The Saint Paul globe., December 18, 1897, Page 4, Image 4

About The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905

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4
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WEATHER FOR TODAY.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.— Forecast for Sat
urday For .Minnesota. Xorth Dakota, South
Dakota and lowa— Fair; warmer Saturday
night; variable winds.
Wisconsin— Fair; brisk westerly winds, dl
minlsl-lng. , , , .
Montana— Generally fair; slowly rising
temperature; easterly winds.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
United .States Department of Agriculture,
Weather Bureau, Washington, Dec. 17, 6:48
p. m. Local Time, 8 p. m. 75th Meridian
Time.— Observations taken at the same mo
ment of time at all stations.
TEMPERATURES.
pi__e_ Tem.j Place. Tern
St. Paul — 4 Qu'Appells .. „..—»
Duluth — 8 Minnedosa — 1»
Huron — 4j Winnipeg —16
Bismarrk — 16 — ~ „ '
Williston -U'lioston «-«
Havre —18, Cheyenne — 8-lj>
Helena 8 Chicago 4-Li
Edmonton — 28-jU
Battleford — 24] Montreal 28-JJ
Prince Albert — 22JNew Orleans .... 4G-o2
Calgary 12 New York 44-o0
Medicine Hat .. . .—2O Pittsburg 18-_-
Swift Current .. ..— 14 1 p
~-^Below zero.
DAILY MEANS.
Barometer, 30.47; mean temperature, —2;
relative humidity, 65; wind at 8 p. m., north
west; weather, clear; maximum temperature,
8; minimum temperature, —6; daily range, 9;
amount of precipitation in last twenty-four
hours, 0.
Note — Barometer corrected for temperature
and elevation. — P. F. Lyons, Observer.
ANOTHER UNFIT NO M I NATION.
The president has sent the name of
Joseph McKenna, his present attorney
general, to the senate for its confirma
tion of his nomination of that gentle
man as an associate justice of the
supreme court to fill the vacancy caus
ed by the resignation of Justice Field.
This appointment has been foreshad
owed for some time. The custom of the
senate to confirm immediately the ap
pointment of a cabinet officer when
transferred to some other position has
been, in this case, suspended, and the
nomination goes to the Judiciary com
n ittee with the statement that it will
I■ t bi ..ported back until after the
loliday iff i f_. T!;is, it is said in ex
plar.sticr., is Lccause nominations to
tbe supreme bench need more careful
investigation than do others.
There is good reason in this case
for the .i.. pension and for unusual in
vestigation. There are, in fact, two
gocd reasons. The first is the remark
able course of the nominee as attor
ney general in his official treatment
of the notorious section 22 of the Ding
ley act. We have shown heretofore
how, within a month, he completely
reversed himself in his official inter
pretation of this provision. On Aug.
II he approved of the opinion of his
subordinate that the act covered and
subjected to the additional 10 per cent
duty ... O.OGO worth of diamonds import
ed from Europe through Canada; and,
a month later, Sept. 21, he held
that the act did not apply to goods
so imported. The first opinion was a
clearly reasoned, logical construction
of the law; the latter, written by him
self, was so involved and confused as
to call down upon him the criticism
even of organs of his party. The El
kins trick of interpolation had put the
party in a hole, and the attorney gen
eral was charged with the task of ex
tricating it. He showed himself capa
ble of twisting, distorting, concealing,
sophisticating, making a plain provi
sion meaningless, construing a law to
mean its own negation, solely because
a party emergency seemed to demand
that the law should be nullified. No
man, no lawyer, no attorney general
capable of such seif-stultification is a
fit man to sit upon the bench of the
court of last resort in this country.
Another reason, secondary, and Im
portant only as it confirms the first.
Is the protest sent to the president
from the Tacific coast against the nom
ination of Mr. McKenna. Whatever
may be the personal motives inspiring
it, whether, as Mr. McKenna says, it
is because of unpleasant personal re
lations with the protesters' or, as Is
Intimated, because he is a Roman
Catholic, and the attack is inspired
by the A. P. A., it is remarkable ln
the character of the men making it.
The protest is signed by Judge Gil
bert, of the United States circuit court
of appeals, and Judge Bellinger, of
the district court, the former a mem
ber of the bench of that court with
Mr. McKenna when the latter was ap
pointed to the cabinet, together with
judges of the state courts of the coast
and a large number of attorneys.
After stating their conception of the
Importance of the office to which they
understood the president intended ap
pointing his attorney general, the
qualifications needed for it, the pe
culiar facilities a lawyer's associates
have for determining his qualities, the
fact that leadership at the bar Is won
only by merit, they protest that Mr.
McKenna is fitted for a place on the
supreme bench or for any judicial po
sition neither by "natural gifts, ac
quired learning nor decision of char
acter." This is a remarkable arraign
ment. It took rare courage to make it,
for, if It failed of its purpose, it an
tagonized a man who would be in
position to make it very unpleasant, to
Bay the least, for the protesters. The
compulsion of duty must have been
very strong to induce his associates on
the bench to violate the canons of ju
flicial courtesy. But Mr. McKenna, in
the section 22 case, has furnished the
strongest corroboration of their judg
ment of his qualifications. It showed
his lack of "decision of character;" it
revealed a lack of clearness of mind,
and it betrayed a willingness to bend
the Judicial function to partisan ne
cessities that unfitted him for the posi
tion of law adviser, to say nothing of
a judicial place. We r had, in the in
come tax case, one instance of this
pliability of a justice of that court,
and he should not be reinforced by
another equally lacking in decision of
character. Of his confirmation, how
ever, there seems to be little doubt.
The popular respect for that bench
will not be heightened by the acces
sion of Mr. McKenna.
A SINGULAR PREDICAMENT.
