The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-17
MFMBFRSOF COUNTY
BOARD ARE STUCK
Commissioners Give Up At
tempt TO Secure Free Car
riaqes for Trips.

There was another lively session Of
the county board yesterday, when the
old question of livery hire was brought
up, but after an animated discussion
of the matter the county attorney
emerged victorious, and if the mem
bers of the board desire livery rigs
for use in visiting the country roads,
they must pay for them out of their
own pockets.
a. Assistant County Attorney O'Neill
says there is no law authorizing the
expense to be borne by the county, and
he has repeatedly refused to yield to
the appeals of the members to be al
lowed an appropriation for this fex-
pIIISe.
The question came up when the sug-
gestfon was made that a number or
country roads should be1inspected this
week. Someone wanted to know how
the commissioners were to get to these
roads, since the county did not allow
for carriage expense. Commissioner
Nash became excited, and offered to
solve the problem. n
1.-The county has to allow this ex-
pense," said Mr.. Nash. II have it from
competent authority
This talk of yours about competent
authority is becoming a chestnut"
said Mr.. O'Neill. There is no law un-
der which such an expense can be al
lowed, and that settles it. I have
heard this talk until am tired of it.
Almost every time this board meets it
calls upon our office to give an opinion
on this same question. There is but
one opinion to be given and you have
had heard that at least dozen times"
Mayor Smith wanted to know if
there was not some way in which the
matter could he remedied.
None that 1 know OF" said Mr..
O'Neill. If the members of the board
think they are right, let them go to
some iveHyInan, explain the law to
him, and see if he will let them have
carriage. If the liveryman is willing
to let you have the carriage and then
test the matter in the courts we have
no objection"
I'VE can't do that" spoke up one
Of the commissioners. "The hverymen
will all refuse u.s.
All Agree to Pay.
Mayor Smith then suggested that he,
for one, would be willing to pay his
share of the cost of carriages, since it
was absolutely necessary that the
work be attended to. The idea struck
Commissioner Powers as good one,
and the Mounds View member put the
question up to the other commission
erS.
Everyone agreed that it was the only
way in which they would be able
to get out in the country, and the
board, for the first time in the history
of the county viii go down into its
pockets and pay for carriages in which
to ride out into the country to inspect
the country roads.
I'm glad there are not any 'pikers'
on this board" said Mr.. Powers, after
the plan had been agreed to. Com
missioner Powers followed up this jolly
by suggesting improvements in his
own district, the total cost of which
would exceed $35, goo. He wanted re-
pairs In his district at a cost of $6,050,
and in addition to these small repairs
he wanted a new county road in one
of the townships near Rosetown. He
also wanted a maeadam road on Rice
street. The commissioners listened
with more patience than was accorded
the Mounds View member at the pre-
ceding meeting, and then laid his reso-
luton on the table.
The question of macadamizing Ar
cade street, from the city limits to
White Bear, was next taken up, the
board being informed that the cost
would be $15,4S0 for the entire job.
County Surveyor Irvine had prepared
specifications for the work, which he
said would, cost $3.50 per mile If
macadam was used. The work could
be done fer e$2,326 per mile, or 1883
for the entire job if gravel was used.
The board decided to lay the matter
over until a later meeting.