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Council After Awarding Contract, Change Their Minds and Sustain Executive's Veto
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GRAFF IN ECONOMY PLEA COUNCIL IS CRITICIZED
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Stock Yards Matter Will Come Up at June Meeting.-Water on North Jefferson Opposed.
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The city council at the special meeting Friday, May 4, awarded the contract for motorizing the big hook and ladder truck of the New Ulm Fire department to the International Harvester Co. in the sum of $3,181.30. This was the lowest bid. The council voted by ballot and the vote stood six to two. It is said that Councilors Hamann and Niemann were the two who opposed giving the contract to the International Harvester concern.
Mayor Vetoes Action.
Mayor L. A. Fritsche vetoed the action of the council, and at the special meeting Tuesday evening, City Clerk W. P. Backer read this communication, which is as follows:
"I hereby disapprove and veto the action of your honorable body, whereby you have resolved to purchase from the International Harvester Co. of America a four-wheel truck to motorize the city's aerial hook and ladder truck. I feel called upon to do this mainly for the reason that the local fire department is almost unanimously opposed to this action. As these are the men, who must work with this apparatus, it appears to me as a short-sighted policy to foist upon them something, which will always be a thorn in the side. Their objections to the truck that you have decided upon seems to me to be well taken.
"The members of our fire department have done excellent work, especially during the last few years, and since the acquisition of the motor now used. I believe that they should be encouraged and shown that their unselfish efforts in behalf of all citizens are appreciated.
"I respectfully recommend that you purchase a Seagrave four-wheel truck for which you have received a bid. I am sure that under all the circumstances the additional expenditure will be more than justified in a few years in improved service,"
Council Sustains Veto.
Following the reading of the mayor's veto he was asked to explain his position. The chief executive stated that the communication conveying his veto was plain and that he meant what it said. In addition he stated he had been waited upon by the members of the fire department and he thought it was for the best interests of the city that the council consider the department's demand. He also stated it was not necessary the truck be motorized immediately and said the firemen were willing the matter should wait for a year or so, if the council could not see their way clear to purchase what was desired at this time.
Upon a vote being taken upon the mayor's veto, two of the councilors, who voted to award the contract to the International Harvester concern at the previous meeting, changed their stand and voted to sustain the veto. Subsequent events of the evening evening made it clear these councilors were President Mueller and Siebenbrunner. It requires a two-thirds vote of the council to override the chief executive's veto. The vote was four to four. Councilors Lieb, Reardon, Saffert and Kuehlbach voted to over-rule the veto, while Councilors Hamann, Niemann, Siebenbrunner and President Mueller voted to sustain it.
By sustaining the veto of the mayor, the bid of the International Harvester concern was rejected.
Graff Says It's Ridiculous.
Dr. J. P. Graff, who was present at the meeting, following the council's action, made a few remarks in criticism. Mr. Graff at the outset stated he was a heavy taxpayer in the city, and that his remarks were made from the taxpayers' standpoint. He was of the opinion it was ridiculous for the city not to purchase the International truck. The Seagrave truck, suggested in the Mayor's veto, would cost $7,500. Mr. Graff thought the difference was too great for the council to consider the high-priced truck. He also called attention to the few times per year the truck would be used, as there are few fires in New Ulm per annum.
Chief Henry Engel of the fire department stated the organization desired the best and argued the department was not asking it for themselves, as a department, but for the best interests of the city at large. He stated the department was a volunteer one and were serving the city as such and that this fact should be considered. He said they had given the matter careful consideration, and had been in communication with various cities concerning the relative merits of special fire trucks placed under hook and ladder trucks and commercial trucks used for the same purpose. He informed the council those cities, which had used commercial trucks, were displacing them with those constructed by fire apparatus concerns, and all the information the department received on the subject was to the effect a commercial truck should not be used.
Council in Empasse.
After arguing the question for an hour or more, the council found itself in an empasse, and a majority vote could not be secured on any motion. Finally one member of the council was permitted to change his vote and a motion to reject all bids carried, This ended the matter for the time being.
Stockyards Matter.
A recommendation of a committee composed of Councilors Hamann, Kuehlbach and Siebenbrunner in regard to the removal of the C. & N. W. stockyards from the present location, because in the opinion of the committee, they constituted a public nuisance, was read. Division Superintendent M. J. Boyle and T. J. Irving, division engineer of the C.& N. W. from Winona, were present. Following the reading of the report of the committee, Mr. Boyle asked the council to defer final action upon the recommendations until the regular June meeting. He explained he had not been informed concerning the matter in controversy until he received the Brown County Journal last Friday and the time was so limited that it would work a hardship upon the railroad if adverse action was taken at once. He explained he had expected the shippers, who were vitally interested in the matter, would be present, but that they were not, and he thought the council should hear what they had to say. With the consent of Health Officer O. J. Seifert and the members of the committee, the matter was deferred until the June meeting.
Don't Want Water.
The hearing upon the placing of water mains on North Jefferson street, continued from a previous meeting, was held Tuesday evening. There being two persons present, who desired the improvement and a large number who were opposed, the matter was permitted to go over until another year.
Take Over Heating Plant.
President A. J. Vogel and Secretary Fred. W. Johnson of the New Ulm Heating Co. were present and turned over the necessary documents and papers to the council, which completed the transfer of the central heating plant from the heating company to the city, in conformity with the action taken at a recent meeting.
The council gave the Heating company a vote of thanks. Mr. Johnson asked that a joint meeting of the city councilors and the directors of the Heating company be arranged at some future date. This will be done.
Street at Cemetery.
F. H. Retzlaff appeared before the council and asked that the city grade the street leading between the Lutheran and Catholic cemeteries, preparatory to the Lutheran cemetery board placing arches over same. The request was granted and Engineer Minium will make the necessary arrangements for the placing of the street on grade.
An alley in Block 47,south, was vacated, at the request of the New Ulm Brick and Tile Yards.
Rev. Losleben
Made Requests.
Rev. A. J. Losleben of St. Mary's Catholic church, appeared before the council and asked that Fourth and Fifth South streets be graded between Minnesota and German streets. He also asked that a street light be placed at the intersection of Minnesota and Fourth South streets.These matters were referred to the proper committees.
Alf. Baltrusch was given a permit to place oil tanks on the M. & St. L. between Third and Fourth North streets.
Brown County Journal,
May 18, 1923