The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-17
POWERS FEARS
OFFICIAL CRAFT
Thinks Court House Is Not
Conducted Economically
as It Might Be.

II don't charge directly that there II
any grating done by Ramsey county
ofhcers, but there is a splendid chance
for it, and these loose methods of do
ing business should be changed. This
thing of a man being allowed to spend
all the money he wants to for mis-
cellaneous purchases and then allow
ing his bill at the end of the month
has got to be stopped"
Thus spoke County Commissioner
Powers at the meeting of the Joint
court house and city hall commission
yesterday afternoon, in referring to
the manner in which the board of con-
troll bills were allowed. Commission
er Powers demanded that more safe
guards be placed about the expenditure
of the public funds.
All we have to do is to approve
these bills when they are presented to
US; how do we know that they are
right" continued Mr. Powers.
That statement OF yours about
grating is pretty strong" said Mayor
Smith, sitting as chairman of the COM
mission. ITO hear you talk one would
think we were as bad as MINNEAPOLIS;
with our hands in the treasury all the
time"
1T may be that they have not caught
US at it yet" replied Commissioner
Powers. THE opportunity IS Certainly
here"
The unexpected statements of Com
missioner Powers created much COM
ment and some lively discussion among
the members of the commission. They
We're brought about by the efforts of
MI. Powers to have an investigation
made of the number of employees on
the court house and city hall pay roll.
The number, Mr.. Powers contended,
was largely in excess of what was
needed.
I'VE have more than thirty employees
on our pay ROLL said Mr. Powers,
while in Minneapolis nine employees
40 petter work in building more than
tWo-th1rds larger. And what is more,
over there they keep the building clean,
While here everything is dirty and
dusty. There is something wrong with
our system, and it should be remedied.
we have six elevator men to care for
three elevators, which run from 8 in
the morning until 6 in the evening,
While in Minneapolis four operators
care for four elevators, and YOU get
| service from Z a. m. until p. m, and
also Sunday service. I want to know
what all our janitors are doing WHY
90 we keep two gardeners on the nav
roll throughout the winter? What do
they do? l think we should have the
custodian make a report to us, letting
men employed. It's the greatest out
rage ever perpetrated upon the tax
payers of Ramsey county," shouted
Commissioner Powers.
I'm glad to know we've got such
an able exponent of the poor taxpay-
er," sarcastieally remarked the mayor,
It's all right about the poor tax
payer" retorted the country member.
but we people in the country have to
pay our taxes. L know Of cases where
the sheriff has come out to Mounds
View to enforce the collection of taxes
where the amount was but 50, while
here in the city there are thousands
OF tax dodgers who are not moIested.'
We'll, we ought 90 be able to con-
quot our affairs without taking Min
neapol1s as an example," said Mayor
smith, in reply to which Commission
er Powers made the statement tina,
we might be just as bad as Mime
apoHs, II the truth were known"
Commissioner Powers strenuous oh
lection to the manner in which the
bills of the board OF control were al