The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-26
OUR ST. LOUIS LETTER.
THE QUARREL BETWEEN MAYOR
OVERSTOLZ AND THE ST. LOUIS
CITY COUNCIL.

CITY COUNCIL.
A Contest Between a Ring of Republicans
and n Clique Of Political NOndescripts--
New Paprr-A Packet Line to New
Orleans Pr0mised-The Police on
Militia FOOtinE-The Police and the
Gamblers.
Especial Correspondence N. 0. Democrat
ST.. LOUIS, Aug. "a, 1877.
The Mayor and Council are
AT ODDS,
and the taxpayers of st. Louis, in addition to
their other municipal burdens, are paying
the expense of o first class war between his
honor and the upper house of the municipal
assembly.
THE MAYOR AND HIS COUNCIL.
were elected as independent, high-pressure
reformers, too pure and honest to look with
longing eye upon the spoiis of office or in
duIge in the luxury OF fat porquisites. Yet,
10! Before half a year of the super honest
administration was passed an open fight Is
progressing over the division of the paying
Offices. The impression prevailed that the
Mayor and Council were working in harmony
and spending sleepless nights and weary
days in so shaping the municipal govern
ment as to confer upon the dear people the in
Vulnerable blessings promised by the new
charter. But the war broke upon US with
suddenness and fury: there was no speck not
"bigger than q mans hand " togive warning
of the coming contest The Mayor sent in
his
NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD OF PUBLIC
WORKS,
rs required by law for confirmation by the
Council, and nobody dreamed but that the
whole slate had been agreed upon by these
champion reformers whose patriotism lifted
them far above political influences. The NOM
nations were, in the proper order of business,
referred to the Committee on Public Improve
ments, and at the next meeting of the Council
the committee surprised everybody by re-
porting them back with the recommendation
that the entire slate be rejected, and the rec
ommendation was promptly carried out by
the Council, only two Democrats voting to
give the Mayor show. The amusing feature
of the whole proceeding was the promptness
displayed by the Mayor Immediately after
THE VOTE OF REJECTION
had been announced, and before any other
business interviewed, the secretary read q mes
sage from his honor submitting another
slate, and it was afterwards developed that
the message. was placed in the secretarys
hands
h BEFORE THE COMMITTEE HAD REPORTED
upon the nominations. The reporters, who
so often spoil well-laid plans, ascertained that
two of the Mayors confidential advisers had
pumped tho committee, and, learning what
course they intended to pursue, drove rapid
ly to the Mayors residence and informed
him of what was coming. The Mayor is
severely censured for his indecent haste and
the Council is condemned for using its power
of confirmation in the interest of a political
clique. The Republicans claim that the
nominations were rejected because the Mayor
failed to keep faith with their party; that he
promised them the street commissionership
and violated the pledge by sending in the
name OF a Democrat
THE BREACH Is STILL UNHEALED,
and, in fact, seems to grow wider; the peo-
pies interests are being frittered away in
efforts to serve ring of Republicans on the
side of the Council, and a
CLIQUE OF POLITICAL NoNDEsCRIPTs,
led by the Mayor on the other side. The I'M
happy results of which true and tried Demo-
cratic leaders warned the public in case they
permitted the Overstolz dynasty to again
come into power are realized, and the entire
population Is suffering in consequence. The
situation is particularly unfortunate at this
time, when every interest is Frustrated from
the effects Of years Of fraud, corruption and
miSrule in the national government. Now, il
ever, the municipal government should be adj
ministered in the interest Of the citizens al
large, and 50 as to relieve the city and its
commerce as far as possible Of the blighting
influences the whole nation is feeling.
A GENERAL FEELING OF UNEASINESS
pervades the community, and meetings o.
citizens are being held, in hopes that express
sions of the popular will may turn the local
rulers from their selfish purposes and avert
at least portion Of the evil that must follow
While the fight between the Mayor and Coun-
ell progresses, the city is deprived of the prac
teal benefits of its local government. The
Board of Public improvements remains unor
= gained, and not q dollar can be expended on
public works The hundreds Of laboring mer
who derive their support from this source are
idle and there is no department authorized Il
employ them.
Such are the blessings flowing from local
administrator composed of mongrel as
Mayor and Republican reformers as coun
Gil.
METHODIST MATTERS.
Bishop f. M. Marvin, of the Southern
Methodist Church, has just returned from
tour around the world much improved il
health. He will preside over the annual SEES
sion of the St Louis Conference, which as
sembles in this city on the 5th of September
Camp meeting season lis almost here, anC
the unusually large water melon crop will nc
doubt insure a large attendance. The Mar
vim camp ground, about eight miles from the
city, is being put in order for the meeting
which begins September 49, The Southern
Methodists of st. Louis comprise many o
our wealthiest and most liberal-minded citi
zens and their camp meeting is marked by
genial hospitality that renders it a popular
resort