The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-07-24
SEEKS FEE FROM
KATO TOWN DADS
from Mondays DAILY.


gas service OF the city. II viii be
remembered that the city council q
week ago allowed aim 800. He
was not satisfied with this.
Mr.. Schmitt said he had been en-
gagged for the service by w. j. More
hart, member Of the city commission,
appointed especially to investigate
the matter. Mr.. Merchant had told
him that he would be employed by
the city further, In case there was a
suit about the matter after the In
vestigation was over. He said Mr.
Morehart had told him that he would
be paid 800 for his services and he
accepted this on the understanding
that he would be further employed,
In case a lawsuit sprung out of the
controversy.
Another Attorney Engaged.
Later he was informed that the
city had engaged s. B. Wilson In his
place TO help conduct the law suit on
behalf Of the city. Mr.. Schmitt said
he had received no notice that his
services had been at all unsatisfac-
tory. He said that In his bill OF
s220. he included $40 for the expense
OF bis. having made a trip to the
twin cities to investigate some SUI
preme court records and get other
Information bearing on the matter.
He said the city recently paid out
500 to another attorney for an opin-
ion on a saloon question. The writ
ing OF this opinion did not amount
TO much more than copying the Ian
guage Of certain statutes. Mr.. Schmitt
declared that his services to the city
In the gas rate investigation were
OF the reasonable value OF $500, and
In asking $3.50, he was asking less
than nifty per cent Of a fair price
for them.
What the Mayor Understood.
Mayor Meyer said he had under
stood that Mr.. Schmitt was to do his
work for the city in the gas rate In
vestigation for 800 and no more.
He knew Of no agreement having
been made that Mr.. Schmitt was TO
represent the city In any litigation
that followed the investigation.
After come further discussion, a mo-
ton by Councilman Lack was at
length passed. allowing Mr.. Schmitt
$s5 more, $40 Of that being allowed to
recompense him for his expenses In
making the trip to the twin cites.
Mr.. Schmitt incidentally stated that
he had heard that there was a re-
port that his being dropped from the
affair was due to the fact that he
could not get along with City Attor-
ney Schaub. He declared that out
side OF the hearing itself, that took
place before the special commission,
there had never been one word Of
disagreement between himself and
Mr.. Schaub.
The city council this morning
wound up the assessment controversy
John c. Wise Jr., Mrs. Catherine
Weaver and Misses Helen and Flora
Wise. by ordering the amount Of
the judgement rendered against the
city in favor Of these persons paid,
the total sum being 1925. The
controversy was over an assessment
for curbing and guttering OF North
Broad street.
City az Collecting Agency.
An order received from an employee
Of the city, directing that the city
pay to an assignee the sum of 500
out Of what money the city owed to
that employee, was simply laid on
the table. City Recorder Bates stated
that II such assignments were hon.
ored, II would have the effect OF
getting the city used as a collection
agency.
Mrs. Frances Shoemaker present
ed an inquiry. asking what was GO
ing TO be done by the city with some
stones that were taken up In front
OF her property at Walnut and
Fourth street. and hauled away, when
the street was improved.
The mayor remarked that such
stones were often given away to
people who wanted them, just for
the hauling. as those who owned
them were glad TO get them out Of
the way. He said the stones had
been in the street for ten years and
must be pretty rotten.
City Engineer Blomquist thought
these stones. which had been placed
on the outside Of the curb, to hold
II In place, ten years ago. could not
possibly amount in value to more
than three dollars a lot.
The matter was left In his hands,
TO see what kind OF a settlement
could be made with the owner OF
the property.
Remove The Poles.
Councilman Lamm called attention
to the fact that more than two
months ago the city council had
given the Northwestern Telephone
company permission to construct
conduct on Liberty street and had at
the same time ordered that the com.
pany remove It's poles from Walnut
street within sixty days. Those sixty
days were up on July II. At his
suggestion the city engineer was IN
structed to notify the company to
remove those poles without delay.
Mayor Meyer called the attention
Of the council to the condition OF
the street fund. which was running