The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-02-05
'RU I { Sci DEfEN / n
STEIN ON REPORT j J |! J. |l
OF Ex Al|lIlN'l.ER \ And u
REFUTES CHARGES
Answer Has Legal Flavor and Also
Embraces Laxity on Part Of
Former Councils.
QUOTES SECTIONS OF REPORT
WHICH SHOW sH0RTC0MINGs


LahraI Invites Council to View Clean
City Hall ; Coal is Ordered for 4
the Library.
An otherwise uneventful council
meeting last evening had as q feat
1 ure the reply Of City Clerk Stein to
allegations that all was not well
with his books, Attorney p. y. Rus
sell appearing for Clerk Stein to
make answer. Mr.. Russell delivered
II q lengthy paper, fully written in de-
n tail, III which ne took the report OF
/ the public examiner and dissected It
IN various phases and practically ad-s
yanced legal defense. As general.
~ accepted, !, there is nothing In the
alleged shortcomings or irregulari-
4 ties that is q reflection upon the hon
esty Of Mi. Stein and the answer OF
X Mr.. Russell IN analyzing the public
s examiners report showed up the
fact that old city councils were also
to blame, in that charter provisions
had been neglected and inattention
G to detail had also aided materially In
causing cont fusion. NJ
Remark Is Yelled 3.
Mr.. Russell paid his respects 70
the public examiner and ripped him
wide open. z.5.
After he had finished for Stein he
thanked the council and retired to
1 the clerks office. He came back
again after a few moments and ex-
pressed his opinion Of Alderman
Lahr, chairman Of the finance COM
mittee, In the course OF which ne
4 pointed his Iipger toward Lahr and
& exclaimed, And we're mot through.
with you yet, Mr.. Lahr: !,
Just why this digressio lon from the
4 subject matter proved puzzle to
], many OF those who: heard i:
The answer WIS referred to the
r4city attorney. I'D 4
''AThe state board of control report
ed that the city Jail needed new
& mattresses and other oyerhauling
/ and this was referred to the build
ing committee.
Report Oh Water Clerk. !,
ls The finance committee Wnlch
checked the books of the former wa
y ter clerk with the assistance of the
+ clerk, reported that the amount OF
actual shortage was $2,164.46 and
y that the city clerk had been instruct
i ed to notify the Massachusetts Bond
ing company OF the shortages at the
end of each year during the term
OF the clerk. The committee also
Ad the assistance Of L. p. Eek
AMrum, acting clerk. The report was
accepted and placed on file. !.
Library Coal Short. h,
Mayor Vandersluis called atten-
tion to the coal shortage at the pub
Tic library. The city had purchased
1 sufficient coal for the winters use
of the library but the fact the Red
Cross came into possession Of the
entire basement for its work caused
Z a heavy increase in the consumption
AZ the library's coal and six tons
additional were ordered to be paid
for out Of the general fund instead
4 Of the library fund, upon motion OF
Alderman Lahr, seconded by Bagley.
AT the last meeting of the coun-
4 oil. in the compilation of annual sal
I aries. the chief truck driver Tor the
e fire department was increased from
i $50 to..S1OO while the assistant was
left at $50. The salary Of the lat
ter was increased to $50 last eve
ming. ssz .:s, rs, u,
- Street is Blocked.
Lahr called attention 10 the con-.
Milton OF Beltrami avenue in front
of the new federal building. There
are two large holes in the pavement
where pines were laid and the av-
enue is piled high. on either side with
sand. interspersed with boards and
r,,hhish This leaves only q single
narrow space for passage by w
/ hicIes and Joanis moved that the
street committee look after 1t. Car
ried.
Clean for Once.
Alderman Lahr appeared IN MS
seat in the uniform of the Home
Guard, The guard was last evening
allowed to 60 to their homes and
renort at 8 o'clock evenings. For
Z the mast four days fully so men have
silent. eaten meals and cooked In the
citv hall and Lahr invited the coun-
cu unstairs to see how clean the hall
and stage were, calling attention to
nrevious neglect in keeping the city
huilding clean, which has often
heen brought up in the council. The
invitation was accepted and the con-
+ 0lClOuS lOuAu O. SeSeAJ
Lahr had stated.
Annual Police Report: ted
his annual report, showing the num-
her of arrests for the past year. the
offenses charged, fines assessed and
collected. The arrests were less than
the year previous. An inventory of
the police department was also CIV
en-. The chief again recommended
We purchase of police auto by the
City and also the appointment of at
Least another patrolman.
The absentees were Aldermen
Clark, Smart and Moberg.