Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-05

AGNEElylENl UN
POWER COMPANY
# would be. to his benefit as wen as
70 every taxpayers. to have the new
system adopted DR.. F. J. Duggan,
minute argued in favor OF the ac-
ceptance OF the proposal. MI. Coger
TOOK Objections to this statement and
several. minutes q verbal clash en-
g which Yves brought to an end
when interrupted by Alderman Whit
man., who stated that Mr.. coger had
the wrong impression Of the proposi-
Ton, n as q representative Of the
his belief that he should lend his
support to favoring the acceptance Of
the proposal, Il 1t was going to save
his constituents over $1,000 a year.
other business Men Discuss Measure.
Il. b Griffith also took a. firm stand
An FAVOR Of h proposal. and CON
graduated the council on the
making the estimates. Fred Barthol-
omew. proprietor Of the Frederick
hotel, j. d. Bacon, Daniel Dow, J.
Nelson Kelly. Matt Cotton. and sever
al other business men were>. called
upon to discuss the matter and all
supported the belief that the steam
method Of furnishing power for the
cinty be abandoned for the more
economical electrical power.
Mr.. Dow stated. that it would be to
his benefit to object to the new power
system, as he had recently furnished
estimates for improvements on the
present plant. amounting to a consid-
cradle amount, which would not be
necessary under the electrical system,
but he maintained that as 1t was the
most economical to the city, he was
taken to clinch the contract with the
electrical concern.
Plan Would Mean Mutual Advantages
Northern States Company.
After the expression OF the views
volunteered by the business men, the
discussion dwindled back. to the coun-
Gil andHthe power company represent
tatives. w. HI. Brown, general man
.ager OF. the Red River Power conn
pany, further outlined the purpose Of
his concern in proposing to supply
Grand Forks with power. and gave
facts and figures to prove that 1t
would be the most economical step
for both the city and the power COM
lance of the proposition would place
his company In a position whereby q
reduction in rates could be favorably
considered in the future.
The opinions Of. the aldermen were
divided, Judging from expressions.
with Peterson, Pyes, Veitch and j. F.
Smith In opposition. When the vote
rya - y = - Ir~n - I@-e s- MA > y 800 A~
Attorney Bangs drew up a contract In
which the proposition would be placed
fairly before the council. Alderman ,.
+. Smith cast the only negative vote.
With h Power company's prop0s-
al temporarily disposed Of, the alder
men turned their attention to the bud
get for the ensuing fiscal year. Rec0g-
MIXING the fact that the high cost Of
living has necessitated increases in
salaries, the officials faced no little
task in justly apportioning the month
ly recommendations for service.
A weak attempt was made to reg
ulate h salaries of city employees
when the list was reached, but. City
Auditor Alexander had read loss than
half Of the names on the city's pay
roll. when Alderman T. J. Smith rails
ed the question Of estimating tho an-
nual burden on city taxpayers. A
rough estimate showed at least $4,000
a year added, and immediately pro-
tests were heard.
Several city emploes have been plac-
ed on the tentative list for SO a
month increases, while others were
only given IS. The fact that the city
police were raised but SIS brought Al
derman Whitman to his feet, and he
entered a plea for the patrolmen. He
was backed by Alderman Lockman,
who pointed out the fact that these
men are required to work IL hours
each day for 365 days each year, no
matter What the conditions OF the
weather might be. Alderman J. r.
Smith argued against a larger increase,
but his protest was asst aside by 9TH
ers. AS result the policemen have
been temporarily slated for a $40 In
crease in salary.
Clerks, stenographers, electricians,
helpers, street laborers and employees
Of every city department have been
temporarily placed on the pay roll
or increases averaging from SIS to Sis.
changes will be made al the
~, as the wage scale was hurriedly
set and without. serious confederation,
eired because they believed certain
employees were being favored while
others We're not being given all they
might be entitled to, some of the al
dermen IOrced rhrough temporary
recommendations in order that seri-
GUS consideration would be later de-.
manded and a fair scale adopted.
. The city appropriations were taken
up in q more serious light, but these
Will also be subjected to changes in
order to have the disbursements corr
responding with the salary increases.
Before the budget can be definitely
fixed, 1t will be necessary to know
whether or not the changes in the
system Of operation OF the city pump
ing and heating plant will be APP.
proved. In looking over the appro-I
priations. the fund recommended for
the Strengthening Of the Intersection
of Reeves and Vernon avenue and
North Third street, was struck from
the list. due to the unusual demands
upon the city Golfers for other pur-
poses.
Fortune Teller Wants License.
Considerable routine business was
also disposed of at the meeting. The
first resident license application ever
received from a fortune teller in this
city was favorably acted upon by the,
councils&when Mrs. Gladys Beaupre
was granted permission t o operate
here. The application brought a dis->
.cussion of several minutes duration
which finally ended In favorable ac-
ton, over the protests Of Alderman j.
r. Smith and Alderman Thomas Grif-
,fth.f