The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-29
COUNTY SOLONS
IGNORE ATTORNEY
They Allow a Livery Bill Despite
Protest of Their Legal
Adviser.

The board of county commissioners
was in session for two hours yester-
day, during which time the members
did more talking than business. There
was friction upon almost every matter
which came before the board, and
even the mayor and the assistant coun-
ty attorney clashed on the question of
the payment Of a livery bill.
Fred Schroeder, the Iiveryman, has a
bill against the county for $81. the bill
being for carriages furnished the
county commissioners prior to the or
ganization of the present board. At
that time there was no provision in the
statutes for the payment of livery bills
Tor the county commissioners, and the
bill has been held up from month to
month by the county attorney.
The bill is more than a year old, and
Mayor Smith thought it should be paid,
1nasmuch as the teams were furnished
the county In good faith. Other mem
bers thought the bill was just and it
was passed. When Assistant County
Attorney O'Neil heard of the action Of
the board, in the face of the fact that
the Dill had been held up by the county
attorney, he became indignant and ex-
pressed his opinion of such action in
unmistakable language.
The bill is Illegal" said Mr.. O'NeiI,
and the board had no right to pass it,"
Mayor Speaks Up.
This somewhat angered Mayor
Smith, who had been instrumental in
securing the allowance of the claim.
The board has seen fit to differ with
you said the mayor. 1.-The county is
obligated and should pay its bills. The
teams were ordered and it was no fault
OF SPhr0Q6nr'C If hn Iox
vide for the payment. He was not sup
posed to know that"
Wen, the board has been doing this
KIND OF business for years." said Mr..
O'Ne1l, and the time has come when a
halt should be called. 1t obligates itself
Illegally and then the county foots the
bills. When the bills are correct they
viii receive the approval of our office,
but we will not approve bills which the
county has no right to pay"
Attorneys are not always right, /"
said the mayor, thoroughly angered.
We think the bill is all right and
nave so recorded ourselves"
Mr.. O'Neill intimated that although
the board had allowed the claim that
Schroeder would have to contest his
right to collect the money in the courts,
as the bill was not legal and the board
had no right to allow it.
The county attorneys office was
again called upon to explain why bill
FOR $500 for a road roller had been dis
allowed.
you have no more right to buy
road roller than you have to buy
piano." said Mr.. O'Neil, ''and so long
as the members of this board continue
doing business in an illegal manner so
long viii We refuse to approve the
bills"
After some discussion the considera-
ton of the bill was deferred
The board decided upon the con-
struction of steel bridge at Kohl
mans lake.. and the contract was
awarded to L. H. Johnson, of Mime
apolis, upon his bid of 1915.
SquabbIe Over Rice Street.
The question of improving Rice
street came up, and was the signal for
another squabble. 1t was proposed to
expend more money upon the road
Within the city limits, but the i'm
proVements suggested were only tenn
porary and would doubtless be washed
out by the first rain.
This system of patching was Wig
orously disapproved by Commissioner
Seng, who has opposed the 'patch-
work" system of road work ever since
he became member of the board
we nave already expended $21 900
for road repairs in Ramsey county this
year." said Mr.. Seng. "and we have
nothing to show for it. The roads are
In as bar or worse condition than they
were when we commenced work upon
them. 1t Is simply throwing money
away to patch up these roads in such
a manner that the work has to be done
over after each shower"
Other members of the board differed
with Mr.. Seng, but were unable to con-
tradict his statements.
If we are going to spend any money
on the roads let us macadamize them.
and then We will have roads which will
not have to be made all over a dozen
times each year." said Mr.. Seng. ut
Is the most economical thing the county
can do, and 1 will never vote to throw
away the county's money for any more
OF this patchwork on the roads"
Mr.. Seng was in the minority. how
ever, and the commissioners voted to
approve the contract made with b.
Kohn for work on Rice street, which he
offered to do for 1868.
The commissioners will meet again
next Monday in regular session.