The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-11
No CHANGE IN TIE BUDGET
ASSEMBLY RATIFIES 1T AS AMEND
led BY THE BOARD OF
ALDERMEN
HAAS A CENTER OF DEBATE
Building Inspectors Department Is
Made the Topic Of Considerable
Discussion by COunciImen
and Outsiders.

81 believe the Office of building inspec-
tor could be put in charge Of the COM
missioner of public works at the present
time and that we could pay the present
inspector his salary of $1,000, for next
year, let him retire, and still save
money" said Thomas Cochran at the
meeting of the assembly last night. This
remark was brought forth by Building
Inspector Haas asking the assembly to
increase the amount in the budget, re-
lating to clerk hire in his department,
from $4,000, the present pay roll in the
office for clerk hire, to $4,000.
Continuing his remarks, Mr.. Cochran
said: Il think the office could be run
all right on the present appropriation.
don't see how any man can come here
and have the nerve to ask for an in
crease"
Mr.. Benson made a motion to have the
matter laid over so that it could be in
Investigated before being passed upon. HIS
motion was lost, however
The meeting last night developed some
warm arguments by Ambrose Tighe, ap-
pearing for the Chamber of Commerce,
Thomas Cochran and w. L. Chaplin, but
nevertheless the assembly passed the
budget as amended and passed by the
board of aldermen. When the meeting
was. called to order the assembly resolved
itself into a committee on the whole
to consider the budget, with Assembly
man Nelson in the chair
+ All the members of the assembly were
present and Chairman Nelson asked if
there was any one in the room that had
anything to say about the passing Of
the budget. Mr.. Tighe came forward
and stated to the committee that he was
there as a representative of the Cham
Der of Commerce. He commenced his
remarks by criticising the board of alder
men for the rapidity with which they
passed the budget, saying that there was
plenty Of time and it ought to be con-
sidered in a conservative way by both
sides.
Mr.. Tighe thought the budget amounted
to entirely too much and if passed it
would cost every man over twenty-one
years of age $50 for the running OF the
government. He continued by contending
that the Chamber of Commerce originally
asked that the budget be cut down $780,
coo, that it had been cut down $50, 900 by
the board of aldermen and that all they
asked was that the assembly should cut
out everything not absolutely necessary.
Citing the items which the Chamber of
Commerce thought could be dispensed
with in the budget, Mr.. Tighe said they
did not believe in raising So, 900 for the
recoupment of bank losses in the Allie
mania bank The item calling for So, los
certificates by the city for want Of bid
ders should be stricken out as it appeared
to them an unnecessary and dangerous
item. So should also the s., 900 for the
redemption Of void certificates of sale.
In speaking Of the item calling for SIG, 0G0
for the construction of crosswalks, Mr..
Tighe said: Where is there any demand
in this city for 900 for construction of
crosswalks where there have never been
any before" He also urged that the
eighteenth item which called for $50, 600
for the printing and stationery fund,
should be reduced, as it was $12, 600 higher
than last year.
The climax of the evening came, how
ever, when Assenblyman Wheeler made
a motion to strike out the $62105 for
purchasing Improvement certificates.
Comptroller McCardy explained that the
amount was to be used to pay off unpaid
contractors whose bills were already
overdue. There was at present over
$42, 900 just such claims.
Mr.. Tighe said he had examined the
comptroller's books, but had been unable
to find any such unpaid certificates. Mr..
Cochran sided with Mr.. Tighe, a. did
also Walter Chaplin. 0t
Assemblyman Wheeler's motion was
defeated by vote Of Z to 2, Messrs.
Haas and Wheeler being the only two
voting for 1t.
There was also some discussion as TO
the item of S153, $50 for the lighting fund,
which is over $1,000 more than last years
estimate. City Engineer Claussen esti-
mated that the lighting would cost about
81 500 less this year, but last year there
was a cash balance of nearly $13,06 in
this fund when the budget was made up
and that there would be none this year.
The item was passed.
KNAUFT COULD NOT SAVE IT.
Aid. Knauft made an attempt to have
the sixteenth item, the bridge and build
ing fund, amended SO that the $25, 600 for
the extension of the Third street bridge,
which was struck out by the board of al
dermen, be passed, but his efforts were
Of no avail
The items were considered separately
and were all passed without any change
from the amendments of the board of
aldermen.