Directly In line with the investigation
the Globe has been making into the
startling increase in the expense of our
state institutions, and confirmatory of
its prediction that the next legislature
will have to face deficits ln their ap
propriations, comes the meeting of the
trustees of the insane hospitals to solve
the puzzle set before them by Secretary
Hart of how to avoid a deficit that, on
the present scale of expenditures, he
says, will amount to $130,000. The fiscal
year of our state begins on Aug. 1.
We have the extraordinary spectacle
of the trustees of the hospitals meet
ing at the opening of the second quar
ter of that year to devise ways and
means for preventing a deficiency of
$130,000 during the remaining three
quarters. This condition supplements
and harmonizes with the condition of
the revenue fund of the treasury', which
showed a deficiency of $53,000 at the
end of the first quarter of the year.
Since the fiscal year we have had re
ports of the investigation being made
under the law of 1897, into the number
of inmates of these hospitals who are
not properly chargeable upon the stats.
We have been told of the number that
have been found who belonged to and
were sent to other states and of the
reduction of expense thus brought
about. And yet the appropriations for
this fiscal year are less than the ex
penses, by what we may accept as an
under rather than an over-estimate, ln
the sum of $130,000. The appropriation
for each of the years 1808-99, for the
support of the hospitals, exclusive of
buildings, repairs and Improvement!.,
is $516,400. If this sum is insufficient
by the amount estimated by Secretary-
Hart, the cost of support for the fiscal
year 1898 will be $646,400. or $103,000
more than ln 1896, which, as we show
ed, was twice the average for the pre
ceding fifteen years.
It is claimed that the legislature did
not allow for the increase, which is
said to be 7 per cent compounded an
nually. The number of inmates report
ed ln the three hospitals on Sept. 30,
this year. Is 3,071. At the stated aver
age cost of $3.25 per week or, say $170
a year, their support would cost $522,
--000 or 56.CC0 more than the appropria
tion, leaving $124,000 of this deficit to
be otherwise explained. Aga!;: it is ex
plained that the appropriation was
based on an estimate of 2,900 inmates, }
but the appropriation for 1898, $516,000,
at $170 a year per inmate, will support
for a year 3,035 inmates or thirty-six
less than were cared for on Sept. 30.
The support of these thirty-six will
hardly account for the anticipated de
ficiency." There is a provision in the
law permitting appropriations for one"
fund to be transferred to another; has
any of the fund for support been
transferred to the building or the re
pairs and improvement funds?
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES AND FAIL
URES.
To tho Editor of the Globe.
A number of the scholars of the Rochester
Industrial school would like for you to answer
the following questions through your paper,
If it will not be too much trouble to you:
First— Approximate cost of presidential cam
paigns. Second— Number of business failure*
in the years 1893 and ISD6, and cause of
such failures. Please answer and oblige.
—The Rochester Industrial School.
Rochester, Dec. 8.
1. This Is incapable of being estimat
ed with anything at all approaching
even probability. The defeated party
usually attributes its defeat to the im
mense sums of money used by the vic
tors, and there was some basis for this
last year in the business habits and
ideas of Mr. Hanna. If large interests,
deriving profits from government poli
cies, are threatened by the party's pro
posed policy, they usually contribute to
the campaign fund of the opposing
party. But It is safe to say that these
contributions are always very much
exaggerated. A guess, more than an
estimate, at the expenses of meetings,
bands, uniforms of clubs, speakers,
"literature," conventions, polls or can
vasses, and all the usual and legiti
mate expenses of a campaign would put
the amount between three and five mil
lion dollars for all parties In the field.
And then It would be but a guess.
2. The number of business failures
In the United States ln 1593 was 15,
--242, with total liabilities of $346,779,889,
and ln 1896 there were 15,088 with lia
bilities of $226,096,534. The causes range,
ln the order of their results, from in
experience, with its mismanagement,
down through bad management, acci
dent and several minor causes, to
fraud.
"THOU SHALT NOT STEAL."
The Milwaukee Sentinel refuses to
"call old notions fudge," and bend
Its conscience to its party's dealings
at the beck of the administration of Its
party. Under the caption of "The
Wishes of Hawaii," it says:
If it be true that a majority of the popu
lation of Hawaii Is opposed to annexation,
the annexationists ought to abandon their
cause. They ought to do this, even If the
better educated inhabitants of tho Islands,
Europeans and Americans, wish to be an
nexed. To allow the fate of a country to
be determined by the wishes of a minority
of Its inhabitants, even if this minority has
nearly all the education and most of the
money, Is not the American way of doing
things. Even our annexationists will hardly
maintain that we want islands whose Inhabi
tants mostly prefer to be left to their own
devices.
It is at present impossible to know whether
a majority of the inhabitants of Hawaii Is op
posed to annexation. Such evidence as has
been given— like the petition against annex
ation presented by Mr. Hoar in the senate
indicates that there is such a majority. Tha
evidence is at least strong enough to make
one thing plain, namely, that It is not yet
certain that there is in Hawaii a majority
favorable to annexation. Until this Is cer
tain no step toward annexation should be
taken. This much will hardly be denied by
the annexadenists.
When senators are being whipped
into line to support the annexation
scheme, called by a severe stretch of
truth a "treaty," because it is "an ad-
THE SAINT PAtrt, GLOB 3: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1897.
ministration measure," and when the
bulk of the party, press Is putting out
specious and conscienceless reasons
for consummating the steal of a peo
ple, it is refreshing to find one paper
more loyal to Its conscience than to
Its party leaders, standing by the tra
ditions and principles of the republic
when its party is abjuring them. It is
cheering that not all "sons sit silent
when base deeds are done."
