HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-30-1920i4(i
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Minutes of an adjourned regular,, m�,.of. •the' Common Council of ,
Ithe City of Rochester; Minnesota , hel,d:An:=#the"- Council Chambers, in the City
Hall,in said City, on November. 3®,c 1920, �atr,A pclock, P.M,: .
Motion by Miner second by Olson, .oarried that, , owing to •tbe,
�absence of Pr"idept .Smith,; Alderman Schroeder; act ss President Pro tem of
this meetings
�President Pro tem Schroeder called the meeting to orders
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I Roll Call: Present: Case, Schroeder, Rommel, Miner, Olson, Witzke
(Absent: Smi the
Motion by Case second by Olson carried that the minutes of the
Meeting held on November 23rd, 1920, be approved:,
There were many citizens of said City present at this meeting ,
d then followed a discussion of the status of.Alderman-st-large M:Os
with, as -to whether"he is a resident of said City or notq the following
eing the Committee report and general discussion in verbatim:
resident Pro tem Schroeder: We will have a report from the Committee
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ppointed at last meeting in regard to Alderman -at -large MaOsSmithe
ayor Brown: As Chairman of the Committee for investigation into the ques-
y
ion hether M.OsSmith is a resident of Rochester oiF whether $e is not,
wish to say that as far as I am concerned, and from what I can learn I
ould not consider him any longer a resident of Rochesters The office has
een vacant a month or six weeks or such a natter and we have not had any
race of him or heard anything from him and I. for my part, would not con-
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ider his a resident of Rochester as long as he has left town and his wife
the apartments in which they lived and has refused his sail
as given up
t the Post Office and given it baek to the City:, I would like to hear
rom any one wha. Vould like to be heard@
_
.lderman Miner: As a member of that Committee, I have been looking for him
ver since last meeting but have not been able to locate him yet:
Witzke: I am: on this Committee and thought that this Committee was
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.lderman
ping to hold a meeting -to find out what:.we-could do about making M. 0:
- to a meeting
_Y
Iiith a non-resident, of the city but the Chairman failed get
lots of reports around
End A do not know as there was &•meetings" There are
understands that with is going to be here next week for Courts
esident Pro tem Schroeder: Do you know anything �ersonalabout Smith?
derman Witzke: Not a thing:
resident Pro ten Schroeder: Not a thing?
ayor Brown: We have heard all kinds,.of„reportse . We have heard that he
was going to be here tonight@ We have offered a reward for him but nobody
has been able to give us any information -as --to :where he ise.=- }=His :wife has
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turned his mail down, sent it back,to the City,;given up the apartments
where they lived, moved out and rented a room for herself and I de not
know what more we could doe Maybe there,is some one else in the room who
that `E`verybody is interested or should
would like to be heard on question:
bee Is there anybody in the room who -thinks Smith has not had his just due
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here? If so, we would like to hear -from him. If we are,'not taking the
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proper steps here we would like to take,,tif:somebody would tell us how:
J. J. Reiter: I would like to'ask a questi®n'' Is there anyone in the room
who seen Smith last before he' •left . tow�aq¢-,; . ; :I •"think if that was explained
if we could .hear,; from
;
a little probably- a' little stuff' could',',, leered' up
-him ith him so to he
the fellows that seen last ,know
went@
will .ask Sheriff Mitchell ,if he. has .a warrant for him.
ayor Brown: I =
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Sheriff Mitchell: I haVOQ..
Mr. George Wentink: I would- like: to know when this warrant was drawn*
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.13t Sheriff Mitchell: October, he
Mr. Wentink:-What date did-1he.leave here?-
Mayor Brown: -What date did he. leave heredo YOu.know- Sheriff?,
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Sheriff Mitchell: I do,noVknowsLdid not know -he was gone until after I received
the warranto
President Pro tea Schroeder:':`Gentlemen,, this subject is o� en.for discussion If
there is any one in theroom-whowishes to be heard or has anything on this subject,
1we would be very glad to hear from you.
