The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-22
COUNTY BOARD PL LAYS
ANOTHER ACT OF
COMIC OPERA
Commissioner Powers Raises
a Row Because the County
Surveyor Has Not Planted
Any Monuments in His
District = Seng Suspects
Solitary Bid for Roof Over
Jail Coal Bunkers.

At a meeting of the county commits
siOners yesterday a resolution was
adopted calling upon County Surveyor
Irvine to make a report to the board
showing what his Office is accomplish
ing. The introduction of the resolu-
ton was preceded by some serious
charges against the county surveyor
by Commissioner James Powers. Mr..
Powers was very angry when he arose
to address the meeting regarding the
manner in which the surveyor per-
formed his duties.
4 want to tell YOU" said Mr. Pow
ers, that things are not run right in
the county surveyors Office. The head
of that office is not doing the work re-
quired Of him."
In what respect?" interrupted Com
missioner Wright, who took the part
of the county surveyor.
In every reSpect," TOared Commits
siOner Powers. He hasn't put down
monument marking section lines in
my district in a year, and my con-
stituents are after me all of the
time"
He has put several in my district"
said Mr.. Wright.
THAT may all be-" said Mr.. Pow
ers, but he has never got over into
my district. This kind of business
must be stopped. The idea of a man
going from his office at 10: 80. reaching
his work at noon, and calling it a days
work an hour and a half later This
is the kind of work we are paying for,
and it is going to be stopped. There
are things going on in this office that
should not be tolerated. The peoples
money is being wasted in an eXtrav-
agant manner, and l, for, one viii
stand for it no longer"
Mr.. Wright defended the county
surveyor. He said that official had
always submitted detailed bills for all
work done, and that it was an easy
manner to verify them.
A resolution was drawn up calling
upon County Surveyor Irvine to report
to the board regarding the work ac-
complished by him, and also on the
number of monuments" set since he
had come into office. The resolution
was adopted without objection.
New Members Take Center of Stage.
The commissioners took up the mat
ter of the contract for q roof over the
coal bunkerS at the new county Jail
and discussed it in a general way. The
new members, who had not been given
an opportunity to connect with the
lime light during the discussion of the
county surveyors Office. made their
presence known when the Jail matter
was taken up.
Commissioner Robert Seng thought
it was mighty queer that but one bid
had been received for the work of plac-
ing q roof on the bunkers.
THE advertisements for this work
were put in the daily papers, but the
only bid we have received is one from
the present contractor, said Mr.
SeHg. This matter should be looked
into"
Mr.. Seng was not in favor of paying
three prices for this work, and OBJ
jected to awarding the contract when
but the one bid had been received. He
suggested that the county hire a con-
tractor if necessary and let him do the
work.
4 believe the county would save
money by doing So" said the COM
missioner.
Commissioner Pottgieser agreed with
Mr.. Seng that there was something
wrong when but one bid was received
for work of this kind, and it was final
ly decided to have the matter inves-
| tigated by the committee on public
buildings, with a view of ascertaining
what could be done.
The contract for furnishing gas and
electric fixtures for the jail was
awarded to the DwYer company on
their bid of $3,680.25.