New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1920-02-11
BOND ISSUE TOPIC
FOR COUNCILLORS.
SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF FIN
ANGLING NEW PLANT PART
LY IN CITY.
PART OF LICENSE MONEY is
RETURNED TO SALOON
OWNERS.

Although still undecided as to the
erection of a new power plant by the city
of New Ulm the city fathers at their
regular monthly meeting last Tuesday
joined in considerable discussion re-
garding the bond issue to cover the
financing of the proposed new building
With no exception, they were of the
opinion that in case the power plant
is built the citizens of New Ulm will
be willing to back the enterprises by TAX
ing part of the bonds to be issued by the
city. And it was suggested to approach
the city's banks an order to find out their
attitude in this matter and secure their
aid in disposing of the bonds The
matter finally was referred to the finance
committee which was delegated to start
al campaign of enlightenment among
the population in regard to this subject.
It was pointed out that the investment
will be good one and that the security
of the bonds will be as strong as that of
government bonds. They will be issued
in denominations Of 500 and higher.
Special Election.
Councillor Behnke advanced the idea
that it might be we'll to hold a special
election to submit the matter Of a bond
issue to the voters of the city. He
spoke in, the name Of the finance commit
tee. This suggestion was favorably
eceived by the other council members
and it is more than probable that this
special election will be held after the
regular spring election. This, it was
pointed out will give The voter a better
chance to study the p OPPOSITION and
give it his undivided attention which
at the regular election would be abb
sorbed by purely political issues.
The size Of the bond issue will be de-
termined later. /, will be regulated
by the amount needed for the new
tructure
To Rec i've $4o6.25.
Another important matter taken up
at the meeting was that's of refunding
of part of the license money to the for
mer saloon owners. The state law passed
by the 1919 legislature does not make
the return of this money or part of it
obligatory upon the local authorities
concerned. That section Of the law
which deals with this subject was read
by City Attorney W. H. Dempsey. 1t
simply states that the communities con-
.cerned mag refund part or all Of this
license money.
The license for the local saloon keepers
in 1919 was $3.50. Twenty owners Of
the former so-called thirst parlors paid
this amount into the city's treasury, for
the period of April Is, 1919 to April
Is, 1920. But the saloons were closed
July /, 1919, when theWar time prohibition
law went into effect and they were never
re-opened. A refund for this lost
business" was promised the local saloon
men by the city council at the time the
license for 1919 was fixed. Therefore,
the council was under a moral .obliga-
ton to return part Of the money. The
full period of floss" was nine and one
half months and motion was made to
reimburse the saloon men for this whole
period which would have meant little
over $500 to each man. This motion
was amended to read that the amount
for the period from July 1, 1919 to jan
uary 16, 1920, when the constitutional
prohibition amendment went tinto eff
feet, should be paid for the whole time
the saloons were closed, from July /,
1880 April Is, 1920. The amendment
was carried by a vote of five to one.
According to this, each former saloon
owner will receive the sum Of $406.25,
including the states share of 2 per cent.
| The city clerk was instructed to ask the
state treasurer to refund the 8 per cent
for the same period.
To Fight Bad Odors.
Stating that from six to eight inches
Of sediment are to be found in the old
sewers on Minnesota street and Broad
/ way and parts Of State street City En-
gineer F. D. Minium told the city coun,
ell that this part Of the city's sewers could
Ibe cleaned for the amount Of $70O to
/ $500. "A machine for this work viii be
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