The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-07-18
Declares Political Organizations Who
Use City Property Must Expect
To Pay for It.
5000 BRIDGE Is PROPOSED
Estimated Cost for 26 Foot Structure
Over Mississippi-Telephon Lines
- Go Under Ground.

Bemidji Socialists are up in arms
because they were refused free use of
the city hall in which to have Lena
Morrow Lewis deliver her lecture
few evenings ago.
Last night delegation of Social
lists from the Bemidji local stormed
the city council with demands to
know why Mayor Parker had refused
them free use of public property.
e. w. Hanna, secretary of the Be-
midi local, headed the delegation
and other members were DR.. Carl J.
Larson and Garfield Akerberg. Mr..
Hanna acted as Spokesman, and when
he had finished Mayor Parker said:
sIt is good thing for me, guess,
that the commission form of govern
ment does not prevail in Bemidji at
the present time, for if it did it looks
as if there would be a recall now in
progress - ...s...
I'VE Want To Know Says Hanna.
Mr.. Hanna said: ..---r. - p.
II am here this evening to ask the
members of this council for square
deal and to know why one set of tax
payers has to pay for the use Of the
city hall for public gathering, while
another set of tax payers, can secure
it free of charge. 1t does not seem
quite right or just. 1t seems to me
that this is the proper time to ask as
to who is in direct charge of the hall.
All we want to know is why we can
not get the hall when others do
"Who has ever got the hall free of
charger" Asked the mayor.
"Why, only last week the M. B. A.
Lodge had it for two sessions" Re-
plyed Mr.. Hanna. ~ =
eyes, the M. B. A. Lodge did have
the hall, but that organization is net
political order" Said Mayor Park
err. -
As to Commission Meeting -
swell, isn't it true that the hall
was let to a commission form Of gov
eminent speaker some time ago. and
wasn't it let free of charge" retort-,
ed Hannah. ~ y "7
"The city hall was given over to
Mr.. Roe that evening, out of respect
to him as an alderman who had
pushed the commission movement in
Bemidji. 1t did not appear to me
that this was letting the hall to any
political organization. have made
it rule to charge for the use of the
hall whenever it is used by political
organization or for dances, or in fact
for anything for which admission is
charged the mayor said.
"Well, what we would like to know
is, who has charge of the hall?''
asked Hannah. -=.- -.
~ The Mayor Explains. Sis
To this Mayor Parker offered this
explanations:
"The city hall is under the control
of the mayor and the city council,
and the council has put it in the
hands of the mayor, and what is more
they can take it out of my hands just
as soon as they wish, without hurt
ing my feelings in the least. If the
hall continues in my hands, every
political order shall pay for its
rental
"The work of cleaning the hall be-
fore and after the meetings, amounts
to about 81 and that is all asked the
Socialists to pay"
1--WE have to let the band have the
hall two evenings week, because it
is an organization that we have to
help support, and the militia has the
hall two evenings week, and as the
hall ought to pay for it's own use,
dol't see how we can possibly let it
out free of charge
Upon motion of Alderman Bailey
the matter went over for one week,
when the mayor will be expected to
report on how best to handle the hall.
Frank Lanes request for a con-.
tinuance of his liquor license was
granted.
Favor $1,000 Bridge.
City Engineer Everts made re-
port estimating the cost Of a bridge
Continued on Page y