The Saint Paul globe., 1901-01-03
MIN CARDY Is T(N)BDSY
CLAIMS HE CANNOT OBSERVE
TERMS OF NEW
CHARTER
SLAP AT THE CITY RAILWAY
Resolution Requiring More Rapid
Service on Grand Avenue Is
AdOSted-As to Hous-
ing Prisoners.

ing Prisoners.
Comptroller McCardy, whose strict OBJ
serYance OF the city charter in as far
as 1t refers to his particular department.
has called down upon himself the male
dictions of more than one for attempted
disregard OF red tape, stands in the Pc
culiar light of failing to practice the doc
trine he so strongly advocates.
At the meeting of the board of alder
men last night City Treasurer Bremen,
in letter, made open protest against
the practice of the comptroller i'll dis
regarding the provisions of the charter
wherein it provides theS.taere shall he a
mutual exchange of Sedtements of trial
balances at the close of the days busi-
ness, the same being necessary to facli-
tate the conduct of the business Of the
two offices on the following day. Mr.
Bremen in his letter stated that he had
complied with this section, but that Mr..
McCardy had persistently ignored it. Ac-
companying it was a letter served en-
Mr.. McCardy demanding compliance,
and also an opinion from the corpora tiCn
attorney in which he sustained the stand
taken by the city treasurer and also his
right to refuse payments from city funds
if the statements were not Forthcoming.
Mr.. McCardy was evidently aware of
the appeal to be made to the board and
was present with a statement of his side
of the case. but it was not read, no ac-
ton being taken beyond to refer the mat
ter to the committee on streets.
Mr. NcCardy in his statement does not
deny the infraction of the charter re-
quirements, but says it is impossible ow-
ing to the lack of help in his office. Two
expert accountants, he says, will be nee
essary to compile the statement and fur
nish it daily. The situation in his Of
fee, ne remarks. can be compared TO the
city buying a lot of engines and then
failing to employ the necessary number
of men to run them.
The usual yearly list of appointments
in the engineering and health depart
ments with provision for their salaries
came up for consideration, but owing to
an error in several Of those of the health
department wherein provision was made
for the payment of their salaries from
the general fund, they had to be
held up until correction was made. Tn
der the new charter there is no such
fund.
Contemplated Improvements IN the
street car service, which have been dor
mant for some weeks, brought surprise
in the passage of a resolution introduced
by Alderman Holt calling for hNe ana
eight minute service on the Grand Ave
nue. line, the new Oruer o- Things ~ 90
into effect on Jan. 10.
In support of the measure Alderman
Holt said he and a number Of patrons
of the line had made a personal visit
to the officials of the company and mad
been informed that nothing could pc
done 1t was time, he said, that the
company was brought to realization OF
what the people desired.
Alderman Dobner made an effort 10
send the matter to the committee on
streets, but failed, the vote being six to
four.
Alderman Bantz followed with rather
sweeping resolution demanding OF the
street car company strict compliance
with all ordinances passed for Their ben
eft and the abrogation of all ordinances
of which they had failed 10 avail item
selves. The city attorney was instruct
ed to give the matter his attention and
see that there was a strict compl. .ance-
Aldermen Dobner and Knauft were
fearful that the strict Interpretation of
the ordinance would call for changes on
the lines in their particular districts and
at once entered a protest with the de-
sire that it be sent to the committee IN
streets for investigation 1t was doEe
so ON a vote of sixteen to four, those
voting in the negative being Aldermen
Holt. Bantz Schiffmann and Hunt.
In explanation of the resolution Alder =
man Bantz said number of changes
on the car lines had been made with
out authority or even mentioning the
fact to the council. The passage of the
resolution would rectify this and where
any Improvement had been made It could
also be retained by resolution.
On application of City Engineer Claus
sen, an item of $25, 900 was taken from
the miscellaneous receipts and placed 20
the credit of the street sewer and gar
bage fund. Following 1t and into which
the item was incorporated was the pas
sage of the ordinance appropriat ting
moneys from the miscellaneous receipts
to the several funds.
The contemplated housing of prisoners
in the fourth floor of the city hall dur
ing the building of the new Jail brought
a protest from Alderman Schiffmann and
the unanimous approval of resolution
calling upon the aldcrmanic members of
the joints city hall and court house COM
mission to use every means in their
power to defeat such plans. Incorporat I'D
was Il plea to the work house commits
sion to try and house the prisoners.
There was no debate but the vote taken
was sufficient to show how the aldermen
felt in the matter.
On promise to reIlnquish his pet scheme
of payment Of street intersection from
the general fund. Alderman Knauft Sc
cured recognition of the preliminary or
der for the macadamizing of East
Seventh street and on his motion the
order was confirmed.
An Improvement contemplating an ex-
penditrre of $50.000 and calling for COM
mencement Of the work in sixty days
after permission is granted, was an ordi-
nance introduced by Alderman Moriarty
granting to the Omaha railroad perrnis-
sion TO build a single track with all nee
ess3ry switches from point where
their line crosses the river to a point a
block below Wabasha street. The track
will follow the line OF the river and will
occupy the streets abutting that bed :
of water, passing under Wabasha street
to the point designated The line is TO b,
built for the purpose OF furnishing
switching facilities 10 the factories and
warehouses on the West Side and ad-
Jacent TO the right of way TO be granted.
me ordinance was referred to the com
mittee on streets.
We call the attention of cur readers to
the notice of The State Savings bank