The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-02-14

aid the people, or will it sit back
and do nothing? The council can stop
lit if it WILL" declared Mr.. Wilson.
Guests Cannot Sleep.
Aid. Schroeder said that the switch
ing makes it impossible for guests
at the Saulpaugh to sleep. The switch
ing must be stopped, and the petit
ton granted.
Aid. Atchison said that the other
aldermen were weak kneed when the
ordinance was up. In st. Paul the
other day, the council gave a rail
road thirty days to stop switching
across a certain street He moved
that the city attorney proceed to
have the road stop switching on Main
street.
Mr.. Schmitt said that the council
might do this, but he had no author
lily to do SO. He suggested that
the matter be referred to commit
tee to see what is the best way to
proceed. 1t would require some
study.
Aid. Eichstaedt moved that the mat
ter be referred to the city attorney
to report at sthe next meeting, and this
was carried.
Mr.. Wilson said that he would as
Isist Mr.. Schmitt in framing up the
proper action, replying to a sugges-
ton from an alderman
Aid. Schroeder, for the committee
on ways and means, reported that the
city has very little money, but can
get along until the March settlement
with care.
Enforce Snow Ordinance
| Aid. Atchison called attention to the
slowness of some people in cleaning
walks of snow. He moved that the
matter be referred to the board of
public works and police department,
to enforce the ordinance which pro
lvides for assessing the cost on the
property.
Aid. Schroeder said that a st. Peter
man today had said that Mankato
was behind the times. At st. Peter
snow is not allowed to remain on
the walks.
City Engineer Haynes said that the
ordinance would not work out well,
but AID Atchison said that it would
be time enough to say this when it
happened.
Free Press Lowest Bidder.
The committee on printing reported
that it had awarded the contract
for printing the city engineers re-
port in pamphlet form to the Free
Press Printing company, the lowest
bidder, at $3.50. The other bids
were Post Printing Co., 800; j. C.
Wise & Sons, $3.50. The award
was approved. -.
New Boiler Needed.
Aid. Gary said that a new boiler
is needed at the pumping station. He
moved that the matter be referred to
the board of public works and COM
I mittee on waterworks with power to
act, and this was carried, after Presi-
dent Porter had referred to the ne
cessity for haste, to get the work
done before summer.
Aid. Schroeder said that it would
cost about 81 500 to revise the ordi-
nances and no provision for paying for
this had been made. "
Provide Money First.
Aid. rAtchison favored leaving the
matter over Until a tax levy can be
made to pay the expense: He favored
having the mayor appoint a new char
ter commission of not over six to pre-
pare a new charter Part of the pres
ent charter is first class and part is
not up to date.
Aid. Gary thought that the city at
torney and council should make
changes in the ordinances.
Aid. Bradley favored letting the
matter of a new charter drop for
the present and fixing up such of the
ordinances as are defective.
Aid. Eichstaedt favored waiting I'M
til there is money to proceed with.
City Attorney Schmitt said that
some of the work might have to be
done over again when the Time came
to print them.
Mayor Andrews reiterated his recon-
mendation that a strong resolution be
adopted, asking the charter commits
sion to reconvene and prepare a new
charter. He favored the idea OF a
new and smaller commission. He
favored a strong resolution asking
the district, judge to appoint such a
commission. He thought that the
present commissioners would be glad
to resign. A new charter should pro-
vide for paying for public improvements
over term of years. Nothing was re-
tarding the progress and Improvement OF
the city SO much as this, he said.
City Attorney Schmitt favored a
large commission, as there is SO much
work to do in preparing a new char
ter. The actual drafting could be
done by a committee.
| Cannot Increase Salary.
| Aid. Schroeder said that the char
tier will not allow the health officer
to be paid more than 5000 a year.