The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-29
1T INDUCES OBDURATE CHARTER
COMMISSION TO SUBMIT
AMENDMENT TO PEOPLE
SUCCESSFUL END TO "A
LONG AND EARNEST FIGHT
Proposal Is to Allow Board to Retain
Its Unexpended Balances and Profit
by Sale of Privileges and conces-
sions-Committee to Draft Amend

The park board has broken the ice
so that the ballots for the next general
election will carry one or more charter
amendments. At the meeting of the
charter commission last night Presi-
dent Wheelock, of the park board,
pleaded for number of changes in
that portion of the charter relating to
the parks and their financial manage
ment, and was successful to the eX-
tent that a committee was selected to
draft the required amendments and
submit them for consideration and
adoption at meeting of the commits
sion to be called later.
In brief, the amendment will permit a
one mill tax on the assessed valuation
OF taxable property for park purposes,
instead of the $4,000 limit which now
exists; permission too retain receipts
accruing from concessions or any
source and the right to all yearly I'M
expended balances, instead of CONVEX
sion into the general or common fund
which is now the law and practice.
President Wheelock, who was dele
gated by the park board to request of
the commission that it sanction these
amendments, spoke concisely and at
length on the park boards present
financial condition and informed the
commission that if the st. Paul park
system were to prosper and grow, it's
finances must be strengthened. His
argument was convincing and at it's
close several of the members gave
his request their personal Endorsement,
among them Norman Fetter President
f. B. Doran and President Bridgman,
OF Hamline university.
Would Realize $4,000.
On the present valuation 1 mill
tax would realize the board about $685.
900. The amount the board is entitled
to under the present charter is SIS, 1000,
but this figure the board has never
seen. 1t is yearly granted, but never
realized. This year the board has
spent about two thirds of its appro-
priation and now finds itself in such
a shape that it is at a loss how to get
through the remainder of the year.
The most niggardly economy, the
members say, has been practiced, but
because of the increased area of park
to care for even this has failed.
The right to use all receipts accruing
from concessions or any source, which
the board asks, is principally for the
benefit of Phalen park Which is to be
made self-sustaining, as far as posi-
bic. 1t is to be converted into a sec
ond Wildwood, but on Z more elabor-
ate scale and the expense which will
result is to be met as far as possible
from the receipts. To equip Phalen
park, the board estimates, will cost
$4,000.
Idea Is to Save Money.
Permission to retain unexpended
balances is desired so that the board
each year can lay aside a small sum
of money from it's appropriation to be
used when sufficient has accumulated
for some coveted imp-ovement which
could not be made if the cost was to be
met from any one years general APP
preparation. Under the present char
ter this cannot be done.
The principal object of the board,
however, is to get more money and
until this is done President Wheelock
Informed the commission last night,
no further improvements in st. PauPs
park system can be made. For the
present the changes desired in the
charter if made would bring but little
additional revenue, but it. would grow
and that at least is encouragement
The drafting of the amendments was
placed in the lands of committee
consisting of Commissioners Bridg-
man, Fetter, Cannon, Childs and Crib
ben. AS soon as completed the draft
will be submitted to the commission
for adoption.