The shortstop editor of the St Paul
Globe calls Prosperity "her" and he seems
to think he would know "her" If he should
meet "her." We would like to inqulre l for
information, when "it" got to ba a "her?" —
Faribault Journal.
The cornucopia contains prosperity; always
it Is a fair damsel who gives the cornucopia
the tip that scatters its contents over a
smiling land. Consequently It Is polite, as
well as accurate, to refer to prosperity a3
"her." That is the real, genuine prosperity;
not the kind that bears the Hanna bureau
brand. We would not refer to that as even
"It;" we would style it "nit."
If it is really Intended to send a solid gold
statue of President McKinley to the Paris
exposition wo shall have to insist that it be
mounted on a silver platform, just to pre
serve the unities and carry out tho idea of
bimetallism. And then they might put a lit
tle greenback fringe on it, Just to make old
man Weaver feel good.— Princeton Union.
And then, to preserve the eternal verities,
have that St. Louis money plank engraved
on the pedestal.
-••».
The old saying that "Great minds flow to
gether" was never more clearly exemplified
than ln the editorial (?) features of the New
Prague Times, Belle Plaine Reporter and
Montgomery Messenger, published on th_
same day, last week, each had five editorials
(?) that were exactly the same, word for word
and letter for letter. Where Is the machine?—
Jordan Independent.
Tha machine is in Room 1, Glover Building,
Washington, D. C.
Tho price of sugar stock la tumbling. Why
don't the opposition shout, "it is tho Dingley
law." — Fairmont News.
Because they are not chumpe. They know
that tho Dingley act sent the stocks up, and
they know that the fall is only one of the old
tricks of shearing the lambs who bought on
the crest.
-^__-
The 2d district editors ought to get to
gether at some central point early in the
spring and unite in demanding what they
are entitled to in state politics. "In unity is
strength" and without it we are liable to
get small recognition.— Echo Enterprise.
An enumeraton of what they think they are
"entitled" to, the form it should take, the
size of it and their reasons for demanding
would be interesting reading.
ELECTION JUDGES GUILTY.
Small-Sized -.lot ln a Chicago Court
Room.
CHICAGO, Dec. 17.— John J. Hanra
han and Patrick Ferris, judges of elec
tion In the Seventeenth ward at the
last municipal election, were today
convicted of falsifying the election re
turns and sentenced to the peniten
tiary. Albert J. Purvis, an election
clerk who was on trial with them, was
acquitted. Both Hanrahan and Fer
ris had many friends in the court room,
and when the verdict was announced
there was almost a riot. Mrs. Hanra
han, wife of the convicted man, be
came hysterical, and her female friends
added their vocal powers to hers as
she sent up shriek after shriek. The
male friends of Hanrahan and Ferris
eurped the jury vigorously and made
vicious threats against" Assistant
S t.itc's Attorney Barnes, who had
prosecuted the case.
BANDITS UNSUCCESSFUL
Attempt Made to Wreck a Fait Mall
Train,
CHICAGO, Dec. 17.— An unsuccessful
attempt to wreck the fast mail train
from New Orleans to Chicago on the
Illinois Central was made last night
near Alma, 233 miles from Chicago. Six
pieces of fish plate iron, four feet long,
were placed across the track at a place
where the embankment was very steep.
The train struck them while running
at a rate of fifty-five miles an hour, one
of the plates being cut completely in
two. Fortunately the engine did not
leave the track. The motive was pre
sumably robbery.
CHINA BOWS DOWN.
-Willing to Concede Kiao-Chon Bay
to the Kaiser.
LONDON, Dec. 17.— A special dis
patch from Shanghai asserts that
China will acquiesce in Germany's re
tention of Kiao-Chou. Russia and
France are Irritated at Germany's pre
cipitancy In thus prematurely disclos
ing her plans to England and Japan ln
a manner likely, says the dispatch, to
defeat the objects in view.
a
Til! .ill BOSS TOO YOUNG.
Hundred Cigarette Girls at New
York Go on a Strike.
NEW YORK, Dec. 17.— About one hundred
cigarette girls struck today in Seldenberg,
Stiefel & Co.'s factory because Foreman Hen
ry Ganz waa too young. Ganz Is aged twen
ty-two and the girls said he was too boyish
and frivolous for a boss. They also charged
that he employed his brother and sister, giv
ing them the best work. Some of the men
went on a strike in sympathy with the girls,
but the friends of Ganz say they did so be
cause thoy aro Jealous because so young a
man was placed in authority over them.
During the forenoon pickets were posted at
the factory to dissuade girls from taking the
places of the strikers. Latex it was stated
that the foreman had been removed, but the
girls then discovered that they had a new
grievance and would not return to work.
CHARLES G. DAWES.
(New Comptroller of the Currency.)
_s__-
Consolidation Delayed.
CLEVELAND. 0., Dec. 17.— 1t will be at
least three months before the next step can
be taken in forming the big wire nail combin
ation. The date to which It is now under
stood that the options extend for the sale of
properties for the consolidation is March SJ.
■•__.
Postmasters Appointed.
WASHINGTON, Dec 17.— Postmasters were
appointed today as follows: Minnesota— Clear
Lake, Sherburn county, Edgard White, vice
Leland Coates, removed; Crow Wing, Crow
Wing county, William W. Hutching, vice
H. H. Poole, resigned. North Dakota— Adler,
Nelson county, E. B. Harrison; Grtswold, La.
moure county, Edward Smith. South Dakota
—Hartford, Minnehaha county, Peter Meat__
Wisconsin— Buckeye, Sarah C Bowers.
BY EASY PAYPHTS
CHARTER COMMISSION TALK OVER
THE INSTALLMENT PLAN OF
TAYING ASSESSMENTS
FOR LOCgJ IMPROVEMENTS.
