The Mankato free press., 1921-09-23
TALK OF TAXI FEES
Council Gives Phase OF
Life Some Thought
NEW ORDINANCE PLAN
City Dads Late In Getting Ac'
ton Last Night; People
waited Coming

What particular business was
discussed by the mayor and coun-
cIlmen in their star -cnamper
meeting, prior to the regular ses-
sIS,t, ,--L nydt, 10 Know. Sh'y ~
the city dads who spent ABOUT
three quarters OF an hour-more
or iess-In secret coneIave. star
chamber aarnerlnss OF the eoun-
GI,".cu lake ~ tnS o'oe'
OF business previous TO tne sp
pearance in public on the nights
uey are to hvid rne weeHLy
meetings. This has been the
procedure OF every councIi-and
,ne practice grows upon Tns
peoples servants to an extent
tnat is causing unfavorable COM
ment among people eeheraIiy.
Taxpayers who nave matters 10
present to the council are com
PEELED to wait until their Servants
are pleased to come into the open
with the citys business. Last
niuht il was S:45 o'clock before
tho REGULAR session of the council
was called to order. Several gen.
tlemen who had matters to bring
uetore the council had departed
in disgust. Others waited In
disgust.
City Attorney e. E. Gilmore at last
nights meeting of the city council
expressed it as his opinion that the
city is not liable i'll the matter or the
case of Frank Kloppmann, who was
given a building permit for frame
structure on North Second street, IN
the fire limits, and later the permit
was rescinded. City Attorney Gil
more stated that it was govern
menal function of the city. Tor the
general protection OF life and proper.
ty. and for that reason the city is not
liable in the matter.
II will be remembered that Frank
Kloppmann made application to City
Engineer Phil Comstock for build
ing permit Tor a frame building on
North Second street. This permit
was issued, and Mr.. Kloppmann was
we'll along with the construction OF
the building when 1t was discovered
limits. 1t was then that the permit
was revoked. Mr.. Kloppmann through
his attorney. William Stradtmann, has
put in a claim against the city OF
$3.50. which loss he claims he was
put to in making the change to fire
proof building.
Library Budget Increased.
The budget committee OF the Man
kato Public library consisting OF F. E
Fred Kruse, together with Presiden,
]. A. Hancock appeared before the
city council and asked that the bud
get for the coming year be increased
considerably. The added amount
asked for is in the neighborhood oi
$4,000. President j. A. Hancock, wht
,acted as spokesman for the commit
Nee. stated that the business Of the
library is growing rapidly. During
E
books drawn out of the library anG
read The increase in use of library
books. Professor Hancock would place
tcG increase at about forty per cent
The work OF those in charge Of the
:ibrary is not alone in giving out books
.yhen called for, but in aiding in the
election Of certain books, which are
needed for references. More books
were worn out this year, Mr.. Hancock
eaid than the board was able to buy
Every trade and occupation, in fac
Heople in all walks of life had patron
3zed the library during the past year
It is one of the most democratic in.
stitutions in the city, and by far tht
greatest used.
In submitting the figures for mex
years budget, Mr.; Hancock explain
added expense in the way of repairs
which are estimated at $4,000. Par
Of this will be used for the redecor
ating of the interior walls of th'
building and other incidentals. TIL,
hoard used to be able to hire gooC
librarian for about $1,000, but now j
is very difficult to get competen
librarian for that salary. The presen
librarian has resigned her position II
take a more remunerative one in tn,
state of Indiana. 1t is doubtful il Il;
third assistant librarian can be got
ten for a very low figure this season
Fer salary 1t is estimated will b.
$1,000 per year, and part of her worl
will be to assist the school children Il
their reference work. The high schoo
pays half the salary and the librar,
toard will be asked to pay the othe
half
The following is the 1921 budget
and the estimate for 1922:
Purpose
1921 1922
Salaries ...... S24S4.70 $4,000 o.