The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-21
Want TO SLEEP ON. IT
AssEMBLYMEN WEREN'T READY
TO PASS THE LONG DISTANCE
FRANCHISE
SENT IT TO THE COMMITTEE
Representatives of the Commercial
Organizations on Hand to Urge
It's Passage, but the Assembly In
sisted That 1t Should Go Through
the Normal Channel-Other Bus
mess Transacted Last Evening.


The members Of the assembly almost
had one spasm each last night over their
narrow escape from passing the long dis
tance telephone ordinance without first
referring 1t to the committee on streets.
The ordinance was read and Mr.. Daniel
r. Noyes took the floor. making strong
plea for prompt action.
':What is wanted,''- said Mr.. Noyes, "by
the business and professional men OF this
city is that prompt and favorable action
in this matter should be taken by this
body. A long distance telephone is an
absolute necessity to the business inter
ests Of st. Paul, and the absence of it
has provoked an immense amount Of crit
icism of our city; every city in the Unit
ed States has 1t but ST. Paul and without
1t we are losing business, credit and
money every day. A petition signed by
over a thousand of the leading business
men has been filed that asks for the
granting of a franchise: 1t Is not a re-
quest, 1t is a demand by the business
men that you give us every facility in
your power for the transaction of our
business. Il have always believed in pro-
tOStiii6 liiS SilJ oSdiiiSt liiO SaNillS away
of franchises, but this is no time to hes
itate. and say to you candidly that as
far as / am concerned 1 would sooner
pay for a long distance telephone and
| have it than ask a company to pay for
| the privilege of coming in here and not
get it.
1.-The company asking for this fran
chise has complied with every request of
the city, and with two provisions that
seem to me to be unnecessarily harsh and
L cannot conceive of any reason why this
ordinance should not meet with your
prompt approval
j. j. McCafferty representing the Com
| mercial club. also urged prompt action,
saying that the club had considered the
| matter and was unit in asking that the
| ordinance should pass.
Then the assemblymen played their
cards. Mr.. Kirke's turn came first. He
said:
81 have been before the grand Jury and
severely criticised FOR undue haste in
city matters. especially In the settling Of
| the Great Northern trouble, and while I
| believe it Is a thing that should ulti-
| mately be passed, 1 am not ready to vote
| for 1t at this time. 1 do not believe in
| railroading it through
| Mr.. Denny was Of the opinion that it
| was very grave matter and no unseem-
| ly haste should be made. that the assem-
| bly, should carefully inform itself of the
| provisions of the ordinance before pass
| ing it.
| Mr.. Thompson made a roar about using
| such indecent haste as to attempt to pass
an ordinance Of so much moment without
first referring 1t to committee.
| Mr.. Albrecht wanted 1t referred to the
committee on streets. so did Mr. Warner
and so did every member of the assem-
bly,, as was shown by the vote for such
reference, which was unanimous.
A resolution was passed instructing the
clerk to advertise for proposals for an
entire new police patrol system, in ac-
report of the electrical engineer The
| plans for the new system are to be fur
| nished by the bidder.
The resolution Of Assemblyman Nelson.
| directing the city engineer to have the
| streets under the patrol system, was
| passed. q
An ordinance introduced by Mr..
Albrecht, requiring all wires and poles
to be removed from Minnesota and Wa
eouta streets and the wires placed under
| grourN, was passed under suspension of
| the rules.
resolution by Mr. Albrecht was also
passed requiring the city engineer to re-
| port the cost Of removing the snow dur
| Ing the past winter from the street rail-
| way lidChS dIlu lnSCTuCClnS the city at
| torney to enforce a collection Of the
| same from the city railway company.
| Aid. Murphy's ordinance prohibiting
| the riding or driving of horses on cycle
| paths or cinder walks was referred to the
| committee on streets at the request of
| Mr.. Albrecht. who said he was not q be-
lever in any unnecessary multiplication
| Of legislation and the subject was fully
| covered now by ordinance and state law.
| A preliminary order for the paving
| Of Ninth street, from Broadway to Lo-
| Gust, and final orders for the paving of
Minnesota street were passed
The report Of the special joint market
| site committee, recommending that a
market site be acquired by condemnation
| proceedings in accordance with the new
| law, was adopted.
| The recommendation of the board OF
public works for the placing In service
Of 1877 arc lights to replace 794 gas lights
and about 200 gasoline lights were re-
| ceived and placed on file.
On motion Of Mr. Benson the assem-
bly, adjourned until Monday afternoon al
o'clock, at which time the city street
| force pay roll and the appointment of a
| market site committee will be taken up