The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-17
GARBAGE IS CAUSE
OF TROUBLE IN
CITY HALL
Health Commissioner and
City Engineer Disagree
Concerning Their Rights
and Powers in the Matter
of Collecting Garbage and
Weeds They Hold Two
Conferences.

The house to house collection Of gar
bage in st. Paul for the next year is in
dispute. BaSing his action on Health
Commissioner Ohage's refusal to stop
the cutting of weeds on vacant lots and
along the city highways at public ex-
pense, City Engineer Rundlett yester-
day made a peremptory demand for
the control of the city garbage collec-
ton.
Kindly prepare to turn over to me
by next Monday" wrote Mr.. Rundlett
to the health commissioner, "all books
and matters pertaining to the collec-
ton of garbage in st. Paul, and also
instruct your superintendent to report
to my office"
DR.. Ohage read the letter in dignified
silence, but it was a noisy patter that
his shoes made on the stairs leading up
to City Engineer Rundlett's office few
minutes later.
Wants to take the garbage collec-
ton away from me, en-" he comment
ed well, l suppose the charter gives
him the right, but I'll see that it is done
properly"
What took place behind the green
balZe doors leading to Mr. Rundlett's
den Is not known, but it was not a
smiling countenance that Dr. Ohage
brought out with him when the confer
ence was over. He refused to admit
that he was beaten.
Il fought to have the collection of
garbage in ST. Paul put under munich
pal direction instead of resorting to the
unsatisfactory contract system, and
now because 1 refuse to stop removing
lot of disease breeding weeds from
vacant lots they want to take it from
me-" declared DR.. Ohage. Il won't be
dictated to when my duty is involved.
L suppose [ can't stop his collecting the
garbage, but l shall retain the inspec-
tors and 1 will certainly see that they
keep an eye on any haphazard WORK"
They Get Together Again.
Later in the afternoon another con-
ference was held between Dr. Ohage
and City Engineer Rundlett, and at the
conclusion it was announced that an
amicable settlement was possible.
Mayor Smith was invited to act as ar
bitrator, but he declined.
The dispute between the health COM
missioner and the city engineer dates
, from week ago, when Mr.. Rundlett
criticised DR.. Ohage for using city
money in cleaning weeds from vacant
lots and street corners. The removal of
rubbish heaps from alleys was another
OF the doctors fads, and this Mr.. Rund-
lett warned him was beyond his juris-
diction.
The whole trouble was that the ex-
pense came out Of the garbage fund.
and as this is a part of Mr.. Rund-
let's annual appropriation he objected
because he did not think it absolutely
necessary.
DR.. Ohage promptly notified Mr..
Rundlett that, as far as the alleys were
concerned, he was willing to quit, pro-
V1ded the engineering department did
the work properly, but as to the weeds
they were disease breeders. Non-resi-
dent owners could not be legally fore
ed to remove them. and as they were
menace to the public health he in
tended to remove them at all hazards.
1t was this attitude that prompted
Mr.. Rundlett's peremptory demand for
everything pertaining to the collection
of garbage, but it is not likely to pre-
vail. The differences are now being
patched up, and DR.. Ohage will In all
probability remain undisturbed in the
collection of garbage.
The city provides $685. 900 a year for
the collection of garbage, but only
about $4,000 of the amount Is used.
The other $4,000 is used by the city
engineer for other purposes. Last year
DR.. Ohage exceeded the $4,000, and it
was this that called forth a protest
from the city engineer. He insisted
that the health commissioner should
cut off expenses which, to his mind,
were not legally warranted
"Oh, it's small natter said City
Engineer Rundlett yesterday, when
asked to tell his side of the story. "and
don't care to talk about It, 1 sim
ply imposed some conditions. and the
doctor does not seem willing to accept
them; that's all. [ think the whole
thing will be settled to the satisfaction
of all concerned.