The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-21
COUNTY FATHERS
INDULGE IN MORE
DENOMINATIONS

Which Breaks Up as Far
From Settlement of the Dis
pute as Ever.
AT another stormy meeting of the
county board yesterday the commits
SiOners lost their tempers and charges
were made which will be investigated
by the county attorney and which may
finally result in an investigation by
the next grand jury. The charges are
in connection with the methods alleged
to have been employed by certain
members of the board in giving out
contracts for road repairs.
In the midst of the session, at time
when all of the members, more or less
were making charges and casting in
situations, Commissioner Seng charg-
ed another commissioner with letting
job for repairs to one person, when
another offered to do the work cheaper.
Commissioner Seng did not mention
the name of the commissioner to
whom he referred, but stated that he
was ready to do so if necessary.
"A farmer came to me a few days
ago." said Mr.. Seng, land asked me
what l could do towards securing for
him contract for a certain piece of
road work. He told me he had been
to another member of the board, and
he named the member, who told him,
when he promised to do the work
cheaper, that he was sorry, but the
work had already been promised to
another man. And this other man got
the job at higher price"
Bowers Gets Excited.
When Mr. Seng made this charge
Commissioner Powers was on his feet
in an instant.
well, I want you to understand
that 1 was not the commissioner to
whom you refer" said the Rosetown
member. Il defy anyone to show me
where 1 ever did anything crooked on
this board
who said it was your" said Mr.,
Seng. Il didn't mention any names,
and you needn't take exceptions unless
the shoe fits you
well, there has been so much talk
about graft in connection with this
board that I am getting tired of it.
Why doesn't somebody who knows so
much show it up??' roared Mr.. Pow
ers.
81 have never heard anyone harp on
this graft question but you,' said Mr..
about it that there must be something
to it. There might be some surprises
if the matter were dug into"
The meeting was one Of a series held
for the purpose of making some dispo-
sition of road claims for work which
the county attorney held had been il
legally let, and for which he refused to
approve the bills. 1t was the third
stormy session held for the purpose of
diSpoSing of these claims, and like
those preceding it, ended without any
thing having been accomplished, and
with the county attorney holding the
whip hand.
Attorney Stands Pat.
Both County Attorney Kane and As
Sistant O'Neill were present at the
meeting, and each of them stood pat
on their threat to enjoin the county if
the board attempted to allow the bills
in the face of the opinion of the coun-
ty attorney.
Members Of the board desiring to
have the bills allowed had secured an
opinion from Public Examiner John
son, but his Interpretation Of the new
law afforded them no relief, and the
members who desire to eXpend the
road and bridge fund of $4,000 with
out advertising for bids were at sea,
and in their arguments avoided the
question at issue and talked altogether
on the condition Of Ramsey countys
country roads.
1--WE are not here to discuss the con-
ditions of the roads," interrupted Mr..
Kane, "but to determine in what man
ner the money in the road fund shall
be expended"
1.-THE money has been expended all
right, said Commissioner Powers,
who appeared as the champion of the
element opposed to having the road
work done by contract. eve pick out
some responsible farmer and pay him
to do it. He hires what help he needs
and we pay the bills"
who oversees the work in order
that the board may know that it is
getting all it pays for?" said Mr..
Kane.
"The commissioners do" shouted
Commissioner Nash. IT was out six
days myself looking over this work.
And in those six days you inspected
work which had been done during the
past two months. How do you know
the county attorney. more than a
third of the total road fund has al
| ready been disposed Of by resolutions,
| and not a contract has been let. This
has all been done illegally and our Of
flee will not permit the bills to be
paid"
Propose Compromise.
Inc dLIlIuQ0 OIL the DOdrQS legal a0-
visers made it apparent that nothing
could be accomplished by talking or by
citing the opinion of the public exam
liner, and to relieve the situation Com
missioner Pottgieser suggested that if
the county attorneys office would
agree to permit the board to allow the
bills for work already done, amounting
to some $500, the board might agree to
pass a resolution providing for all fu-
ture work to be done by contract and
| in the manner approved by the county
attorney.
Mr.. O'Neill said he did not care so
much for the $500. inasmuch as the
| work had been done, but there was
more than $4,000 which had been
passed upon by resolutions, and if
the board would agree to include this
amount and have all work except that
which had actually been done included
in the resolution, the county attorneys
office might see it's way clear to agree
to the payment of the claims for work
| already done.
Commissioner Pottgieser suggested
that this would solve the trouble, but
| Commissioner Powers would not agree
and threatened to have his constitu--
ents bring suit against the county if
their claims were not allowed
No agreement could be reached. and
the meeting adjourned in confusion.
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