The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-07-01
REQUEST OF COUNCIL
[Continued From Page IL

the Civic and Commerce association
which represents the principal bust
ness men and women of the city
had gone on record in favor such ac-
ton. but the powers that be, had not
seen 1t in that light. Mr.. Streater
said that the members of the pres
emit city council are, past masters
In taking matters under consideration
when action should be taken prompt.
~. He thought that petition OF the
business men and women OF Man
kato as made by the Civic and Com
merce association should have some
weight with the council. |.
DR.. j. W. Andrews said that the
street car company is largely oper-
ated for the benefit of the laboring
man and the man who can not afford
car to go to and from his work.
The great trouble he said, with the
present members of the city council
is. that They forget that they are
representing the people and labor
under the impression that they are
representing themselves instead OF
the people.
Resolution Is Offered.
Following this Dr. Andrews offered
q resolution which was adopted, plac-
ing the association on record as
favoring. permanent relief from paw
ing to the street car company.
General Manager Adolph Mueller.
reiterated many of the statements
ne had made at the council meeting
the night before. He stated that
nothing short of permanent relief
from paving would be accepted by the
street car company. This was neces-
sary IN order to make long time loans
from hnanciers. II this permanent
force the company on the rocks.
Mr.. Mueller stated again the ex-
pense the company had gone into in
the way of first paying for a "rot
ten job OF paving" and then going
TO the extra expense of having for
repairs. when 1t was no fault of the
company. He SAD tnat it was the
duty of the council in power at the
time OF laying the paving to object
and not accept It, At the time the
company had not alone made protest
personally but in writing. Mr.. Muel-
Ter said that the company had al
ready done more than its share and
proposed to do no more. He said
that the statement given out to the
effect that the street car company
was willing to stand seventy percent
Of the expenses of the repairs is not
true.
j. c. NARROW asked in regard to
the removal of snow from the streets
In winter, and Mr.. Mueller said that
ne would be willing to waive that
part of the demands.
j. e. Reynolds said that the ques-
ton on who is responsible for the pres
emit condition of the paving should be
settled. and it was the duty of the
Civic and Commerce association to
take hand in this matter-ah in
yestigation should be instituted
The speaker said that ne understood
that the city engineer had been ELI
minated from the job and one of the
members OF the council, had taken
charge. The paving was then unit in un-
der verbal and written protest from the
Mankato Electric Traction company
Now the street car company is asked
TO pay for the repairs to the pave
ment, and this Is made one of the
conditions OF granting the relief
Mr.. Reynolds, that this organization
which represents the Industrial. fin
ancial and merchantile interests of
this city ought to proceed to find
out who Is 20 blame. If the street
car Is to blame 1t should be made to
paS for the repairs, and If not 1t
should not be required to pay one
thin dime"
Association Should Be Active.
Mr.. Reynolds said that there was
nothing which put the association on
better footing with the public than
to show to the members of the city
council that the street car plant
means something to Mankato. Mr..
Reynolds said that he would admit
that when the question first came UP
he had some doubts as to the merits
or exempting the street car company
from the, burden of paving. Now
with study OF the question, he had
come to the conclusion that the
company Is entitled to the relief
asked for and that in a permanent
form. Mr. Reynolds said that he did
not want to see the company the
political foot ball Of every new
council that comes into power in the
future, and he did not want to force
the representatives of the street car
company to go on Bonded knee and
ask relief which they are justly en-
titled to. II want to say to this body
that 1t has splendid opportunity
now OF demonstrating what influence
1t can WELD" The speaker said that
at several meetings of the council
majority OF those present had gone
sol1dly on record Of granting the re-
lief asked for by the street car com
pany. The speaker urged the asso-
citation members to appear next
tuesday evening and in no mild lang
uage lay the law down to the coun-
Gil members. Mr.. Reynolds remark
ed with considerable emphasis:
Mayor Beach charges the street car
company with not coming to the coun-
Gil with clean hands want to
know IL this city is not in need of
a bath in the matter of the Front
street paving? I would like to see
that whole subject probed" J. w.
Andrews, Mr.. Mueller, w. D. Willard
and l. N. Tompkins together with Mr.,
Reynolds scored the practice of star
chamber sessions of the city council
Owing to the above statements next
tuesdays meeting Of the city council
promises to be wordy one.
Miss Cornelia Mansfield led the
community singing. Miss Bonita
Johnson presided at the piano.