City Attorney Eckholdt: .,I would like to ask if there is W one here who could throw
alight on Mr. Smithls,�intentions q whether he intends to come back or whether he
ny
intends to stay away; or"'if 'there'is'any one here who could throw any light on his
intentions either from his remarks or from his actions: That is the point to be
All
arrived' ate In order to�deternlne whether a "man is a resident or not depends entirely
upon &,mans intention, -along with his actual residences Mr. Smith having resided
here some length of time; 'hi's_residence is assumed to' be continued herle unless he has
moved away that he intends to remain away* A man's intentions
)+'' (
' -circiumbtanclesa In this particular ease, Mr. Smith
cannot be arrived at entirely ion
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km:l or a period' of over six weeks or about that
has been away,, as far `ks, any •one owss, for
time the ,warr.ant haviA&,,been issued for his arrest, the Sheriff not having been able
C6im�eil haviiig' advertised to serve it' and the for his and no answers havihg been re
ceived except loose rumors, and there being no roundation'for those rumors,, the Council
should take everything_intto _consideration, and the fact that Smith has been reported
to have be'en in week: There Would be some ohe in the City
who knows about those rumorso Some one my have seen Mr. Smith before he' left: If
any one has, we should -like to hear from himq
I Mr. John Parkhill: Mig'ht,t ask a question? One man says he understand that Mr. Smith
will be'� ere 'next week: Would it not be proper to ask that gentleman to inform us how
he knows it?
Alderman Witzke: Are yoii reierring to me?
Mr. John Parkhill: Yes sirs
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i Aldermsai Vitzkie it is only hear -say:
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President Pro tea Schroeder: Has any one here heard from Mr: Smith' since he has been
away or knows where he is or.has .seen him?
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Mayor Brown: Evid ently,his wife` does not know where -he is or 'she would not have
returned his mail to the Post office,, marked it "Refused" and send it back to the
City: That ought to be "evidence enough that she does not know where he is.
Mr. John Parkhill: Have they given up their home over there?
1k,
Mayor Brown: Yes, sir: -
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Mr. Parkhill: What hai 'become ,of the household goods, do you know?
Mayor Brown: I do not'know what became of all of thdmi Tollefson got some of them*
Mr., Parkhill: The fact agan being a fugitive from justice would not have any
hse 'it?
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1 bearing on the ca at i,611, would
City Attorney Eckholdt: "Adt at all,, except as circumstantial evidence:
I think this Council as a Body., would be justified :fn declaring that
6fTice vacant and appointing alian to fill it, . for ,he certainly had plenty of time
if he.evgr intended to come back, to come back or make a report of some kind* We
e ertdinly-'have giv6n'h1A tlu e'enoughj, -'almost t*6 months:
M G' *4�ti f Mr-i"Chaiirmahl,'in regards to the length of time a person is absent,
ro eo ge nk
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$ in,,k,.G4e�rter,in regard to that?
is there,!any-specification-e -�tL
elective ors 61ntive officer
'-The Chart7dr el 6'c
appointive 1 City Attorney,,,9ekbAd't":i',
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changing his residence from the city or ward"for:,which he was -elected or
appointed under the provisions of .' this charter -;sand that any, such officer,
who shall neglect or.; refuse to qualify within" ten days after notice of his
election or appointment or to enter upon the.discharge of the duties of
his office within the designated time, -,shall be -deemed to have vacated his
office: That is the only provision''we have,,in the:,City Charter.: ;
Alderman Rommel: Will the.. Chair call on William-Friedell in this -matted
President Pro tea Schroeder: I'would like,to.ask.is Mr,i,Friedell in the
room?Mr. Friedell was not in the Council Chambers. ,
Mr. C. Robinson: May,I ask the Mayor a questiorAj,Have you made arrangements
to have this man brought back here?
Mayor Brown: I have 'advertised for him and offered a reward for him: I do
not know what more I could do.
Mr. C: Robinson: Is,that not under conditional provisions?
Mayor Brown: Ho,, sir r You deliver - him 'tonight; and I- will give yob $1000-00.
Mr. Cs Robinson: I have had a few Union Men-come.and ask me that question.
Mr. Stoppel: I am one of them. Mr: Brown told'Ke if I brought the man or
to whomever brought 'him, he` would give_ $100.00 reward_ .
Mayor Brown: I also told you if you told' us where_ we could, locate. him, I
would pay you $100.00 reward. '
Mr. C. Robinson: Mr. Stoppel, did ion make -any investigation where he was?