MATTER RHP £• RED BACK TO AS
CERTAIJ^Ira . HANGE CAN BE
MADI LEGALLY,
AND TO SLBMIf A FEASIBLE PLAN.
Sections Relatla % to the Board of
Public Work • and Engineer
Are Adopted.
The charter commission devoted the
greater part of last evening to discuss
ing the so-called installment plan of
collecting special assessments for local
improvements. No definite action re
sulted, the whole matter being referred
back to the committee, with instruc
tions that the committee ascertain
whether any change can legally be
made ln chapter 7 of the present
charter, and If so, report If feasible,
a plan for paying assessments by In
stallments, such plan, however, not to
Involve any pledge of the general credit
of the city.
The matter came before the commis
sion ln the shape of a partial report
from the committee appointed to draft
chapter 7, relating to local Improve
ments and special assessments. Mr.
Horn is the chairman of the commit
tee.
The committee announced at the out
set that it desired instruction upon
the question of adopting th. installment
plan of paying special assessments,
which appeared to be favored by the
chamber of commerce and a number of
citizens. The report says:
The Indiana system in use In Indianapolis,
under the general law of 1891, has received
considerable attention as a precedent In
street improvements the assessment of the
expenses, with exception of street intersec
tions, etc., is assessed upon the lots abutting
on the Improvement, according to their front
age, and the city Is liable to the contractor
to the extent of the money actually received
from the assessment.
Under the foregoing system it Is pro
vided that the assessment for the im
provement of any street or alley may,
at the option of each property holder,
be payable irt ten annual installments,
whoever desires to exercise such privi
lege of payment by Installment shall, at
any time before expiration of thirty
days after the allowance of the final
estimate, enter into a written agree
ment that, In consideration of such
privilege, he will make no objection to
any Illegality or irregularity with re
gard to the assessment against his
prcperty and will pay the same as re
quired by law with the specified inter
est.
Other provisions are made for fore
closing such assessments by a lien
holder by action in court, under which
a decree of sale Is rendered and the
property of the delinquent owner sold
subject to one year's redemption. Sec
tion 82 of the Indiana law reads:
"Failure to pay any installment of
principal or interest when the same is
due shall bring all Installments of
principal yet unpaid forthwith due and
payable." In lowa there is a similar
system, under the general law, which
■provides-" for ' seven installments. . A
practical difficulty is to be considered
in this connection ln 'making-provision
for payment to the contractor, as these
assessments do not make the city lia
ble except for the fund collected. In
Indiana, probably to obviate this diffi
culty, there Is a provision In their
law under which bonds may be issued,
payable out of the fund collected and
bearing interest, which may be either
sold or paid to the contractor.
In conclusion the report stated:
We enclose one of the form of certiflcates
of the Btate of lowa, and also their form of
contrast One of the difficulties in our own
system, outside the question of payment of
assessments to be made in installments, is
the feature substantially similar ln Indiana
and lowa, and perhaps other cities, whereby
the city Is not liable to the contractor except
for the fund collected. The contracts in use
in this providing substantially that the con
tractor Is to receive his payment out of the
proceeds of the assessment. This provision,
no doubt, has gone far to prevent competition
in bidding for work, and haa a tendency of
greatly Increasing the price at which con
tractors are wiillng^to do such wcrk owing to
the uncertainty of prompt payment and the
difficulty Eom-time it disposing of their cer
tificate or claims, as well as the necessity
of resorting to borrowing money to enable
them to proceed with their work. The prompt
taxpayer pays for this addition to the market
price for such work to the same extent aa
tha delinquent. Whether the other difficulty
in furnishing' funds to pay the contractor
under the installment system would be obviat
ed by such provisiqns as are found in tha
law or Indian* and lowa, and perhaps other
states, is a itfattef' to be considered.
Chapter 255 of thti Laws cf 1897 of our own
statutes, provides a. follows:
'•That the .erttflcates of indebtedness Is
sued for the creation and maintenance of a
permanent improvement revolving fund shall
not be considered as portion of the indebted
ness of the city for the purpose of this sec
tion," referring to certain limitations as to
power of city to borrow money, etc., (sec
tion 10). This provision should be carefully
scrutinized with the constitutional amend
ment, and may afford the means whereby
the city may safely issue certificates of in
debtedness ln anticipation of collections from
assessments at a low rate of interest, so aa
to mako up to a reasonable extent deficits
in collection from the assessments, and pro
vide a fund for paying the contractor aa his
claims or estimates fall due punctually ln
cash. Th 9 amount of such certificates of In
debtedness outstanding at any one time might
be limited to a certain fixed sum.
Mr. Lightner, in opening the discus
sion,' remarked that the privilege
granted by the existing charter al
lowing property owners to pay their
special assessments ln five equal In
stallments was not taken advantage
of to any noticeable extent. But, If
the proposed Installment plan was
adopted, the difficulty would be that
the city could not get the money with
which to pay its contractors. In Du
luth the certificates Issued for assess
ments for local improvements were
backed with the credit of the city. Mr.
Lightner thought that, if the commis
sion was ln favor of the Installment
plan, the committee should report to
the commission such Installment plan
as It approved. Mr. Lightner thereupon
put his suggestion In the form of a
motion.
