The Saint Paul globe., 1904-09-20
CALLS COUNTY BOARD
A LOT OF MONKEYS
Contractor Tires of Waiting to
Have Bids for Road Work
Considered

damuS proceedings to compel Auditor
Krahmer to obey the order of the
county commissioners to turn over to
township officers $6,400 for the repair
of roads.
In turn Mr.. Kane informed County
Commissioner Powers, the represen-
tative of the commissioners, that as
he is the legal adviser of County Au-
ditor Krahmer, as well as of the
county commissioners, it was impossi-
BILE for him to assume the work and
take from any of these officials the
responsibility by bringing mandamus
proceedings to compel the auditor to
sign the warrants.
The formal application to County
Attorney Kane, made by Powers but
really for Frank Schifsky. treasurer
of Rose township, followed a parrot
like meeting of the county commits
sioners, during which an effort was
made to force upon the public the be-
lief that county commissioners and
the county auditor have been in favor
of repairing the roads at all times, and
that the delay has been occasioned
by legal complications. During the
proceedings Commissioners Pottgieser
and Seng were at different periods
very much excited.
Would Switch Blame
Commissioner Powers, usually the
member who pushes through his views
at any sacrifice, was as mild as
dove. Going deep into his pockets he
produced lengthy resolution reciting
the history of the road and bridge
squabble in such manner that the
lf ffeli i'm toI,f 0F 1nfI
matter of no great importance.
Based entirely upon the claim that
the delay has been occasioned by
legal complicat tions, and alleging that
these conditions alone were RESPONSE
bic for the delay, the document once
more instructs the county auditor to
sign the warrants in favor of the town
ship treasurers for $6.400. Proceeding,
1t JuStifieS this course by asserting that
it is possible that the county auditor
is right in the position that he has
taken, and declares that the purpose of
the action is to get the question before
the courts and have a decision rem
dered Although Mayor Smith did
not fancy the looks of the resolution he
said that he was willing to vote for
it on the theory that it was possible
that the action being taken Intended
to be correct. With the mayor it was
any method by which the repairs can
be made.
Following the passage of the resolu-
tion the object to be attained was
mode apparent. In the name of Frank
Schifsky, of Rose township, Commits
sioner Powers asked that County At
torney Kane at once bring action
against County Auditor Krahmer, re-
citing the words of the resolution that
such action would relieve the county
auditor and the county treasurer of
the financial risk which would be in
CURED by them if the warrants were
to be drawn before the question is
decided in court.
County Attorney SpoiIs Plan
County Attorney Kane, having heard
nothing from the county treasurer that
he had any doubts as to the legal cor
rectness of the county attorneys posi-
tion in ordering the payment of the
money to the township treasurers, re-
marked that it was peculiar that he
should be asked to bring an action
against Auditor Krahmer,- in that the
county is paying him to act as the
auditors legal adviser. Schifsky said
he would engage a lawyer to test the
question.
1t was evident while the resolution
was under consideration that there
had been a Republican caucus on the
situation, and that it had been resolved
that it was necessary that the officials
if possible extricate themselves from
an embarrassing situation. All the
talk centered about such terms as
Financial responsibility" official ac-
tion,'' uncertainty as to legality" ETC.,
but there was little discussion concern
ing the exact condition of the county
roads, and no response to the sug-
gestion of Mayor Smith that if there
had been a real desire to settle the
question legally the case should have
been taken into court several months
ago. not waiting until the very day
before the primaries to order action.
The attitude of the county COM
missioners towards the repair of
roads was demonstrated strongly when
it was proposed by Mayor Smith that
the board proceed to the considera-
ton of bids for extensive repairs on
three county roads.
Commissioner Powers, smooth and
conciliatory, thought that the bids
should not be passed upon until the
next meeting, and moved formally that
the offers be not opened until that
time. Mayor Smith protested that the
work should be done at once or not
at all, but the commissioners leaned
back in their chairs in manner that
suggested that the programme had
been agreed upon. Barney Kuhn, one
of the bidders, did not propose to be
put off in any such manner and de-
clared himself:
Il am the lowest bidder for the work
on the Crosiey road and want you to
pass on the awards, as / have $400 tied
up that. l want to use" stormed Kuhn
Calls Board Lot of Monkeys
Mr.. Powers suggested that it would
do no harm to wait couple of weeks,
and Mr.. Seng thought that the bidder
was oyerstepping the bounds in vir-
tually demanding that the commits
sionerss transact business according to
his suggestions.
my bid has been here for six
weeks declared Kuhn, "and 1 am
tired af waiting on you fellows.
want sSte get out and do business as
there are plenty of men who will trans
act1sucf matters on business basis,
You are nothing but lot of monkeys
anyway declared Kuhn, with en-
phasis.
.I demand that that man be put
out of the room" roared Commissioner
Seng, as he pointed his finger directly
at Kuhn. Il mean you.
Much obliged to you,' said Kuhn, as
he turned on his heel and left the
room, declaring that of ali the public
bodies with which he had done busi-
ness the county commissioners were
the most dilatory.
With Kuhn out Of the way the mo-
ton to postpone opening the bids was
put to vote. Mayor Smith was re-
corded in tha nepafiye and COr11roiS-