Mr. Stoppel: I have been very busy,: ' I"'have' not yet: I- think 'I' will:
(laughter)
Alderffiawn Rommel: Mr. Chairman, yesterday, I think about noon or a little '
before, I was,walking doom the ,street. and I met Mr: Friedells. , He says,
"What are you going to do about Smith?": tI, says;- ."I do not know."=, -He says',,
He will be back. As 'soon as the Grand dory' is 'in sebsion,' he fi"coming_
back". That is what Mr. Friedell told de yesterday sometime about' noon.,
That is the reason I asked if he was, .ins ,they �po'oo<., _ He _did not ,go, further
into detailsa He says, "He is not very far'"away and we 'can 'get''him m'0A
any time:" That is the remark he made to me* -t S • .r, .a. ,
Mayor Brown: I will say, as Chairman. of this. Com;ti.ttee,. that any one who . ,
knows where Smith is and will not' produce him' -'is a very poor citizen of-` '
Rochester* (applause), „
Mr. Frank Dibble: Members of the City Council;snd citizens'of Rochester,•
you elected Mra Siaith ,to ,represent. this City,, .-did ,you note, Tess Is he a
credit to this city? That -is .the` point ctbat• ' i's, important. ; If I' am 're=
presenting a business or a house' and'iI tgd out, and' throw `up -my job.;' and go
away for 30 or 60 days, they 'would "can, 'me ' n 'a' minute:' A 'Mayor of this
City, if he does Aot. represent the. interests ,of :the people of this Cit�r is
a disgrace to the City: And membere'`of the'`CounliilA. if they -' o''aot :do
their duty, they are no representatives of the citilens_of Rochester.. And
a marshall or sheriff, if he does not do his duty is ifo 'credit t�o me and I
would not vote for him the next time he ran -for,. office. Mr. Skiith threw
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dirt in your face: He 'threw up. his" -job `and -left `the city"and evidently '
Mro Friedell is ,an , scoessory to -him and it ; is all a; disgraces ,. That is the
point. '
Alderman Case- introduced V� a °�_f allowing r�esolutionrwhieh 'was reed:
WHMASS, ,after a full and complete hearing and investigation of
the facts, it appears that Alderman-st-Largel• MaOsSmith is not a resident
of the
City of Rochester, and ' ' �, - ;. •
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9OHg2EAS9 t-appears ;that,,,the^sarid,M:O,.•Smith,has.,abandoned;hia ;
office
as of the1-111rCity, of• -Rochester,
„Atderaan-at-Large
1`lOW;'.�HEREFORE, 'be' it'#'�s�1,44& that-s vacancy •�eiists in., the office
ofthe
Alderman -at -Large of the Minnesota, and, said
office
.Cityr•of`.Ro�c,hester,.
is be'r b d@c ared .to'-Ke a0'gnt�-'i-:f; ti^ Jaba d .. =1� :' sa`t:.i•F _; ,.
;
Motion by Olson second tby ,Miner :,th_ at said:,"resolution,-:,be•,ad,opted
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as read: ..Roll Call: •Ayes*i-'Case-- Ranmel, Miner, Olson' :N496: Wit•WrOt President Pro tem
- Schroeder declared the sai4.,resolution-Vassed and adopted:
Motion by �RO'Am6 sbiifid,- y Miner `carried, by all voting in favor thereof.
that William-M Weeks' b°® a�lippoiitec� AlMinn:- derman-at-Large of the City of Rochester, Min3;` esota, to fil% the aeanc 'paused r' - - `the removal 'from said- City of Alderman -at -Large
,k y �I M. 0: Smith, and to hold ' the `saM office until the first Monday in April. 1921. and
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*` until a successor is electedaad;`iiaTified.
' Reverend W: W: ,Buhge opened' a discussion which` is quoted verbatim, as fol-
Y, 1 ows : - {
Rev: W. W. Bunge: ;.
Mr. mayor and members' of- the' Council, I want to ask who is responsible for
g y gone to the members of the
..�. , enforcing the ordinances of the City of Rochester. I have
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Council and they have sent me'to"the Mayor and the Mayor sent me to the Police and the
Police sent me"to the doun'eil: It is a continual case of passing the buck from one
Ito another, notone seems to be responsible@
sT�
f A` friend of mine was ',a,V the depot' the other day and heard a man say that he
`s had just cleaned up 170^D6"iri• a game and that he was going` to "burn it up", or some-
thing to that effect: It;is a notorious fact that there is one place in town which, -
+� when a certain train is due; will call up another party and state that there are so
;i Ilmany passengers and that would signify that there were so many bottles of booze coming
into -town. °
I asked the Mayor for proteetion against the reckless automobile driving
over North Broadwa At that time the Mayor promised to y' , y p get a motor -cycle and have
something, done: ` We waited, all svwmer:.Nothing has been done: The Chief of Police put
everything up to the Council. I am not blaming any body or insinuating against any
body, but the buck has been -passed from place to place and we would like to know just
where the responsibility rests in this city.
