The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-13
ANOTHER OFFICER.
Council Adds to the Night Police
Force.
Mayor Petersen and City Engineer
Tfl mpsOn Sent to Good Roads
Congress at Buffalo.

The special meeting of the council
last night, called on short notice,
transacted more important business
than many of the regular meetings.
Everybody was on hand except the city
attorney, and as it was nine o'clock
before he could be produced the coun-
Gil was not called to order until that
hour.
A resolution making the tax levy for
the coming year was adopted. The
amount levied was $40, 600, which is
the same as last year. 1t is divided
into the various funds as follows: Cur
rent, $40, 600; road, $13, 600; interest,
SO, 900; library, 81, 900; park, So, 500
bills payable, 1000; sinking fund,
$500.
The road fund is cut down 50, 900 as
compared with last years levy, and
the library fund is increased 81, 500
and the park fund $500. This leaves
the total the same.
Chief Bowen appeared before the
council and said that there had been
some criticism of late about the police
force. With the number of men now on
the force, he did not see any way of
remedying the matter. He would ask
for an extra man if there was any way
to get one, for night service. If this
man could be had, all of the police
could be kept out on their beats, and
criticism would thus be avoided.
There is no other way out of the diff
Guilty. He would prefer to have the
extra man appointed as patrolman.
Mayor Petersen said that the city
now has as many patrolmen as the
charter allows.
Chief Bowen said that he believed
that every citizen realizes that the city
does not have enough policemen, es-
pecially at night. Aid. Taylor believed
that the suggestion was a good one.
The police force is not regulated right.
There ought to be some one at the city
hall at night and the patrolmen should
be out on their beats.
Aid. Deebach said that he was very
much in favor of the suggestion. He
would favor hiring a man to stay at
the city hall at night and have the
patrolmen attend to their duties on the
street.
Aid. Heinze favored appointing a de-
tective or special policeman to be at
the depots when the trains arrive and
shadow suspicious characters. Often
these might be caught before commit
ting depredations.
Chief Bowen thought this suggestion
very good if two new men could be
appointed. Up to this year the police
force of Winona has consisted Of
Twenty three men, but it is now re,
duced to seventeen. Red Wing has
five men and the chief.
Aid. Taylor said that the city would
get more benefit from the present force
if there was man to remain at the
city hall and the patrolmen were out
constantly.
! Chief Bowen said that the recent
charter commission had taken thu
wants of the city into consideration
and had provided for two extra men
Mayor Petersen said that there ar,
not enough policemen to patrol tn
city at night. After the Chicago Grea
Western depot has been removed III
town it will be easier to watch tn
trains. It would be good thing t.
have patrolmen at the depots whel
trains arrive. There is no excuse TO
them to be lettering around the cit,
hall, for they have no business there
; The charter does not allow anothe
patrolman to be appointed, but he di,
mot think that there would be an.
criticism if an Office man was EN-
ployed, one who does not sleep, ant
not to be high salaried.
4, Aid. Eichstaedt thought that it wa
necessary to have such man. ant
J moved that the city hire a man t,
be stationed at the city hall at night
to be under the direction of the chic
Of police. This was carried.
Aid. Taylor moved that the mayo
and chief of police hire such man a
not to exceed $40 month, subject t.
the right of the city to discharge hin
at the end of each calendar month
This was carried.
Recorder Williams read an invita-
tion that had been received for thu
city to send delegates to the Interna
tional Good Roads congress to be helt
at Buffalo, N. Y, Sept. 18th to 21st
Aid. Leonard favored sending TIT
city engineer to the congress, ant
thought that he would get many
pointers that would be useful in thi
city.
Aid. Eichstaedt favored sending the
mayor, also.
Aid. Taylor said that Mankatc il
more at sea in regard to roadmakine
for the chances that it has than any
other city he knew Of, With the ma
terial at home, the city ought to have
elegant streets at small cost.
Aid. Deebach moved that the mayor
and city engineer be sent as delegates,
and that the city pay their railroad
fare and hotel bills. This was carried
Mayor Petersen said that he did no
know yet whether he could get away
and xuoI1ld not raror,ni 60 To 90