The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-03
FROM DAY TO DAY
COUNCIL TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS
FOR TEMPORARY LIGHTING
GASOLINE SECTIONS
EXCHANGE OF PERSONALITIES
Schiffmann and Knauft Have a Lit
tie Set-tO-WhOIe Question Te-
diOusIy Debated in
Both Bodies.

The board Of aldermen held a special
meeting last night and passed a 1esoIu-
ton directing the city clerk to advertise
for bids for gasoline lighting through
out the city by the day until June l,
at which time, it is expected, the present
controversy over the awarding of the
gasoline lighting contract for the year
1902 will have been settled in the courts.
The board also passed resolution
pledging the American Development
company pay at the same rate as last
years contract for lighting the city I'm,
til the new contract is awarded. he
resolution directing the city clerk to adj
Vertise for bids also contains a provIso
that it can be terminated at any time
before June l, if the council should so
decide. The assembly held its regular
meeting after the board had finished, and
for nearly two hours the members of
the assembly discussed the lighting
proposition and juggled with the reso1u-
lions passed by the board Of aldermen.
The matter was finally brought. to ana
end by the assembly passing the lresoIu-
ton as it originally came from the, boara
of aldermen gegel,.f-
AS a result of the action taken " the
two bodies of the council last night, re
districts in the city lighted by gasoline
lamps will be lit tonight, after being in
darkness for two nights.
Discussion Was Warm.
The discussion o-er the lighting ques-
ton was very warm at times in both
bodies, and some of the members s-,oke
their minds freely, and were uisgusted
that the matter had been dragged into
the courts.
DR.. Schiffmann started the ball roll
ing in the board of aldermen by l---1-
ing motion that the resolution by
pany was awarded the contract for the
gasoline lighting of the city for the year
be rescinded. This motion carried ny a
vote of six to three. DR.. Schiffmann next
made a motion to reject all bids received
and to readvertise for bids for the gaso-
line lighting Of the city. Aid. Dobner
spoke his mind at this point, and said
it was disgraceful state of affairs and
intimated that it appeared to him
that an attempt was being made to drive
home concerns out of town. He asserted
that the bids of the American Develop
ment company were reasonable and were
lower than a number of other large
cities were paying for their gasoline
lighting. He was in favor of passing a
resolution to advertise for bids for ligLt-
ing by the day pending the results OF
the appeal to the supreme court ques-
tioning the decision of Judge Lewis in
of the same opinion.
Knauft Speaks His Mind.
Aid. Knauft said that having once voted
on these bids in good faith, he would
never vote to reject them, if the city was
to remain in darkness for the next twelve
months ST shall never vote to pull the
chestnuts out of the fire for someone VINO
is trying to make a reputatio out Of the
council" continued Ad. Knauft.
Mr.. Seager of the American Develop
ment company, told the board that so far
as the company was concerned, it was
out of the discussion for the present at
least, and would not furnish light until it
'1knew where it was at. - He also stated
that the company is going to appeal the
matter to the supreme court. He was
perfectly well satisfied to make prop
osition if the council would advertise for
bids Immediately, and would furnish
temporary light for $15o per day At
ter considerable more wrangllng, the
resolution which was finally passed was
drawn up by the corporation attorney
and was passed after much kicking by
the members at Nne lights not being lit
in their districts.
just Little Tilt.
The meeting was almost over when Aid.
Schiffmann. during the debate attending
the question of gasoline lighting, got up
and said that in view of the fact that he
understood Aid Knauft was trying to
rub it into him as a taxpayer, he want
ed to say that he was proud OF being
taxpayer, and ended up by saying, And
thank God, have never been Dank"
rupt."
Aid. Knauft was on his feet in an in,
slant in spite of the fact that President
Huber was doing his best to restore order,
I-o,,4 +I,a Aoor and insisted that he had a
nerfect right to explain when a personal
insinuation was made in the council
room. Aid. Knauft made a few curt re-
marks and ended by saying Il never
heat man out of a dollar in my lie,
and that is more than some people can
say"
This ended the fun, and after passing
the two resolutions referred to IN the pe-
ginning of the article, the board ADJOURN
ed to meet again on Its regular LieellliS
night next TUESDAY
Another attempt was also made In the
assembly to have all the gasoline bids
rniacted and to advertise for new bids
for the years lighting, but after discuss
ing the proposition for nearly two hours
the resolutions passed by the board OF
aldermen were adopted.
.Assemblyman Wheeler led the forces IN
the assembly who favored the resolution
to reject the bids and readvertise. MO-
tions to have votes reconsidered were
numerous, and finally after Juggling with
the resolutions they were passed
There was some question in the minds
of the members of the assembly as to its
right to reject the bids, and also to pass
the resolutions passed by the board OF
airy lighting.
Those who voted against the adoption
IF tha resolution were Dix, Benson,