fps= President Pro tem Schroeder: The Council is not hired or elected for Police duty:
Rev. Bunge: In other words°,`your statement is that the responsibility does not rest
k' with the Council@ We would like to know with whom the responsibility rests:
Mayor Brown: I think Reverend Bunge, that the responsibility rests on the Mayor. If
there is anything I can do; I would like to do it but if you think I can stand down
on the street and look after the City of Rochester, you are mistakena I cannot do it:
I have other business to look after@ The j policemen work many hours and I think they
;= I do their duty. If you can,- show me' any policeman who is not doing his duty, I will
have his star off by tomorrow morning.
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Rev: Bunge: Your answer is,that the responsibility rests with the Police: Things have
F` (come to this@ We want to ,be law abiding .citizens but if the law is not enforced, no -
need be surprised if we take the law into .our own hands.
Mayor Brown: I would like* to say, Reverend Bunge, that those parties doing
ls�# reckless driving Thursday, were brought' into„ court Friday morning,_ fined $25r'00 and
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btheir license taken away,_from 'themi Is there anything.more we could do?
"i.�'..__p. ,: b+3r' 6i: ',t t;: 'r�t�'a "s"•f' - �'�',.b,°.5"y,', °s �.�, `te�i'f .c:�, ��.'rh�.�:,
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. Alderman Miner: We see no polieeffieij',on "the 'street when it is
dark or when it is, foggy, when ve,ne,ed; pro, eotion.'
Mayor Brown: The city allows the Chief of.Poliee only so many
day policemen and so many night- -policemen:. • He;.ca=ot put a rqan on
.every corner unless the Council -will allow him 25 or 30 men. They can
not do that and they should not do it for we do not need them. If you
will show where any officer has observed the violation of any law and
has not enforced it, we would•be glad to know it.
Reverend Bunge: The Council say the responsibility rests with
the Mayor; the Mayor passes the responsibilityrup to the Police and the
Police pass it up to the Councils
Alderman Miner: We are paying j50iOO a month for the Chief's
car: Why doesn't he use it? I went down the street the other day and
happened to have my tail light out_and was stopped by Clayton, and as
he did so an automobile -passed by. which was. going at.least 50• miles an
hour on Broadway. That is the•kind of protection we are getting? Why
don't they arrest them?
Mayor Brown:,How could•they when he was'driving:50 miles an
hour? I have got two or three men on the•Police force from the State
Institution and they ''are the worst men I ever had.
Alderman Miner: That is your faults You hired them. I, did note
Alderman Witzke:,Another thing, werought,to,keep the police out.
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of the moving picture shows: You do not see them-on,the street: You
find them at the moving picture shows.
Mr. G. A. Ziazow: I would like to make one suggestion. For
your automobile driver's license what examination is he supposed to
have outside of the state examination?
President Pro tem Schroeder: Mr. Zam ow, the Council figures
7.
that when the State Examiner Aets through with him, he ought to be com-
petent to drive an automobile. That is up to the'State.
Mr. G. A. ZAmzow: I don't think so* r
William M: weeks came r,into the `Council Chambers and the follovr
i'ng warrant of appointment issued by the'Common Council of said City,
was then read to him:
"State of Minnesota,;
County of Olasted,
City of Rochester, ass :.. , •, t F
The Common Council, of the City 'of`'Roe'hester,
To William M: '#'sekss ...;;.
Whereas, W vacancy 'has 'beeh�&declared- ri the Office of the
Aldermaai-at Large of the City` of` Rochester,in 'the' State of Minnesota
• r. - t" '�.)�a. 'l: ,i ♦aii. ��47 ..ii it a, • .r. , •iz r ,
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Therefore, You,,' Wiil'iam• M:",Weeks, -are hereby appointed by the Common
Council of said City of �Roehester to the4 office of Alderman -at -Large in and for the
City of Rochester, Minnesota;- to hold' offlea until the first Monday in April, 1921,
and until your suecessor,-•isr'elected and qualified:
�Witnese the si'gnaturds,of the members of the, -said ,pompon Council this
30th day of November, 19204" d
0:' We Schroeder,
President Pro Tem of said Common Council:
(Seal of Rochester, Be R. Case
.,.'"
kinn.esaota.)
