The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-01-28
MANKAfo FREE PRESS

through the county to see just how diff
ferent men feel on subjects before the
|court and encouraging them in differ.
ent ways to serve on the jury. II
these reports are true, it is thought
THAT it is high time that q stop is put
Ito the practice, in the interest of law
enforcement and the safety of life and
property in Blue Earth county. This
is subject that il considered at all,
Twill no doubt be given very grave and
careful consideration, for it is well
known how difficult it is to get tangi.
BILE proof, even ii there are suspicious
that may seem well grounded.
Disappearance Of Witness.
Another matter that has caused a
good deal Of agitation among the peo-
pie is that of the disappearance of i'm
pOrtant witnesses, the possibility of
which is believed to constitute grave
handicap to the conviction of Grim
finals. No doubt other things will be
considered. There is no installing the
fact that there is very deep dissatisfac-
ton felt with the outcome of the trial
! Of Mrs. Ledheter.
Position of County Board.
Chairman Young of the county board
stated the other day that the county
board was willing to foot the expense
tof another trial for Mrs. Ledbeter and
for investigating any perjury charges
ior other charges growing out of Mrs.
Ledbcter's first trial. The board is
anxious to see justice done all around.
From Tuesdays Daily.
The charter commission put in last
evening considering the only two points
in the new charter that have not been
perfected. They relate TO the method
,Of collecting special assessments and
what shall constitute a street intersec-
ton. 1t has been thought best to
have the city treasurer collect the as
Iscssments unless they become delin-
Iquent, in which event to certify them
to the county auditor and have them
COLLECTED the same as delinquent taxes.
If the property owners elect to take
the installment plan. they will waive
all future right Ia litigate the assess
ment, and whenever an installment is
allowed to become delinquent it will
be sent to the county auditor and five
per cent penalty added, which will a
little more than amount to the interest
until the following June, when The
Judgment will be sold The question
arose whether, if the property was
sold, subsequent installments could be
collected. and the attorney wished time
10 study this up. 1t may be that
the unpaid installments will all have
to be put into Judgment at once.
Deciding Street intersections.
The commission was united in the be-
lief that street intersection should
comprise what is included in lines
drawn across the streets connecting the
property lines, and that the city ut
large ought to pay for paving and curb
and gutter inside of that square, but
not for any sidewalk except the ap-
proaches to the crosswalks.
The manner of assessing paving as
otoSIitItS WIS I'Lihtu ONcT. iHu IL
seemed 10 be the belief OF the com
mission that paving on cross streets
should be partly assessed on the front
age Of the lots on the other streets, to
the center of the block, in accordance
with the benefits. In other words, the
property in each block should pay just
proportions of the cost OF the side
street as we'll as of the streets in front
of the lots. At present, corner lot
pays the entire cost Of the paving on
both streets, which was thought to
be unjust.
1t was felt that it is not right to
assess a property owner for four
teen inch sewer in front of his lot and
a man further up the street for six
inch sewer. The benefit is as great tod
the man with the six inch sewer as
to the one with the fourteen inc sewer.
for his sewage uses the pipe all the way
down to the river, and the size Of the
seer nearer the river is made larger
to accommodate him and his neighbors
further up and not for those living
nearer the outlet. 1t was thought that
a uniform assessment for sewers ALL
over the city would be fairer.
The commission instructed the sub |
committee and the attorney to put the
unfinished sections into proper wording,
as outlined by the commission, and it |
was decided to hold another meeting
Thursday night. 1t is the intention to
the new charter before the
present month expires.