The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-17

"The city railway company has the
right to extend its Lafayette avenue
line to Phalen park on the streets des-
ignated in the order passed by the
council in 1893 and renewed in 1902"
said Corporation Attorney Michael be-
fore the board of aldermen last night,
in response to a request from Aid.
Holt, who has been trying to find
way to provide for the desired extern
sion.
''That order specifies that the line
shall be extended from the present
terminal of the Lafayette line at Mary
land and Greenbrier avenues, along
Maryland to Earl, and along Earl to
the park. 1t was thought more desir-
able to have the cars run on Forest
street, but if the company goes on that
street it will be brought within the
provisions Of the 5 per cent gross
earnings tax Of the city charter.
''As sewers have not been laid in
Earl street, the city cannot order the
company to construct the line, and it
is entirely optional with the street car
company whether it will extend the line
or not The city has, L think, the
right to forfeit the right of the COM
pany, as it was not acted upon
promptly. The original order speci-
fed that the line should be built when
the city acquired land for park pur-
poses at the lake."
Supt. Burdick, who was present at
the meeting, was asked as to the posi-
ton of the street car company on the
Phalen park line, and refused to dis
cuss it.
Amusement Park Killed.
The application of the Interurban
Park Amusement company, presented
to the council four weeks ago, asking
for the right to maintain an amuse-
ment park at the corner of Smelling
and University avenues, was finally
killed by the board of aldermen last
night.
Aid. Dobner said that as the appH-
cation had been referred to him and
! to Aid. Elder, they had decided that
the sentiment of the people of the
Midway district was unanimously
against the establishment Of an
amusement park in their midst. The
application had, he said, been trans
ferred from Smelling avenue to Hamp-
den avenue, but that the objection
against the second proposed location
was as strong as against the first.
"A strict enforcement of section 20,
chapter g. of the charter, will compel
the city to- purchase nearly all it's sup
plies elsewhere" says the city and
county board Of control in its reply to
the charges made by Public Examiner
Johnson, submitted to the council last
night, with. the reply of Mayor Smith
(Which is printed elsewhere In this is
sue). The provisions of the city char
ter should be harmonized," continues
the board of control, land it ought to be
made possible for the city lawfully to
purchase it's supplies of various kinds
from our home dealers and mercantile
houses-which it cannot lawfully now
do II the owner of one share Of capital
stock Of such mercantile house con-
sents to perform any duty for the city
With or without compensation"
Not Under City Charter.
The board of control says in reply to
the charges that it patronized firms.
members of which are connected with
the city government, that it is not a
city board and that it was created I'M
der the provisions of a special act of
the legislature, and that the provisions
of the city charter cannot abridge or
take away any of the rights or powers
conferred by that act
The board of control has a lawful
right to purchase its supplies from any
person who, in the judgment of the
board, can render the best service, even
if such person is an officer of the city
government" says the reply Concern
ing the specific charges the reply states
that the $1,274.20 worth of goods said
to have been purchased from School
Inspector Egan, was purchased from
the New York Tea company; the ST.
226.36 said to have been paid to Otto
Rohland for meats was paid to the
West Seventh Street Meat company;
the $147.24 said to have been paid to
AssembIyman III. J. Haas was paid to
the Haas Bros. Meat company, and
that $96.25 said to have been paid to
Aid. Buschman for blacksmithing was
paid to the East Side Wagon company.
City Engineer Rundlett, in reply to
the charges against the administration
of the funds of his department, says
that $4,000 was taken from the general
fund, for the care of the city dumps by