The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-12-29

ordered by the individual council
men. Mr. Schaub's statements were
to the effect that it was the council
who did all the lawmaking for the city.
Concerning the different funds of
the city he hoped that the commit
tee would secure statements of how
much money there was in the city
treasury last April, how much was
received since, and how much there
was now on hand in the different
funds and what the city owes at
the present time. At the same time
the committee was to ascertain why
the pay roll was SO high in compar-
son with that under the old coun-
Gil, etc.
Regarding the Finances.
Mr.. Schaub stated that there was
$4,000 in the general fund at the
present time and that this will be
eaten up by the first of January and
that the city would be in debt $16,-
900 by March. He criticised the
methods of borrowing money, verify
ing his statements by reading sec
ton No. 73 of the charter, which
provides that the debt of the city
shall not be increased or credit loan
ed. This habit Of borrowing money
every time the city ran into debt
was one of the most odious customs
he could think of.
Mr.. Schaub explained the proper
use of the sinking fund. and that
it should not be abused, by draw
ing from it whenever money was
needed. He touched upon the settle
ment of George w. Monks and said
that this, system of considering a
question in private and then simply
approving it in the open meeting
was not to be encouraged. What was
said and done at these investigation
meetings was of more than local
and passing Importance. as it would
set a precedent for other cities and
the future methods Of running the
city of MaDkato.
Mr.. Schaub concluded his argu-
ment by calling attention to what he
expected Of the cOmmittee-to make
a fair and square report Of the find
ings, to the Commercial club.
Argued for Commissioners.
Attorney c. O.. Daley then argued
for the commissioners. His speech
was short but enthusiastic. He had
not been present at all the former
meetings of the investigation com.
mittee and so did not know Just
what had been done. but he answer
ed the charges from what he had
learned. He said that it was prac-
tically impossible to elect men for
such positions who would never
make mistakes, who would do the
right thing always at the right time.
! The present council has done great
work in this city, for which the peo'
pie were satisfied. They had made
these improvements. it is true. and
sometimes had not proceeded In ex-
actly the right way, but the people
were we'll pleased. t.
His plea was that lot OF the
work which formed the basis Of some
of these charges was done under diff
ficulties. The commissioners did not
understand the provisions and had
many troubles at first following the
charter He thought that there was
a provision in the charter whereby
new assessments can be made, and
that it was not too late to make
these assessments. There was more
than one way Of doing a thing.
Hickory Street Improvement.
",rhe charter is a nice thing and
think all the commissioners should
have tried to live up to it as closely
as they could, but take for instance
the Hickory street improvement
Here was question that had to be