Judge Lusk thought that the Install
ment plan was indirectly an effort to
shift off on the city the burden of pay
ing assessments on property the own
ers of which neglected to pay their as
sessments. It was whipping the devil
around a stump. The result of the
plan would be that the property own
ers will quit paying for the Improve
ments, and the city will have to bear
the burden. Judge Lusk deemed it
the natural and legal duty of the own
er of a lot to take care of his prop
erty to the middle of the street, to
maintain it ln proper order and condi
tion. It was to the interest of the own
er of the property to keep It and the
street in an improved condition. This
squirming around of property owners
to make some one else pay the expenss
of taking care oflt had been going on
since the ddya of Adam. Judge Lusk
cited the conditio^ of things ln Omaha
in support qf his (assertion that the In
stallment plan wua a failure. The
judgment docket books there proved it
Mr. Lightner said he agreed with al
most all that Judge Lusk had said,
and he didn't think it would be wise to
pledge the credit of the city for the
payment of these certificates, but It
didn't follow that when, an Improve
ment is made, that a man ought to be
obliged to pay fof & heavy Improve
ment at once, such for instance as pav
ing a street -with asphalt, or cuttine; a
street through a hllL la such cases
the owners couldn't borrow any more
money on their property and they fre
quently lost it in consequence. Some
times the cost of the improvement was
more than the lot was worth.
Mr. Lightner wished It understood
that he was not advocating the On
tario, or installment, plan, but he want
ed to speak in behalf of those people
who are suffering under the present
system of levying and collecting assess
ments, and he thought the installment
plan ought to be looked Into and con
sidered. If the city was going to allow
property owners to pay in install
ments, wouldn't it be wise to provide
that the application for judgment be
postponed until the property owner is
in default. Mr. Lightner suggested
that the city might assign its lien on
the property instead of selling the ce_
tlficate of assessment, and so the peo
ple could avail themselves of this
privilege.
Judge Clark wondered if anybody un
der such an agreement would touch
the city certificates with a ten-foot
pole.
Mr. Lightner thought that the pur
chaser of the city's lien might fore
close it-
Col. Clough at this point suggested,
that the committee on chapter VII. be
requested to formulate a plan and sub
mit it to the commission. Col. Clough
here referred to a provision ln the con
stitution of Minnesota — Article 9, sec
tion 1, which says that all taxes shall
be as nearly equal as can be, etc. This
article has been amended so as to per
mit the legislature to authorize muni
cipal corporations to levy assessments.
The constitutional provision was not
self-operative, for the legislature must
pass a specific act authorizing such as
sessment to be levied and prescribing
the mode of levying it. Such an act
had been passed. Col. Clough there
fore held that the present charter
must be followed ln this matter or else
the city must fall back on tho general
law. If the city Is to be governed by
the existing charter in the matter of
assessments, were there any other leg
islative acts to be observed? CoL
Clough said he would be afraid to Ig
nore any legislative provisions on the
subject of assessments, and would like
to have the committee ascertain if the
commission was not restricted to the
present charter, and also Investigate
with a view of learning whether some
installment plan could be Inserted be
tween the clauses providing for the
judgment against and the sale of the
property. Col. Clough added that the
committee would be wasting Its time
if it reported any plan that contem
plated the city's assuming any liability.
Mr. Lightner thereupon amended his
motion that the committee be request
ed to submit an installment plan by
adding a proviso that the plan shall
not Involve the pledging of the city's
credit for the payment of the assess
ment or the contractor for the doing
of the work, but should involve the
proper provisions for the payment of
the contractor.
Mr. Lindeke predicted that, if any
installment plan was adopted, the city
would be saddled with an additional
indebtedness of $3,000,000 or $4,000,000,
unless the city was guarded against
being made liable to pay the assess
ment.
Mr. Lightner then submitted ln placa
of his first motion the following reso
lution:
"That tho committee on chapter 7 exam
ine and ascertain whether In their Judgment,
under article 9 of the constitution, any change
can be made in the provisions of chapter 7,
and if so report, If feasible, a plan for for
paying assessments ln Installments, such plan
not to involve any pledge of the general credit
of the city, but to provide for means for pay
ing contractors."
The resolution was adopted by a
unanimous vote.
Col. Clough then moved that the
commission adjourn over the holidays
until the first Monday In January, and
that thereafter the commission meet
on Monday and Friday evenings of
each week. The motion prevailed. It
was also understood that all commit
tees be ready to report at the next
meeting.
During the earlier portion of the ses
sion, the commission disposed of the
sections in chapters 6 and 8. that were
referred back to be redrafted.
Chapter 6, establishing and govern
ing the board of public works, which
was thoroughly discussed at the meet
ing of Dec. 3, and which was referred
back to the committee to be redrafted
in accordance with the instructions
then decided upon, was submitted by
the committee as redrafted, and for
mally adopted section by section. The
principle changes are: First, that the
city engineer shall be elected by the
mayor, president of the board of public
works, president of the water board
and president of the park board; sec
ond, the mayor shall designate one of
the four members of the board
of public works as the presi
dent thereof, and he .hail d»\-ito
his whole time to the duties of the of
fice and receive a salary commensu
rate with his services, while the re
maining three members shall receive
nominal salaries.
The half dozen sections of chapter
8, governing the health department,
which were referred back to the com
mittee at the last meeting, were also
submitted as drafted and adopted.
THEY LACK EMPLOYMENT.
.Ins.. Meeting of Would-Be Workers
Yesterday Afternoon.
The organized unemployed held a
mass meeting yesterday afternoon to
listen to addresses delivered by A. Par*
adls and F. R. Hays. Mr. Hays, th©
first speaker, urged his listeners to or
ganize co-operative banks, claiming
that a number of prominent citizens
promised their moral and financial sup
port to such an Institution. He said:
"Labor Is the basis of capital. You
can destroy all our large banks and
the people will not starve; on the con
trary, they may receive a more Just
compensation for their services than
under the present banking system,
which enriches the rich at the expense
of the poor."
Mr. Paradls said: "When congress
convened, the eyes of the nation were
turned toward Washington, hoping to
see the wheels of industry restored
to their former activity. The half
famished citizens expected bread and
work, but received a volley of bullets
fired from the muskets of irresponsi
ble bullies, who were ever ready to do
the behests of corporate power." Con
gress, he asserted, cost the people
$100,000 a day to discuss the Dingley
bill, which had for Its object the fur
ther enrichment of the wealthy, and
making the poor poorer. The Republi
can party had played its last card.
