The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-30
WITH TALES OF WOE
CHARTER COMMISSION HEARS SEW
ERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR
AMENDMENTS
CLAUssEN WANTS MORE MONEY
WheeIOck, of Park Board, Says De-
Quoting Unexpended Balances
Is Idfotic-Referred to
Committee.
cLAUssEN WANTS MORE MONEY

President Zimmerman-Change daily
average scheme of computing cost OF
maintenance of schools to total enroll
ment.
City Engineer Claussen-Increase the
street, sewer and garbage fund from
sl75.e0O to $3.50, 900, and the engineers fund
from $4,000 TO $4,000.
President Young, Library Board-Give
our body representation on the confer
ence committee.
J. C. erode, Board of Public Works
Decrease the number OF votes necessary
to confirm a lighting contract, and ANAL
gamate the salary and incidental es-
pense funds so that we can increase our
help when needed.
Corporation Attorney Griggs -Clothe
the conference committee with more au-
thority.
President Wheelock, Park Board-EIim-
mate the idiotic scheme of deducting bal
anceS from our ensuing years appropri-
ationS, and allow us the use of what we
have stinted ourselves to save for some
definite purpose.
N p Langford, Board of Control-The
same as Mr.. Wheelock.
These, in substance, are the grievances
that the charter commission heard at its
meeting last night, and which each in
the few minutes assigned him, tried to
impress on the commission demanded
correction in the shape of an amendment
next spring election.
To prove his assertion that the charter
limit of s175,e00 placed to the credit of the
street, sewer and garbage fund was
entirely inadequate to the demands upon
it, and the growing needs of the city.
City Engineer C1aussen produced an
abundance of statistics. These showed
the allowances under the old and the
new charters, and the fact that the fund
instead of growing with the city, had
decreased. Compared with other cities
of it's size, ST. Paul was now the third
largest in the United States in respect to
area of improved streets, Mr. Claussen
informed the commission, and this area
was continually growing. Deducting
the expense of garbage, he said, there
was only a trif1e over s155, 900 left each
year for the care and improvement OF
streets and sewers. The engineering
department which also includes the
building inspectors department, he said,
was also cramped for money, and he
recommended that the amount be in
creased from $50, 600 to $4,000. For the
other fund, he ought an increase Of
SIS, 600 would be ample for the present.
Goes to a Committee.
Mr. Claussens requests and recommen-
dations were placed in the hands of
committee consisting of Commissioners
McNair. Boyeson and Tighe.
President Young, of the library board
briefly mentioned the fact that his board
wanted representation on the conference
committee. The failure to provide for
such representation in the present char
ter, he thought, was due to an over
sight but he was corrected by Mr..
Tfghe. who said the omission was at the
instance of the board then existing. The
board, he said, did not care to mix In
public affairs and for that reason their
request was acceded to.
Commissioner erode, Of the board of
public works, asked to have the char
ter corrected to the extent of permitting
a tworthirds vote instead of a three
fourths vote, when placing contract for
lighting. The board was composed of but
three members, and a three-fourths vote
under these conditions was out of the
question
cidental items fund be amalgamated, so
as to permit the employment of special
clerks when necessary. Neither of the
recommendations, he informed the board.
would In any way increase the amount
allowed his department.
Talks of Unexpended Balance.
at the close of the fiscal year, from the
sum allotted any department for the en-
suing year, Mr.. Wheelock, who next adj
dressed the commission, broadly styled
as idiotic. 1t was an incentive to exr
travagance, he informed the members,
that caused the spending OF money that
would otherwise be saved for some bet
ter purpose AS an Illustration he stated
the fact that the park board had in
view the improvement of Phalen park
to the extent of equipping it with money
making devices, for the purpose of Gre
ating a revenue, but under the existing
charter 1t could not be done. Only Sl6,-
900 was allowed them, barely sufficient to
take care Of parks now improved, and
IL they saved anything for future irnr
provements it was taken from them The
park board, he said, would like to save
trifie each year for $4,000 pavilion for
Como park, but under the charter 1T was
impossible. Such cost would have to
be met from their appropriation of
s75 Co.,
N. p Langford, of the board of con-
troll, spoke along the same lines and
asked for himself and Mr.. Wheeiock an