Daily globe., 1883-07-01
A DiSgraceful Act.
To the Editor of the Globe.

Ten thousand citizens of st. Paul resid-
ing east of Phalen creek, have mighty
grievance, involving no less question
| than their lives as well as the
lives of the vast number of people residing
still further to the east and south, far be-
ond the limits of Dur city even to the bor-
ders of Wisconsin, who come this way to
the city.
Time after time, year after year have
| these people anxiously asked, petitioned,
prayed the city authorities that some per-
manent relief be granted to them, only to
be met by fair promises and mastery
inactivity or an illustration of how not to
do it,
OF course 1 refer to the great death trap
| over Phalen creek on Seventh street,
which the prudent city fathers have for
hidden the fire engines from crossing, for
| fear of wrecking an engine. the property
| of the city. Let me say once for all to
these careful guardians of the public prop
erty, that the loss of one single human
life in this deadfall is of vastly more I'M
portance to the treasury of the city, in a
pecuniary point of view, than the value Of
half the fire engines il the city. Money
will not pay for reckless waste of human
life.
Generally our petitions and prayers in
this matter, our suggestions and argu.
ments have been listened to with the re-
spect that the gravity of the subject mat
ter demands, but special meeting of the
city council having been called at 7:3O
o'clock last Monday evening to consider
this matter specially, was surprised upon
arriving at the City hall at 7:30 O'Clock,
sharp, (some claim it was two minutes
later.) to find that the council had met and
adjourned for want of a- quorum. That
the motion to adjourn, as l was informed,
was made by Alderman Charles E. Otis,
who afterwards stated to me that after the
resolutions passed at a mass meeting of
| citizens residing east of Phalen bridge, we
| could not expect any different treatment
from the city council. Therefore, infer
| that the personal malice or spite for Ian
guage used by large and respectable
number of citizens, smarting under rights
deferred, was thus permitted to defeat the
| consideration of grave public business, at
time specially designated for that pur-
| pose by the delberative body of which he
is a member, and who are the paid guard
lans of public affairs, whose special duty
it is to devote sufficient time to their con-
sideration. What makes it all the more
disgraceful and inexcusable is the fact that
Mr.. Otis then and there stated to me that
| he was well aware of the dangerous condi-
ton of the bridge and of the fearful stu
ton in which the said 10000 people are
placed.
Within five minutes from the adjourn
ment and while the perpetra-
tors of the outrage were still
upon the ground, more than enough mem
! bers of the council came to have formed a
quorum, and at three different times there
was quorum on the ground. This act is
without a precedent as is also the outrage
without parallel, and to our grievances
now is added the insult of a refusal to
listen to our complaints.
When and where before was any subject
matter of so grave Importance made the
special order of business of deliberative
body meeting and adiourning on its own
motions, and whose duty it is to consider
and act upon the matters involved, and
the whole defeated by so small and
malicious trick? Are these
men our masters OF our servants? Are
they selected and placed in positions of
| honor and trust to insult us, or to con-
slider our grievances with respect and re-
| dress them so far as it is in their power to
do so consistent with the public.
GUSTAV WILLIUs.