The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-15
PEACE RE|GNS ON(E WORE
CITY ENGINEERS DISPUTE WITH
health DEPARTMENT
SETTLED UP
ESTIMATES FOR CITY WORK
Economy HES to BE Practiced in
Some of the Departments, but
AE Want More
Money.

"A compromise OIL the controversy be-
tween the health, commissioner and the
city engineer was effected yesterday
afternoon at the meeting of the confer
ence committee after a powerful pre-
sentation of the facts in the case by both
ofhcials. The matter came up in the con.
slderation Of the tax estimate for en-
cheering purposes during the coming
year. The new charter contrary to pres
ent arrangements, takes the garbage col
lection out of the hands of the health
commissioner and places 1t in that of the
engineering department as is the custom
in Eastern cities. Health Commissioner
Qhage believes that~the provision is an
unwise one and to obviate the difficulty
he proposes that the city engineer ap-
point him deputy in charge of the col
lection Of garbage, which will not in eff
feet disturb the present arrangement. 1t
must be admitted that one of the con-
siderations in the fight is, the-@fact that
$4,000 mas been set aside for the collec-
ton of garbage and tina only about $16, 900
is necessary for that purpose.
The difference between the two figures
the city engineer. believes, ehe4 might we'll
use in his engineering work, while the
health commissioner is equally sure that
mis- department would be equally benefit
ed. DR.. Ohage contends that If the fund
is taken from him, he will be compelled
to cut down his force and cripple his de-
partment, which. of course, is to be de-
plored. The city engineer says that his
street commissioners could easily handle
the work in addition to their present
duties and the money would be available
for other much needed work.
The compromise effected yesterday be-
tween the two gentlemen will give the
doctor charge of the work as deputy of
the city engineer and will enable him to
retain mis- present force Of inspectors In
the appointment, however, Mr.. Claussen
stipulates that the cost is to be no more
than it was this year, which will give
him use Of the 1000 Or $1,000 in question.
When the estimate for school purposes
was taken up. President Corning, of the
school board, arose and stated that the
$526,SQ0 allowed for that purpose in the
estimate of the comptroller would be in
sufficient He stated that $685. 900 was
needed for maintenance purposes alone,
and that If any new buildings or repairs
were made to the present school build
ings, an additional $175,G00 would be neces>
sary. He told Of the ex tremely bad shape
the school houses have been allowed to
get into, owing to The fact that but
$l2,000 per year for several years have
been available for repairs. He said that
he had not attempted to discover by what
means the law would permit the amount
necessary to, keep up the standard of the
schools. Assistant City Attorney Griegs
stated that during the year 1901 the limit
set by law of the amount which could be
raised for school purposes was $754, 800. Of
which $507 500 was to be raised at thu
rate Of $25 per capita on 20,900 pupils in
school last year, also $4,000 for repairs
permitted by the new charter, and $171 ,10(
to be raised by a tax of two mills on
total assessed valuation.
Mr.. McCardy pointed out the fact that
only mills could be raised by taxation
in the event that all possible money
should be set aside Of necessity s41 600
would have to come from miscellaneous
receipts, when in fact the fund for all
purposes will amount to less than tina:
amount. Therefore it would plainly be
impossible to raise any such amount fo-
school purposes.
Chief Engineer ,Claussen succeeded in
having $500 added to the lighting fund,
TO provide money in case the council de-
cides to erect iron supports for the cleo
trio lights in the down town district The
contention was put forward that the III
vestment would be a permanent one
toward the installation of municipal
| lighting plant, which the engineer said
vas sure to come in time.
The estimate for the citys half of the
| house, placed by the. comptroller al
! $2G650, was laid over and will be consid-
cred later when the advisability of pro-
! viding or the repair of the private light
! ing and heating plant will be taken up
The total of the workheuse fund was
not disturbed, although the salary o.
the secretary was raised $500 and th=
amount deducted from the fund allowed
for miscellaneous purposes.
| The aSfiIn9 he hoard IF
! works of $4,000 was adopted Without dis
cussion. In~the department the city
engineer, 81 600 was allowed for an ad.
ditional clerk, Eand supen ruling of Attor
ney Griggs, s., 600 included in that funS
for stationery was deducted and will bt
put under the head Of the stationery
fund.
The fourteenth item, carrying city Of
| flcers' salaries to the amount of $4S, 900
less $4,000 to be paid from miscellaneous
receipts, and $500 for the maintenance
department Of the building inspectors
department, was approved, the tax es
innate being SIS, 400.
Inspector Haas made al great play Il
have $500 for additional clerk hire ad
| ded to his appropriation, but was turned
| down. MI Haas stated that unless tn,
| additional clerk hire was allowed hin
1t would be necessary to discharge hal
of his present force. The fact that TIL
council at present are considering TIL
report of the building commission, whicl
will throw all the work Of the inspector
office into the office of the city engineer
brought about this decision.
The street repair fund was placed a
$4,000, the limit allowed by the char
ter. OF this amount $4,000 will be use,
for the collection of garbage, so that tn
fund for the city engineer will be prac
tically $159OO0, or $1,000 more than wa
allowed that department last year.
The committee adjourned to meet thi