The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-20
NIMOCKS PLAN
OK. D BY COUNCIL
MAXIMUM RATES FOR SEWERS
AND MAINS ESTABLISHED.
This VIII Do Away with the Rebate
Nuisance On All Work to Be Done
Hereafter Ryan Moves
an Appropriation for Public Baths.

4 ! / 6 .
Maximum rates for sewer and water
main assessments were adopted by the
city council last evening on recon-
mendation Of the committee on taxes
The rate for sewers will be $1.5O q
front foot of abutting property and
for watermains IS cents, except when
the cost of the Improvements is less
than these figures, when the assess
ment will be at the actual cost accord
ing to the rule laid down in the Pills
bury case, which revolutionized the
method of levying special assessments.
The action Of the committee was
taken at the instance Of O. A.. MINI
ocks, the tax expert, who showed, that
| if the council had taken such action
years ago there would be no occasion
For granting rebates. The law ex-
ment should be at actual cost, the as
sessment could not exceed the value OF
the benefits. Under normal conditions,
sewers could be laid for $3.50 a foot
and watermains for IS cents, but
sewer which cost from SIS to So per
foot in certain portions Of the city was
| worth no more to the residents nor
the property than similar improvements
elsewhere which cost much less: 1t was
reasonably worth $3.50 a foot to any
property to have sewer facilities and
this figure should be made the legal
| +
maximum rate.
The rebate system was pronounced
by Mr.. Nimocks to be not only expen-
sive to the community, but thoroly
unbusinesslike. The law provided
remedy for abolishing, the, rebate sys!,,
to adopt the remedy. Mr.. Nimocks
argued that not only should the coun-
Gil provide for businesslike system
for levying special assessments in the
future, but it should make arrange
ments for a correction Of the current
textbooks, so that the unsolicited
"ffths'' on the books Of the county
auditor would comply with his sugges,
ton. This would reduce the income OF
the revolving fund by about $4,000
} but this method Of refundment was
much more direct and economical than
to refund this money thru the rebate
system. II,
The committee was Of one mind re
: garding the Nimocks suggestions ano
recommended resolution fixing the
maximum rates at $3.50 and % cents
and another resolution instructing thai
; the current books be altered to cor
resnond with such rates. Both reso
buttons were adopted by unanimous
vote Of the council.
I Ryan Wants BatnS.
! resolution appropriating $4,000 for in
augurating a series Of public bath
! houses along the river from Camdel
Place to Franklin avenue. The resol,1
8 ton was accompanied by list OF fort!
5 men and boys who had drowned in tn
mississippi river at Minneapolis dur
ing the past four years. All these live
would have been saved had there beer
suitable bathing places at. convenient
points along the river. The resolu
tion was referred to the committee OF
ways and means.
ern Pacific Railway company relating t.
suits brought by the city to compel tn
company to construct a highway bridg
: over it's tracks at University and Tween
ty-ninth avenues NE, was read. In thl
: note attention is called to the fac
l that one Of the express provisions o
!. the ordinance Of June Ia, 1900, b,
!, which the railway company was t
! construct bridges over it's tracks q
9 ward street, was that the compan.
), should be exempted from any NOR
4 bridge construction for a period Of te
: years. The city council was asked t
D consider the ordinance carefully an
. then decide whether or not it woule
! thru legal technicality, seek to evad
0 it's moral obligations.
q 1870 were selected and each election dir
= trict was provided with six judges
9 three republicans, two democrats an
n one prohibitionist. The populists hav
9 ceased to exist as political facto
and the socialists are not stron
; enough to obtain places on the electio
!. boards.