The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-02-14
Ground Robin" Circulated Some
Time Ago; the Result.
But That Official Has Still a
Long String to Pull.
Charges Must Be Preferred; He
Is One of B. of P. w.
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Il move that it is the sense of the
council that City Engineer Haynes
be asked to resign, to take effect
at once," was the motion made by
| Aid. Atchison toward the close of the
council meeting last night Mayor
Andrews called for remarks, and as
the aldermen offered none, he asked
Mr.. Haynes whether he had anything
to say.
Mr.. Haynes replied, without arising,
that he had nothing to say. If his
record as city engineer of Mankato
over a long period of years did not
recommend his work, he would keep
STILL
The question was then put to a
vote, and there was chorus of
"ayes," and not single 'nay." Mayor
Andrews said that the motion was
apparently carried unanimously.
The action of the council is the
result of dissatisfaction on the part
of the aldermen with Mr.. Haynes
work in several instances. They claim
that he has acted without duly and
sufficiently consulting the aldermen,
that he has not sought the advice of
the street committee as his prede-
cessor did, that some of his engineer
ing work has proved expensive to the
city, that some of it is not good
work.
Round Robin Was Signed.
In view of the feeling on the part
of the council, a ground robin" was
signed by all of the aldermen pres
ent at the meeting three weeks ago,
asking Mayor Andrews to request the
resignation of Mr.. Haynes. The lat
ter was sick at the time and not
at the meeting, but Mayor Andrews
took the matter up with him prompt
ly. Mr. Haynes subsequently saw the
aldermen individually, but seemingly
without favorable result.
Mr. Haynes claims that his work
as city engineer is creditable. He
has filled the office about half the
time since the office was created, and
some of the most important work in
the city has been done under his SUI
pervision, and following his plans, in
Guiding the Minnesota river bridge,
the culverts over Warren creek, and
the principal street grading. As to the
particular work that the present
council is not satisfied with, he states
the the construction of the street car
line has necessitated the bringing of
the streets that it traverses up to the
established grade, as the track must
follow the grade and it would not do
to allow it to remain six inches or
foot above the street in places.
AS to the Thompson's creek culvert,
he feels that in the main the job is
good one, and that the city is amply
protected both by bond and by
the character and disposition of the
contractor.
Thompson Willing to Return.
The former city engineer, j. K.
Thompson, has been communicated
with, and has stated that he could
return to Mankato, but that his
year at Brookings, S. d., will soon
be up and that he must know very
soon if he is to come back. This is
doubles the reason why the coun-
ell acted on the matter so decisively
at this time.
Some of the aldermen have been
free in saying that if Mr.. Haynes
was to remain, no important work
would be ordered during the coming
year.
Mr.. Haynes states that member
| of the board of works cannot be
removed unless charges are preferred
and proved. Aldermen say that if he
does not resign, the charges will be
| filed.
As the charges are to be passed
upon by the council in this case, the
aldermen will be the accusers, court
and jury, unless the courts find some
of the charges.
Aldermen last evening expressed
regret that they found it necessary
to take the action that they did.
None felt more badly about it than
Mayor Andrews.
Mr.. Haynes friends feel that he has
been faithful to the city's interests
as he saw them, and has done the
very best that he could under the
circumstances
The Milwaukee switching nuisance
on Maine street is up before the coun-
ell again. Last night a petition signed
by III persons, including leading bust
ness men, was presented, asking that