for the purchase Of site for a mar
| ket place and for the erection of a suitable
| structure is pigeon-holed somewhere between
the city clerks and the mayors offices for the
alleged reason that Comptroller McCardy has
! discovered the amount can be raised from
the general fund. Furthermore it is felt thar
bond issue during Republican adminstra-
tlon would be inexpedient. Tecbnicalities are
! to be found, which will obviate the provision
IN the charter, which denies to the council
| the right to incur additional Indebtedness for
the purchase of real estate without the con-
| sent OF the legislature. The matter will come
| up with the report of the joint committee.
composed of Assemblymen Benson and
thompson and Aldermen Knauft and Bantz,
| which is in charge of the selection of a site,
at the meeting of the board of aldermen to
be held on Feb. T.
When Assemblyman Benson first introduce
ca his resolution, suggesting the bond issue,
Mayor Kiefer and some Of the stalwarts in
the council were quick to point out that
should the legislature act on the suggestion
of the council it would mean the incurment
Of an additional liability Of $3.50, 900 during a
Republican regime. However, Assemblyman
Benson explained that his measure only would
serve to show the interest taken in the mar
| ket matter by the council, and on this under
standing the resolution passed both houses
with flying colors.
| Then, according to the charter the resolu-
ton should have been and was sen: to Mayor
k1efer for signature. In default unless We
toed, 1t would have gone into effect after
five days.
On this point section 2, of chapter 8, of
the city charter, says
"All ordinances and resolutions SHALL be-
fore they take effect, be presented to the
mayor, and If he approves thereof, he shall
sign the same; and such as he shall not sign
he shall return to the common council, with
his objections thereto, by depositing the same
with the city clerk, to be presented to the
common council at their next meeting there
after. Upon the return Of any ordinance or
resolution by the mayor the vote by which
the same was passed shall be reconsidered,
and If, after such consideration, the common
council shall pass the same by a vote of
two-thirds. it shall have the same effect as
II approved by the mayor; and in such case
the vote shall be by yeas and nays, which
shall be entered by the city clerk of record.
II any ordinance or resolution shall not be
returned by the mayor within five days Sun
days excepted), after it shall have been pre-
scented to him, the same shall have the same
effect as If approved by him."
The resolution passed the assembly on Dec.
5, and the board On the following day and was
seen on the mayors desk ON Dec. I. The
presiding officer OF the assembly and the
joint committee, provided in the resolutions,
to enforce its provisions.
AS soon as the council had passed on the
matter the draft of the resolution was taken
up into the mayors Office and discussed at a
council in which Mayor Kiefer, Comptroller
McCardy and City Clerk Jensen participated
There was general meeting on ways and
means and the comptroller declared that
rather than possibly impose financial burden
on the administration he could guarantee to
find the money necessary out of the general
f,yy,6 No CD,
charter provision forbidding the council to
incur additional Indebtedness for the pur-.
chase Of real estate without the consent of
the legislature. On this point Corporation
ised to find means to get around the charter
clause. Then Assemblyman Benson, who
fathered the measure, was given an audience
and informed Of the decision OF the Council
of Three.
The only way to head the resolution off
from becoming operative after getting to the
was done. Consequently the n,uch-discussed
measure was RELOCATED to pigeon hole
while the committee appointed to secure "a
site have proceeded with their work, under
the quasi assurance of Comptroller McCardy
to raise $4,000 out of the general fund
When the matter was first taken under con-
sideration, Assemblyman Benson had the city
clerk correspond with all the large cities
in the country in regard to their market
regulations and conveniences. Answers were
received from Kansas City, Sioux City,
L "a,
land and Detroit. 1t developed that only
four cities out of the bunch owned their
public markets. but Kansas City replied that
a public market, occupying piece of ground
250x150, netted the city $50, 900 annually
The situation at Kansas City appears to the
committee a complete REPUTATION of the argu-
ments advanced in favor Of private owner
ship Of the market under franchise and
the feeling has become general among the
members of both bodies of the council.
Assemblyman Benson and Mayor Kiefer
vic cd M1nnNQnoljc rlU of md in
spected the market buildings and grounds in
that city. In regard to the result Of the tour
Of investigation Assemblyman Benson said
yesterday:
THE market in Minneapolis is under priv
ate ownership. Although there. is corpora
ton it is practically run by one man, T. B.
Walker. He received the franchise and de-
voted block of land about 300 feet square
to the purpose. On this he erected sheds to
accommodate 500 or 900 truck gardeners. Then
the adjoining property which he also
purposes. One supports the other and in that
manner the owners derive profit from their
investment, but was assured by Mr.. Walker
that there is no money in running produce
market. He told me that the rentals re-
ceived from the stalls would hardly reach
$1,000 annually.
municipal ownership is that it is liable to fall
under political influence. This can be easily
obviated. The only thing necessary will be
to have the city clerk each spring auction off
the stall room. We should give the city
clerk charge of the market. Including the
collections. and the market master would
only exercise a general supervision.
I'VE have already received two offers OF
suitable property, and before the time comes
for our committee to make its report to the
council we shall probably have dozen rang
ing in price from $4,000 to 600. We were
assured that we can have the buildings at
Minneapolis, which are suitable in every
spect, duplicated for $1,000.
when the committee reports to the board
of aldermen on Feb. T. the matter of the site
will probably be referred to the committees
on streets of both bodies. Then We will raise
the money. The resolution asking for bond
issue was side tracked at my request, be-
cause, as a Republican, l felt that it would
be unwise.''
Assemblyman Benson was not inclined to
discuss the condition of things around the
city hall that will permit the mayor to arbi-
trarily hold UP ordinance which has
passed and become q law, but for private or
political reasons is withheld from publication.
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