The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-07
OVER ELEVATOR CABS
CITY HALL AND COURT HOUSE
COMMISSION HAS A VERY
LIVELY DEBATE
WAS LARGEL Y QUEHL VS.. HAAS
County commissioners Intimated
That thes Building Inspector
Thought HeslWas n Bigger Man
Than essBOard-This Caused
Some Acrimony, and the Elevator
Deal Is Promised a Full Airing.

Deal Is Promised a Full Airing.
Commissioner Quehl and Building In
spector Haas became all tangled up
in heated argument at special
meeting of the city hall and court
house commission held yesterday aft
efnoon at the request OF Attorney
Walter Chaplin for the discussion of
the contract for the building of the
cabs for the new court house elevators.
The meeting was very lively one and
considerable asperity cropped out dur
ing the discussion
Mayor K1efer opened the ball by eX-
planning that he had called the meeting
lin a spirit of accommodation" at the
request of Mr.. Chaplin, who desired a
chance to explain the position taken
by i. w. Eaton, the Chicago conIrac-
tor, who failed to comply with the pro-
vision in his contract providing that
the elevator cabs should be construct I'd
in st. Paul. The mayor asked that
Mr.. Chaplin be given chance to tell
his side of the story.
Commissioner Quehl appeared dispos-
Ell to object. but Chaplin was given an
inning on motion of Commissioner
Hardlck. He detailed the provisions
OF the contract aggregating $1,000 for
the construction of the elevators and
then referred to a letter that Eaton
had written to Building inspector Haas
in November, and from which he had
understood that the home manufacture
clause ofthe contract had been waived.
Then Mr.. Chaplin started to read
copy Of the letter and Commissioner
Quehl objected. II have heard about
thls Haas letter good many times,
and as 1 understand that he has it N
ms desk l want it produced. I would
like to know if Mr.. Haas is running
this board, or if he considers that he
Is bigger man than the board?"
COULD NOT BE BUILT HERE.
Mr.. Haas came back with the letter
In which Mr. Eaton stated that he
could not get the cabs made according
to the specifications in st. Paul, that
the work only amounted to less than
$1,000 any way and that if the clause
could be waived he would award at
least $4,000 worth of work in the cut
ting OF arches and putting in the
piping and machinery in ST. Paul.
although the letter was not answer
ed Mr.. Eaton had tacIt understand
ing with the building inspector, whom
you appointed as your superintendent"
said Mr.. Chaplin. No specific indi-
Vidual can complain and no one is in
JNA w ~ Jul iidNlilSS lIt GAYS lHd0e
according to the specifications in Chi
cago."
Then Mr.. Chaplin read another let
ter from the contractor, acknowledge
ing the receipt OF clippings from st.
Paul papers and of copy of the reso-
luton passed by the commission in
structing the contractor to remove the
cabs from the city hall, where they
are stored in. boxes in the basement.
The writer expressed surprise because
he claimed that there was a specific
understanding with the building in
spector. In conclusion. it was denied
that any agent of Eaton had ever
made any proposition to pay $3.50 for a
name plate from a st. Paul firm to
put on the ca,bs.s ,.f +
THAT letter is full of misstatements,'
said Commissioner Quehl. There is
something back of it all and I would
like to know what it is. There are two
firms in ST. Paul. the ST. Paul Orna-
mental Iron and Wire Works and the
Roberts Goss: company. Manager Case,
Of the Ornamental Wire company, is
positive that he was approached for
his name plate
SAYS HE'LL SHOW IT UP.
II would like to state" said Mr..
Haas, glazing at Commissioner Quehl,
that at the time I received that letter
I had verbal conversation with Mr..
Craig and thought he agreed that it
was all right to have the cabs made
in Chicago. Since then some people
have been making remarks around
town that they are afraid to say to
my face. One man has stirred up-all
this fuss. 1 am not ready to give the
name now. but 1 will when the time
comes"
Did you ever show the specifications
to angst Paul manufacturer? asked
Commissioner Quehl.
Then the two gentlemen engaged in
a warm argument that terminated
with little 1speech by Mr.. Chaplin,
who suggested that his client in justice
was entitled to the passage of a reso
luton throwing all the blame in the
matter on the building inspector.
st believe the commission is being
made cats paw of in this matter"
said Assemblyman Dix. II am pretty
sick of the arguments" Commissioner
Hardick felt similarly inclined, and
Assemblyman Nelson also took shot
at Commissioner Quehl.
1t was finally decided to adjourn the
whole matter until o'clock this after
noon. when all the ST. Paul contractors
are to be invited to state their case.
ana DullOllS 1HS pcStOi aAoe1so 70 guns
to show the special animus that c,tus-
ed the muss.
County Surveyors Recommendation
County Surveyor johnson, in his annual
report which has just been completed, makes
the following recommendations:
The part Of Cleveland avenue west OF the
state farm should | think, be graded
The Ramsey and Washington county line
road from the upper Alton road to the south
side of Ramsey county, four miles, should pc
graded It would bring good deal OF trade
to St Paul that now goes elsewhere. But
I think that Washington county shoud pay
part of the cost of the Improvement. Sur
veys and estimates have been made for i'm
provements at railroad crossings. This is
an important mattre and should receive your
prompt attention. as some OF the railroad
crossings are in dangerous condition.
am pleased to state that the st. Paul & Du-
luth Railway company has shown willing
ness to do what was asked OF 1t, and has
constructed a good, substantial wooden bridge
on stone piers over its road on the line Of
Rice street.
But little work has been done on our
county roads the past year. If more is not
done the coming year some of the roads will
be in very bad condition and 1t will cost more
In the end to repair them.
THROUGH CARS TO CALIFORNIA.
Quick Tame-Best Service.
Tourist car running through to Los
Angeles leaves Twin Cities every Thursday
via The North Western Line''-C.. st. p.
NJ. o. Ry.-the Pioneer through car line
from the Twin Cities to California making
the following fast time:
Leace Minneapolis 7:1o p. m. ST. Paul 7:45
p. m. Thursday. arrive Ogden lao a. m.
Los Angeles 1890 ea. m. Tuesday.
For tickets at lowest rates and other in
formation cali at ds Nicollet avenue, Mime
apolis, and 1885, Robert street, st. Paul, Or
addrosc t.. Wlie TeaSdale general Dagcar