The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-05-21
HOSPITAL BILLS CAUSE
COMMENT BY EXPERTS
From Tuesdays Daily.

criticisms Of the ways I'm which bust
ness has been done here. bnt none OF
a serious nature. among the com
ments are the following:
During the past year there mas
been paid 10 the Emmanuel hospital
for service at the detention hospital
the sum of SG53. and there has been
recovered from patients sent there
only sI22.G5. We understand from the
city clerk that there is quite mum
Der Of bills outstanding against patti
cnis which were eplaced i'm the hands
of cX-City Attorney Schaub for collec-
ton. but without result. We called Tor
the production of these bills. but have
not succeeded i'm obtaining them. as
the city clerk informs us that Mr..
Schauh has never returned them TO
him.
For Fire Department Services.
1T was found that nothing had been
collected for the services of the fire
department. rendered in answer TO
calls from outside the city limits.
The fire department officials have re-
ported 10 us that, according To their
instructions. no services of this ma :
lure have been rendered during the
present fiscal year. but ri the same
time submitted TO us the department
report for the last fiscal year. 1915
Il. from which We note that three
calls outside of the city limits were
responded TO. viz:
October II. 1913. call TO Belgrade
avenue. North Mankato automobile
owned by ~. T. Grimes.
f.an IN /
cite street. North Mankato barn oc-
,luicd by Charles Hoffman.
January -. 1914. call In 3l3 Ser
man street. North Mankato. fire I'm
clothes closet i'm frame building occu-
pied as Methodist parsonage.
We think that this matter calls for
serious consideration by both munic-
iualitics. Ry affordiug 10 North Man
kato adequate fire protection. IL would
also be- means of lowering fire rates
The minutes of October -. 1914.
state that North Mankato will con-
tribute $3.50 towards repairs on the
Minnesota river bridge, but so far
this has not been received.
Regarding the Bills.
The attention of the council Is call
I'd TO the fact that the majority OF the
bills presented for payment do not
comply with the state law requiring
that they be sworn to before notary
or Iorson entitled To take such ac-
lnov Judgements.
The work in the city clerks Of
iiro Is being carried out capably and
CCuscieutiOusly.
The records OF the city treasnrer's
office have with one exception been
kept well up TO date. and the monthly
reports. as called for by the city
charter. have been duly filed with the
city clerk. The exception referred to is
the record of old judgments for de-
iinuuent special assessments. In many
cases the record is such that. with
out special investigation into the
surrounding circumstances. il is i'm
possible 90 determine the status OF
them This matter should he submit
ted 20 the immediate attention OF the
city attorney. who should report tn
the council in detail his findings on
each Judgment. and thus enable the
council Ia order a new record to he
drawn mp OF such as are 10 he found
By them To be still outstanding
Anent Check Stamping.
Some of the checks issued by the
city treasurer are stamped with a
cheek protector. This has been done
by him at the bank OF some of the
checks issued. which have been sent
out OF the city. The puchase OF a
check protector and its use on all
checks and warrants issued would
materially safeguard the funds of the
city.
Attention Is called TO the condition
OF the vault in the city trcasur-
cr's office II is not reprool. and in
the event OF fire. valuable records
would undoubtedly be destroyed.
In certain instances. where as =
scssmCntS are being settled for in In =
stallments. several are paid in adj
vance. and then probably no pay
ments are made for a year or two,
during which time II has been the
custom of the treasurer's office not
10 call upon the parties concerned 10
pay interest. This however should be
90 changed. ami interest collected an
nually 10 meet the interest payable
on the certificate of indebtedness
standing against the balance OF i'm
StallmentS outstanding.
The Water Department.
be- In regard To the water department
the report says
The reduced rate of 80 cents pei
! 900 cubic feet should not be allow
ed on less than 500 cubic feet Tor or
the basis OF not less than 1901 pei
house per quarter. wheer the meter
reading has been held over TO ST,
months and where two or moro
houses are supplied through on,
meter. 4 number OF undercharges ar,
found To have been brought about b,
this not being observed.
Where meters cannot be read be
cause houses are closed or the meter,
covered. then an estimated charg,
should be made each quarter. instea,
of waiting until such time as thu
meter reader can gain admission Il
the house.
Where water is turned Off and cl
10 suit the convenience of consumers
d small charge should be made 4
cover the labor cost TO the city. Thi
is quite distinct from the case q
shutting of for non payment. wher
I, 81 Is charged for turning on tn
water"
The report contains lengthy an,
exhaustive statement os the financia
condition of the city i'm every depart
ment. These figures were published Il
The Free Press few days ago