Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-18
The Moyo,'s P,tmgemt Message.

The following is copy of Mayor Ames'
message to the city council which had such
a dire effect upon the pious fraud who
TEN porarily and unlawfully occupies g.
porl4on of the city hall: At the last re-
gular meeting of your honorable body you
ordered the bills of the Minneapolis Tri-
bune company paid. On Monday, the 7th
inst, the comptroller's warrant for the
payment of said bills was presented to me
for MY signature. found in looking over
the afidavits of said Tribune company for
official printing that there were charges
made for matter which was printed on
Sundays; that official printing in type
larger than that stipulated for in the con-
tract between the city and the Minneapolis
Tribune company had been done and
charged for by said com pany; that among
the afidavits presented by said company,
and upon which these bills were ordered
paid. was one certificate for printing given
in advance of the work being done.
1t was my attention to bring these mat
tiers before your honorable body at your
nextregular meeting (which is this even
ing) in order that the irregularities" of
the company that has the contract for do
ing the city printing might be inquired
inUoand corrected. When 1t was ascer-
tanned that had not signed the warrant I
was ordered to appear before the district
court and show cause for withholding my
signature from said warrant. 1 went be-
fore said court with able counsel, Judge
j. W. Cochran, and offered to prove all the
irregularities" above referred to; also
that the official printing, which was con-
tracted for in the Daily Tribune, was being
done in the Minnesota Tribune. The court
held that as mayor my functions were
merely ministerial and that must sign
the warrant. From this decision I have
taken an appeal to the su-
preme court. 1 have called the at
tention of your honorable body to
this matter for several reasons, viz: (1st)
To show you that my functions are ''min-
isterial" and that of the great amount of
work which you are called upon to do,
some jobs like the one now on hand should
escape your watchful scrutiny, the honor
able court has decided that notwithstand-
ing l may discover the ''African in the
wood pile" must sign the order because
my functions are ministerial"
The mayor of great city like ours
must close his eyes and let plunderers into
the vaults containing the peoples money
because, 1orsootn, MS functions are min
isterial, but his signature is necessary be-
fore the money can be drawn. That may
be good law, but in my humble opinion it
is neither common sense nor justice.
say this much, gentlemen, in order
that you may redouble your diligence
while considering the bills of unprincipled
men and corporations because mandam-
US from the honorable court has decreed
that there is no check after such matters
leave your hands; and mandamused may
or may be forced to sign steal before it
can be legally brought before you. We, of
course, know that there is no justice in
robbing the people; but as the executive
officer of the city with enthusiastically pow
ers, there is still left me under the law the
sweet privilege of signing my name wheth-
or would or not. Can't stop a steal! 4
mayor that is ministerial" A people
throttled by law! Justice suspended to a