The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-21

berS was not exhausted yesterday, when
much time was consumed in passing Hen
nepin county bills.
Bond matters caused most Of the grief.
The final result Of the session was author
ity given for s1.350, 900 in bonds. This in-
chlded the 5000, 900 on school bonds voted
on last fall, which were legalized, and
$3.50 900. allowed to the courthouse and
city hall commission to finish the build
ing as best they can. The remainder OF
the bonds are for the city council to issue
If It sees f1t. They are as follows:
Permanent improvement 's1so, lSG ooo ooo
Armory building ....................... lot. 900
AudNoflum ....':......... .....s. -. loo,Vuu
The history of the bills is one of unin-
teresting Wrangle. The courthouse and
auditorium propositions are sample.
The commission asked for $400,0 600 to COM
plete the building. The delegation first
decided to allow $4,000, but on showing
by the commission the senate passed the
bill, and the house delegation was being
lined up, when the proposition was made
to use the inner court for a public audi
torium. The commission was willing,
provided an additional 100000 was al
lowed, and this was debated. Opposition
developed in putting the auditorium in the
court, and also to the large bond issue,
compromise. The courthouse bonds were
cut to s250,O00. and a separate bill for the
auditorium bonds was introduced and
rushed thru both houses, allowing $780,
600 to be used for purchasing and remod-
cling the Exposition building.
Propositions to raise the mayors sal
ary to $4,000 and the aldermen to $1,000 a
year, resulted in a compromise, and
bill was passed fixing them at $4,000 and
$500, which is double for the mayor and
$500 increase for the aldermen.
In county matters, the thing of chief in
terest was the salary bill. Nearly every
county office came in early with bills call
ing for increase In the salaries of some
one. It was manifest that some were
needed but there was strong sentiment
against swelling the pay roll. The first
committe appointed, Senator Calhoun
and Representatives. Gillette and Shove,
adopted the Commercial Club proposal
that all salaries except heads Of depart
ments be fixed by the county commits
sioners. They recommended an Increase
for the county attorney. The delegation
would not stand for giving this power to
the county commissioners, and appointed
another committee, consisting of Repre-
sentatives BardweI, Helliwell, w. I.
Nolan and Senators Jepson and Gjertsen.
This worked out bill fixing the salary OF
every official, adding one deputy and a
stenOgra pher to the sheriff. s force, and
equalizing salaries all around. Many cuts
were made and increases were given es-
pecially to the small sala.ried men. The
delegation accepted this bill, which in
creased the pay roll only about 81, 700, but
after the bill had passed the house ano
gone into the senate, the senators amend
ed it, restoring some Of the cuts. The
house refused to concur, but after con.
ference had to back down. The increases
in the bill do not take effect until mex
year, and the cuts until 1905, after the
present terms have expired. The bill az
it finally passed raises the county attor
ney from $1,000 to $4,000, the judge O.
probate from 81, 900 to $4,000, and the sur
veyor from $4,000 to $4,000. The sheriff
auditor and treasurer are cut from $500
to $4,000.
The Gillette bill turns over the contro
of the courthouse and city, hall building
so far as completed, to board consistin:
of the chairman of the board of count.
commissioners, the county auditor, tn
mayor and the city treasurer. Tn
building commission is not interfered witt
by this bill @s-''. 3
Other bills of Importance to the count
were the one increasing the fees in tn
clerk of courts office, so that the offic
| will be self sustaining hereafter, provid
ing that these fees shall be paid to tn
| treasurer and record kept IF them, pro
! vlding that the county commissioners ma
| furnish stationery, postage and office sup
| plies for the county officers, and requirin
the county commissioners to give bond i
the sum Of $4,000 each for the faithfu
I performance of their duties.