The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-03-27

nance, and asked it to repeal the or
dinance so far as it related to per
manent residents. He was willing t.
give a bono to protect the city in tn,
matter of stolen goods, ]guaranteein.
to report all stolen goods to the pc
lice.
AID. Eichstaedt advised that tin,
matter go over until the next meet.
ing, as a test case is now before the
court and would be decided i'm a few
days.
Aid. Atchison said that every chiel
OF police had wanted this ordinance
and every city of prominence has it
The matter was up at several meet
n9s before it was passed, and now
1T is late for the dealers to appear.
He understood that the dealers were
banded together and had raised a fund
to fight the city, and ne thought it a
good idea to try it out. If the ordi-
nance proves to be too severe, it will
be changed. 1t is intended to prevent
boys selling stolen brass, and in other
ways to protect the public.
AID. Bradley took the same stand.
The junk business is becoming quite
an industry, he said. and it was too
bad if the ordinance hit anybody hard.
Mr.. Salet said that the $25 license
did not protect the city. 1t was the
$4,000 bond that protected the city.
He did not think that the council
would have passed the license feature.
His firm was employing fifteen to
twenty men. The city is trying to
get factories that employ five or ten
men.
Aid. Atchison said that saloon keep
ers, hack men and others have to pay
license, and junk dealers were no bet
ter.
City Attorney Schmitt thought that
if a $25 fee is such a terrible hard
ship to a very responsible dealer. it
would be so onerous as to keep out ire
sponsible dealers, and so protect the
city and larger dealers. The business
is getting to be general, and even the
legislature has acted on the matter.
The Mankato ordinance is based on
the st. Paul and Minneapolis ordi
nance, where the license fee is $3.50.
Aid. Eichstaedt moved that the
sprinkling district resolution be pass
ed. and this was carried. No change
in the district is made from last year.
Assessment Delayed.
Mayor Andrews asked whether the
Improvement had been made vet. and
President Porter said that it had not,
as long as negotiations are on foot to
reduce the amount for the property
owners to pay.
Aid. Atchison said that while the
contractor had not said what he would
do, still from his talk it seems as
though the property owners will be
would refund.
Mayor Andrews said that the city
was entitled to the assessment, and
the property owners are entitled to
know what they will have to pay and
the matter has been allowed to drag
along, which will not do. The coun-
ell has made no investigation, and has
tied the mayors hands.
AID. Atchison said that the council
committee had lone what was expect
ed, and was ready to proceed along
any lines laid down by the city at
torney.
City Attorney 1Schmitt said that he
did not expect Mr.. Coughlan to step
up and pay $1,000. but thought that
a counter proposition ought to have
been made by this time. and if it was
not made by the next meeting the
city attorney should be instructed by
the council to bring suit to recover
the amount overpaid.
Aid. Bradley moved that the city
attorney be so instructed, and this
was carried.
Echo of Paving Litigation.
Former City Attorney c. o. DALEY
appeared before the council and out
lined what he did as special counsel
for the city in the Broad street paw
ing litigation. The fact had been firm
ly established that the city can collect
special assessments. The city's right
had been established beyond a doubt,
from every point of view, and this
was worth a good deal to the city to
know, as it applies to all assessments.
Mr.. DALEY presented his bill for SER