The people cannot expect relief from
that party, dominated, as it is, by
trusts and corporations.
"Private charity," continued the
speaker, "crushes out manhood and
only makes slaves and not good citi
zens. In Mr. Morgan private charity
is exemplified, when he compels men to
saw fifteen to thirty sticks of wood
for a bowl of thin soup. What the
people want," he asserted, "Is
not charity, but an opportunity to
work, and to that end the organized
unemployed would lend Its best effort."
After the speaking, the following
permanent officers were elected: A.
Paradls, president; F. R. Hays, secre
tary. An organization committee of
nine was also elected consisting of T.
H. McMahon, S. Feehon, C. D. Peppard,
F. X. Prevost, John McCarthy, Henry
Dammar., Mark Bishop, John Flaherty
and L. A. St. George.
A constitution and by-laws were also
adopted. The organization committee
will meet at 103 East Fourth street
next Monday evening at 7:3 a A mass
meeting will be held again next
Wednesday at Labor ball at 8 o'clock.
THREE MONTHS TO REFORM.
Mary Blooming Will Be Given That
Chance.
Maxy Blooming was befors Judge
__wohy yesterday charged with "va
grancy. The youn_r woman admitted
that she had left her home in the
southern part of the state some months
ago, and had been wandering about
since. She was sentenced to thirty
days ln the workhouse but D. T. Wel
lington asked that she be allowed to
be taken to the Rescue home, and the
court agreed to this disposition. The
court tab shows that the case was con
tinued to St, Patrick's day at 9 o'clock.
IN CHRISTMAS VINES
Are the Decorations at Current
Event, la Local Society.
Miss Alness, of 463 Ashland avenue,
gave a dancing party last evening for
her sister, Miss Dora Alness. The de
corations was entirely of holly Christ
mas green and handsome palms. Miss
Alness was assisted by Mrs. O. O.
Searle, Miss H. Holman, Miss Richard
son, Misses Boeckmann. Miss E. Hall
berg and Miss May Alness. The pro
gramme consisted of ten regular num
bers. At the conclusion of the first part
of the programme the young people
formed into a grand march line and, to
the strains of music, were lead by Miss
Dora Alness and Mr. Elbert Young up
stairs, where refreshents were served.
The members of Lodge 59. B. P. 0. 8., who
are fond of social diversion gathered la_tt
night in their b.au_lf ul hall, and, with their
wives and sweethearts and friends, made
the third social event of the season, to which
the members of the gentler sex are bidden,
by far the most successful of the series.
The Twin City Mandolin cluh furnished musio
for a score of numbers, most of which were
round dances, the floor was waxed to a point
of perfection and the dancers put ln the
time to good advantage until 11, when
light refreshments wers served. Some punch
waa brewed and dispensed during the even
ing, and the pleasure and comfort of the
Elks and their guests were looked after by
the committee consisting of Messrs. Harry
Hardick, Adolph Mlcbaud and Charles Lie
brock.
Miss Barry's dancing classes had an lafor
mal hop l_3t evening at the Aberdeen. This
evening they will give a german at the
same place.
Miss Hallberg will entertain at a dancing
party Wednesday evening, Dec. 29.
Mrs, L. L. C. Brooks, of Western avenue,
gave a series of cinch parties Thursday and
Friday evenings. There were seven tables
each evening company. The decorations were
palms and American Beauty roses.
Mrs. W. D. George, of Dayton avenue, gave
the second of a series of progressive euchre
parties yesterday afternoon. Thore were six
tables. The rooms were prettily decorated
with roses and carnations for the function, at
which Mrs. C. A Davis and Miss Miriam
Sproat assisted.
Miss Lyon, of St Catherine's school, will
entertain at tea Monday afternoon.
Miss Elsie Constats will give a dancing
party Thursday evening, Dec. 30.
Mr. and Mrs. William Topllff left last even
ing for Boston, where they will take up
their residence for the future. Mrs. Russell
R. Dorr will take Mrs. Topliff's place as
organist In the First M. E. church.
The second regular afternoon musical of the
Schubert club will occur Wednesday, at 3:30
o'clock, ln Cambridge hall, Ryan annex. The
second division will have charge of the pro
gramme, the instrumental phase of which -will
be arranged by Miss Annie Wilson, and the
vocal by Miss Grace Morehouse. They will
be assisted by Mrs. Vina Avery Smith and
Mr. D. F. Colvllle.
Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Hayes will entertaln
Mrs. Hayes' Sunday school class this even
ing.
Charles Hodum, of Genesee street, will leave
soon for his future home at Mena, Ark.
Mr. and Mrs. S. 3. Kirk, of Laurel avenue,
have returned from the East
Augustus Clapp, of Portland avenue, will
return from Yale for the holidays.
Miss Georgia Grant, who Is now at Vassar,
will spend the holidays with the family of
Col. Jones, ln Baltimore.
Mrs. W. H. Dixon, of Ashland avenue, will
leave early in January for California.
Mrs. O. D. Brown and Miss Edna Brown
will ieave Wednesday to spend the winter
ln Rlverßtde. Cal.
Mrs. Shurrick and Mrs. A. P. Moss of the
Dacotah flats, are entertaining Mrs. Louise
Rial, of the "Piney Ridge" company, during
her stay ln the city.
Mr. and Mrs. Driscoll and Miss Driscoll
have returned from the East
Miss Moses, who has been visiting friends
in the city, has returned to Trenton, N. J.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thompson, of Sum
mit avenue, have gone to Thomasville, Ga.,
for the remainder ot the winter.