+Rommmel
John Miner
'
t C. F. Olson
Fred, R. Witzke
Aldermen of said City.
�.
Attest: A. F: Wright,
City Clerks
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William M. Weeks then took and subscribed to the oath of office and took
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his seat as Alderman-at-�Large in and for the City of Rochester, Minnesota:
Motion by Rommel second by Miner aarried that the sum of One Hundred
-xFh.
Dollars be appropriated,from the General Fund and paid` to the Treasurer of the
Civic League for Women Rest Room expenses for the months of November and December,
L920.
`
The bond of August C. Blaasing as Treasurer of the Rochester Fire Depart-
J'` ment, Relief Assoeiati'onpohdlti.ol e$-f- or the proper 'disbursement of funds realized
from tax levy for relief purposes, which are about to be appropriated to him, in
', the amount of Fourteen Hundred Dollars, with the Aetna Casualty and Surety Company
as surety thereon, was read, and motion by Miner second by Witzke carried that the
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said surety be accepted and that the said bond be approved and placed on filei
f;
Alderman Rommel introduced the following resolution which was read:
a
Be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of Rochester, Minnesota:
` ,.
That the scam of $692s90 be and the same is hereby appropriated from the
Firemen's Relief Fund 'of said City and ordered paid to August C: Blazing as Treas-
y,
urer of Rochester Fire Department Relief Association, the same being one -tenth of
one per cent levy of tare* as provided by the laws of the State of Minnesota:
y,
The Mayor aud'City Clerk of said City are hereby authorized and directed
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to draw a warrant upon the City Treasurer for said amount and cause said payment
to be madei
Motion by Miner second by Schroeder that said resolution be adopted as
read: Roll Call: Ayes: Case, Schroeder, Rommel, Miner, Olson, Witzkei Nays: None:
President Weeks declared the said resolution passed and adopted:
4 'l.
Alderman Rommel introduced the following resolution which was read:
t,=. ';s.t,`+{'r: s.r.1`_' -�,=•'s'-,. _ .:�t� c�-a'! �n _s„�" ���+��rs"s�`�'J`r�`�.�'i�:-�a'S•=���+•.�,8�,.`.t:.-'�'•r-r..:.+.�.:s...x,.vt-��c..::a_. :v.. ; i,.: k,+r.,• L's.•rw"r:�.sv,-:.<y:.r;�
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Be it resolved by the, Cannon, Council; ofthe City of Rochester,
Minnesota:
That the sum of r$14833s00, be' and the said,sum is -hereby appro-
priated from the Interesti Fund of said City for payment of the interest
due January 1, 19219,� on Electric, Light Bonds - of ,said City,, Nos. 1 to 650,
inclusive:
(� The Mayor,' the City Clerk and City Treasurer are hereby author-
lizedsand directed to draw all necessary warrants on the City Treasurer for
i said amount and purchase from the First Wational- Bank of Rochester, .Minn-
esota, a draft payable to the Ameriean'Eka ange National Bank of New York
City and to Forward +said draft to said bank 'in payment of said interests"
Motion by,Rommel second by Olson 'that said resolution be adopted
,as read: Roll Call:'Ayes: Case, Schroeder; Rommel, Miner, Olson, Witzke:
Nays: None. President Peeks declared the said resolution passed and adopted
The following claims were read, and motion.by Rommel,seeond by
Witzke carried that!the same be allowed and that orders be drawn for the
(� several anounts: W
From the General Fund: Earls' T. Parker, $50s00; P. S. Kelley,
1$16:50; W. R. Jones;$5.00; Burroughs Adding Machine Company, $i75; Dr:
Hillis Lemon, $t:6r00.
IFrom the Fire Protection Fund: Larkin Manufacturing`Co.,$4:85;
From the Hydro-EIectric Plant Fund: Mrs. F. C. La Mont, $6@50;
F. C. La Mont, $2:40.
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On motion, by Rommel second by Schroeder Council. adjourned sine
die:
City Clerks
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