The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-16
FAVOR FIXED LIMIT
CHARTER COMMISSION NOT EN-
THUSIASTIC ABOUT INCREASING
APPROPRIATIONS
FIRST MEETING LAST NIGHT
Fire Boards Tale of Woe UnfOlded
by President Warner-TO Be
Considered at Next
Meeting.

The scheme of abolishing set limit
to the expenditures of city departments
is not agreeable to the st. Paul charter
commission. The members do not say so
in as many words, but the mtimation
given last night, when the members met
to consider an application from the board
OF fire commissioners for an amendment
TO the charter, was sufficient. They are
thoroughly in sympathy with the opinion
that st. Paul has outgrown many of the
provisions of the charter, but as to ex-
penditures a limitation, they think. is the
only safeguard against extravaganza.
After a vacation of nearly year, the
charter commission, strengthened by
number of new members, appointed TO
take the place of those resigned, met
al the city hall last night. The initial
session was called at the instance OF the
fire board, which wished to have Its ap-
preparation increased, though had the
time permitted, others with like mission
would have been heard from. AS it was,
the members had their time taken up en-
tirelv bv the fire board, and adjourned
with a request to the secretary to notify
all who wished to be heard to be present
at the next meeting, to be held IN two
weeks
In the absence of Judge Flandrau, who
had resigned, the reorganization of the
board was completed by the election OF
F. B. Doran as president and Mr.. can
non secretary. w. B. Mitchell Jr., the
assistant secretary, rendered MS resigha-
ton. and Robert Taylor was selected IN
his stead. The standing committees were
left as they were. DE- BrloSeihah was
made vice president. :,
The reading of the request for the can
was followed by President Warner, OF the
fire hoard. who in detail recited the neeas
of the fire department ana the necessity
for more money to take care OF an IN
crease in salaries and additional equip
ment.
warmers Tale of Woe.
President Warner, aided by Commits
sioner Schweitzer and Secretary y COR
man. cited in detail the expenditures Oh
the department. Briefly, their argument
was for an elimination of the charter
limitation, which places their maAiiiiui UNI
YEARLY expenditure at $4,000. what we
want, said Mr. Warner, lis an amend
ment that will permit us yearly to expend
an amount commensurate with the
growth and requirements of the city,
as far as fire protection is concerned.
AS we now stand, we cannot begin TO
even furnish decent protection.
At the lowest, Mr.. Warner figured, the
amount necessary for the proper equip
ment and maintenance OF the department
at 1924, O00 which, however. might be OUT
grown at the expiration OF the next nVe
years. The only solution. he thought,
was in the elimination of the now exist
ing charter limit.
Mr., Claussen, of the engineers depart
ment, was present to ask for aid, but
the time being taken up by the fire de-
nartment, consideration of his case had
to be postponed.
That all departments desiring revision
of the charter may be heard. the secre-
tary was instructed to call meeting IN
two weeks. when such VIII be received.
T. &c desired to secure all the petitions
at once, so that work on drawing up the
amounts can be done without delay.
A committee consisting of Commission
ers Childs, Tyge Albrecht, Stringer and
Gribbcn was appointed to consider the re-
quest of the fire board and draw up an
amendment for the consideration OF the
conmi ssion.