Mrs. John Silver, of Lincoln avenue, ts
entertaining Mrs. David Rice, ot Preecott
Wis.
Mr. and Mrs. James J. Dartmouth, of Den
ver, are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Clark, of Holly
avenue.
PUPILS OF MISS RICHARDS.
Recital of Programme — Well Select
ed and Carefully Rendered.
The pupll3" recital, given under the di
rection of Miss Richards. In Dyer's hall, Inst
evening, was well attended and gave evi
dence of the careful work of the instructor.
It is much more Just to speak of such a
concert as a whole than to estimate the In
dividual work, as the pupils aro not sup
posed to have attained as yet the dash and
brilliancy, the Independence and interpretive
power of mature artists. There was. how
ever, much evidence of artistic possibilities.
The programme was well selected and care
fully rendered, some of the numbers de
manding more than ordinary skill for their
interpretation. Following are the selections
given:
Concerto, O major, flrst movement. .Mozart
Miss Elizabeth Burbank.
(a) "Allemand" from trio No. 5 Haydn
(b) "Berceuse," op. 60, No. 17 Strelezkl
(c) "Curious Story" Heller
Miss Mercla Russell.
Polonaise — "Posthumes" Chopin
Miss Nellie Starkweather.
Concerto, G minor andante, presto, al
legro, • Vivace Mendessohn
Miss Edith McMillan.
(a) "Barcarolle," op. 30, No. 1 Rubinstein
(b) "Maedchen's Wunsch" Chopin Liszt
Miss Ella Funk.
(a) "Impromptu," op. 142 Schubert
(b) "Aufschwung" Schumann
Miss Rose Nabersberg.
(a) "Dv blst die Ruh" Schubert-Liszt
(b) "Impromptu." op. 29 Chopin
F. W. Krieger.
RECEPTION FOR TEACHERS.
President of Federated Clubs Com
plete the Arrangement..
The pres" dents of the Feleri. Ed 'lubs of Mln
neapc'll] and St. Paul had a m eting yesterday
morning at the West hotel to plan for the
general reception which Is to be tendered the
Minnesota Teachers' association in Its con
vention the las. week ln December. The
reception will be given Wednesday evening,
Dec. 29, In Central Park Presbyterian church.
St Paul. Arrangements were. completed and
the general reception committee will include
the presidents of the Federated clubs, presi
dents of the Minneapolis and St. Paul school
boards, members or the federation commit
tees and regents of the St. Paul chapters
of Daughters of the American Revolution.
The guests will be presented to Miss Evans,
president of the federation, by Dr. D. L.
Kiehle, president of the Teachers' associa
tion. A short programme will be rendered
In which Miss Evans will speak the welcome,
and Miss Sanford will respond for the teach
ers. President Northrop, Dr. Helen Blseell
and J. G. Pyle will make short addresses.
RELIGIOUS LIBRARY.
Two Meetings Called to Consider
the Subject.
A project for the foramatlon of a Library
as-C-datlon, having for lita object the col
lection c_ books, pamphlets and periodicals.
pertaining to religious questions and work,
which maiy be loaned to those desiring them
in any part of the state, mention of which
was made ln last Saturday's Globe, has
met with much favor among clergymen and
laymen of all denc-nin_.tl.ns, and by re
quest of a number of the clergy, two general
meetings will be held to consider the advis
ability of undertaking the project. The move
ment Is strictly pan-denomtnatlonal. All Inter
ested, both clergy and laymen, are invited
to attend one of these general meetings.
Tha flrst, for convlenence of those In or near
St Paul, will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 11,
at . p. m>, fen the Y. M. C. A. rooms. St.
Paul; and the Eeoond, for conveniens of those
In or near Minneapolis, on Wednesday, Jan.
12, at 4 p. m., ln the Y. M. C. A lecture
room, Minneapolis.
Held to the Grand .Tory.
John Hansen, wko several weeks ago, ln a
friendly discussion with W. Sampson, broke
that gentleman's Jaw with a blow of hl3
fist was held to await the action of the grand
Jury, yesterday ln the police court
Bicycle Makers Win.
The Jury In the case of the March-Davis
Cycle Manufacturing company against F. M.
Smith m\ Brcs, ant action to recover for goods
sold and delivered, returned a verdict la
Judge Bunn's court yesterday for .!,._).<.- ia
favor of the plaintiff.
CALLED T_o> CI^EVEL WD.
S. V. HnrriN C.oen Hastily to M.-et His
Mother.
S. V. Harris, chief clerk of the Ryan
hotel, was called East suddenly Thurs
day night. A telegram from Cleveland,
0.. explains the hasty sui:
Is as follows:
S. V. Harris, of St. Paul, will arrive hero
tonight to meet his mother. _ : as no:
seen in many years. She la Mrs. Sarah
C. Wilson, and her home is ln Buffalo. Yes
terday morning, sho was picked up by tho
police, while wandering around tho street
j apparently lost. She was taken to b olico
headquarters, and later to the city hospital.
She could give no explanation of herself, but
from cards found in her possession and letters
found, her identity was revealed. Sho Is
highly educated, but is nearly eighty years
old, and is feeble. She can hardly walk.
Ono card, dated years ago, gavo tho namo
of Harris, her son, and the authorities tele
graphed to him. An answer waa received
last night from him stating that ho would
take tho first train, and arrive hero Friday
night or Saturday morning. The mother la
on her way to California to see another son,
but she became lost in Cleveland, and could
not find her way. She had tickets to tho
coast. Sho said she had not seen her son in
St. Paul for years, and did not know whether
ho was alive or not. and it was only an ac
cident that his card was found among har
effects. There will be a happy reunion at tho
city hospital when they meet.
Horse Was Killed.
