The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-13

1Aohe tne livlhg ELSEWHERE IN st. Paul look
just like thirty cents;
Fhey couldn't hardly notice it at ALL
will be so fine
TO live in it we'd wear a chain and hall.
wed never leave that Jail, if we were of
fered bail
We wouldn't hardly notice it at all.
Lew DOckStader.
The contract for Italian marble
window sills for the new county iaif
came up before the county commits
s1oners for final approval yesterday,
and was vigorously opposed by Com
missioner Nash.
The new member Of the board had
heard of these Italian marble window
slIls before, and he wanted to know
Why some provision had not been made
Tor window stlls in the original plans
and specifications. He insisted that it
was poor business method to accept
plans and specifications which were so
incomplete as those for the county Jail
seem to have been in their original
form. He refused to vote for the ap-
prevail of the contract, and insisted on
being shown the original plans for the
building that he might learn for him
self whether any provision had been
made for window siIls.
The records were searched, and the
original plans produced, but there was
no provision in them for window stills,
and with MI. Nash voting no the board
took final action by approving the con-
tract which will give the new jail the
harmony" so much desired by the
county commits siOners.
County jail matters occupied the
greater part of the time at the ad-
journed meeting of the commissioners
yesterday, and several matters regard
Ing the loose manner in which the
building is being constructed were
vigorously discussed.
Inferior Plaster to Be Used.
Mayor Smith called the attention of
the commissions to the fact that an
inferior plaster was to be used on the
walls of the building, Notwithstanding
the resolution passed by the board call
ing for adamant plaster.
Contractor DOnahue said adamanr
plaster was not to be used because the
contract called for one of three differ
ent kinds, and he thought it was his
duty to decide what should be used.
The adamant plaster would cost 8
cents more per square yard than the
Baker plaster, which the contractor
expects to use.
The records show that the resolu-
ton calling for adamant plaster was
passed four days before the contract
was signed, but by an oversight the
adamant was not Specified in the con-
tract County Attorney Kane held yes
terday that the contractor had the
right to select the plaster under the
terms of the contract. The commits
si0ners decided to allow him to use the
cheaper plaster.
This method CT doing business did
not meet with the approval of Com
missioner Seng, another of the new
members. AMI h , wanted to know what
they had a superintendent of cOnStruC-
ton for it it was not to see that the
work was done as ordered by the
board.
Seng Scores Superintendent.
"Tha employment of superintend-
ent of construction is a farce" SAID
Commissioner Seng, and I think we
should dispense with his services. He
don't amount to a much anyway. What
is the use of paying fancy salary to q,
man who never reports to the board.
and who knows but little more about
the work being done at the new Jail
than an outsider. If we are going to
do business let's do it right"
The board, however, took 40 action
on the suggestion to dispense with the
services of Mr.. Rheaume, the super
inten1ent of construction, and after
few more spectacular remarks by diff
ferent members of the board the COM
missioners proceeded with other bust
ness.
Regarding the damage sustained by
reason of the bursting of the water
pipes, caused by the st. Paul Gas
Light company turning off the steam
Friday night, it was decided to hold
the gas company responsible, and the
question Of the responsibility for sim
liar damage in the future was referred
to the committee on grounds and
buildings, together with the county at
torney, with power to act. The gas
company denied responsibility for the
damage, stating that the steam had
was not inclosed in a proper manner
for heating.
Wants Raise in Salary.
County Superintendent of Schools
Thomas Montgomery appeared before
the commissioners with a request that
his salary be increased from $3.50 to
$1,000. 1t was shown that Hennepin
county paid $4,000, and allowed $1,000
for an assistant, and that other neigh
boring counties paid much more than
Ramsey.
81 am ashamed to let anyone know
what my salary is" said Mr.. Mont
gomery, land were 1 younger man I
would not continue in the office one
minute on such a salary
A compromise was effected by allow
ing the superintendent an additional
$3.50 per year for travelling expenses,
an item which had been held up at the
last meeting because of objection on
the part of the newly elected commits
sioners
The committee on legislation report
ed favorably on a bill providing for
the funding Of the floating indebted
ness of Ramsey county. Treasurer
Metzdorf has a bill prepared for pres
entation to the legislature which pro-