A horse, attached to ono of tho street rail
way company's derrick wagons, was killed
last night about 6:30 o'clock, In a collision
with an interurban car at Kent street The
front ot the car was badly smashed and the
passengers wer 0 locked ln by the disablement
of tho levers operating the gates. No ono
was hurt.
Thought to Be Burglars.
J. H. Scott and Thomas F. McDonald were
arraigned ln tho pollco court yesterday,
charged with burglary. Tho police claim that
tho two youths ara tho ones who entered
Donahue's grocery store, on Selby avenue,
last Saturday night and carried off tan boxes
of cigars and $11 in cash. Tho defendants
will bo given a preliminary hearing thia
morning.
Suit Against the City. J
Tho Scandinavian-American banlc has sued
tho city of St. Paul. John McCulloch and
Frederick Weyerhaeuser for an accounting ot
sprinkling contracts with Thomas Hellly.
NAVAL PROGRAMME.
Increase In the Sea Fighting Force
Dlscnni-cd at Madrid.
MADRID, Dec. 17.— 1t Is understood
that the cabinet at Its meeting today
discussed the proposition to Increase
the strength of the navy and how to
meet the expense of such a step which
the Imparcial estimates at 50,000,000
pesatas.
HAVANA, Dec. 17.— The Araplles
batalllon, It was announced officially
today, has surprised the Insurgent
forces under Napoles, at the Manqullo
farm In the province of Santa Clara.
The Insurgents, It Is added, left twenty
five men killed on ihe field and the
Spanish troops captured three prison
ers, twenty-six rifles, some ammuni*
tion and a number of document's. The
reunited central committee of the Re*
formlst party has approved of the ac
tion taken by the commission In ac
cepting the Autonomist propositions.
The Reformists will publish a mani
festo early next week, and electoral
commissions will be appointed before
Dec. 24. The reunited Autonomist cen
tral committee has approved the acts
of the commission, which has been ne
gotiating with the Reformists. I.x-
Minister Canalejas went to M.itanzaa
today. After the removal of the ob
stacles ln the river Canto, the troops
and gunboats commanded by <!■>'_. Pan
do have been enabled to push on to
wards Cauto landing plac. . On Mon
day last, It is stated in further ad
vices from the province of Santiago de
Cuba, Gen. Segura, with the S .imora.
Colon Alcantara and the Vlzzaya batal
llcns, consisting of 4,000 men, with four
guns, left Manzanillo to execute an im
portant move against tin- Insurgent*.
The Insurgent leader, Betanicourt, In
the province of Bfatansas, ha., hanged
Manuel Argudin, a well-known inhabi
tant of Havana.
TRIAL GOBS o.V.
Jnry Once Mot. Secured In Hie I t.
Rprt Case.
CHICAGO. Dec. 17.— Once more
twelve men sit ln the box to hear the
evidence tending to show the guilt or
Innocence of Adolph T.. T.uetgert, al
leged wife murderer. Tlie man who will
lake the place of Henry Boasberg, dls
miFsed yesterday because he Is alleged
to have remarked that it would please
him to plaoe a rope around the Lake
View sausage maker's n<»ck, Is Robert
Ann.r. . a shoemaker, forty-five years
old. Three (.insulations were held be
fore Anr.ers Was chosen. At the end of
the last one It was announced by tha
lawyers that they would like further
time to make up their minds. Judge
Gary refused, saying: '"You've con
sumed too much time in this case al
ready." Without further parley, the
man was accepted by both sides.
To clear Luetgert his attorn, ys will,
ln the trial now commenced, introduce
a new line of defense. In maintaining
the theory that Mrs. Luetgert Is still
alive, her acquaintance with Robert
Davey, an Englishman with engaging
manners who is blamed by Luetgert
for his business troubles, will be
brought out in court and the fact dwelt
upon that Davey, who conducted tha
negotiations with Luetgert for the In
corporation and enlargement of his
business, was very polite to Mrs. Luet
gert, spending almost the entire day
with her in the house from which the
state maintains her husband lured her*
to her death in the b3..»ment of the ad-1
Joining sausage factory. Davey left!
Chicago last January ostensibly to get
the money for the sale of Luetgert'l j
sausage manufactory to a Dutch syn
dicate. Mrs. Luetgert disappeared on
the night of May 1. Whether the two
corresponded ln the meantime cannot
be learned, but that the pair were
greatly Interested In each other will be
alleged and upon this line the accused
will base his defense.
CUBAN <U_-STION.
Time Devoted to It by the Federa
tions of Labor.
NASHVILLE. Term., Dec. 17— The
Cuban question took up a gr»od portion
of the time of the American Federation
of Labor today. At the morning session
a resolution was Introduced declaring
that the United States should r
nize the Independence of the island,
and a substitute was offered. Then a
motion was made to lay the whole
matter on the table, and a vote on this
was taken just before the noon ad
journment. The vote, when the dele
gates reassembled, was announced aa
8..4 for and 1,394 against laying the
Cuban matter on the table. The ques
tion of the substitute offeree) by Mr.
Tobln, declaring that Cuba "should
have Industrial freedom from which
it will receive political freedom." was
then called for and brought before the
convention. The vote was taken, and
the substitute was lost. G. H. Warner
made a motion reiterating the position
taken at Cincinnati, which was voted
on and carried, and the Cuban matter
ended.
The federation adopted a resolution
demanding an amendment to tbe con
stitution of the United States depriving
the supreme court of the United States
and supreme courts of states of power
to set aside laws made by the people.
TROOPS FOR CHINA.
Departing Soldier., (liccrcil by an
Until -.i.-iUst le Crowd.
W ILHELMSHA \ TEN, Dee. 17. -The
North German Llyod steamer Darm
stadt, having on board a detachment
of troops for China, sailed from here
today. She was cheered by larye
crowds cf people.