St. Paul daily globe., 1885-04-28
INDORsED BY THE OPPOSITION.
FIattering Comments ON the Demo-
cratic Nominees by the u. r.

FIattering Comments on the Demo-
cratic Nominees by the p. II.
Below are reproduced extracts from the
many fiattering editorials of the Pioneer
Press concerning the present Democratic
nominees for mayor and comptroller The
one concerning Edmund Rice was written
not in the heat of political contest but at the
close of that gentlemanS grand official ca
reer as mayor of ST. Paul, and was calm
and dispassionate review of Mayor Rice'S
administration. 1t was more than the
cheerful and pleasant farewell usually writ
ten on the retirement of an office holder
of an opposite political party whose Of
fetal career has been fairly respectable. 1t
is warm and hearty encomium on the la
borS of a faithful public servant. The ed
itorial is as follows, taken from the Pioneer
Press of June 6, 1888:
Yesterday c. ID. O'Brien took the oath
of office as mayor of st. Paul.
If he justifies even the more
moderate expectations of those whose in
innate knowledge of him qualities them to
speak with confidence, the city will have
less reason to regret the exceedingly efii-
cent administration which has just
closed. Mayor Rice has richly
earned the honorable retirement
which probably comes to him as a welcome
relief from arduous and often thankleSS du-
ties. He accepted the election two years
ago by an almost unprecedented majority
aS tribute of the affection and respect in
which he was held by his fellow citizens,
and has lab0red with zeal and eaneStness
out of all proportion 10 position below his
deserts, capacity and reasonable aspirations,
to deserve the confidence Teposed in him.
The powers of a mayor of St Paul are linn
tied, and he has not magnitied his Office by
iniudicious and misdirected zeal. But he
has performed those duties which were
plainly intrusted to him with judgment,
discretion and great practical good sense.
The city has grown and proSpered greatly
during his term of Office, and the details of
municipal administration have been much
bettered. \ generous and comprehensive
system of public improvements has been be-
gun. the police force has been improved, the
fire department has been reOrganzed, and a
new spirit of thrift and energy has been in
troduced into the city affairs. Mayor Rice
has fully kept abreast of the thronging
needs of the city'S rapid growth, and merits
q large share of credit for the prOmptness
and success with which they have been met.
The city council. which is the real govern
ing oOul IN our mulllclpdl SONcIliiucut,
owes much to his hearty cooperation and
to that of his executive staff. He has left
an example of Jealous and judieiOus munic-
ipal administration which should be worth
q good deal 10 his successor.
The second editorial which we reproduce
Is taken from the same paper, of the date
Of Sept. Il, 1884, when the comptroller an
nounced his unprecedently low tax levy for
the current year of 16 mills for state.
county and city purposes. Ii shows the ap-
probation of the faithfulneSS of Comptroller
Roche which the Pioneer Press really en-
tertainS, notwithstanding that just az
present for political purpose. it seems to
take pleasure in depreciating his services.
Here is what the Pioneer Press said Sept.
l., 1884, about Controller J. ". Roche:
81. Paul again owes 4 surprisingly low
tax levy to the thrift. vigilance and buSi-
ness capacity of Comptroller Roche. His
scheme for the levy of 1884 was presented
To the council last night and promptly ac-
cepted. The new assessment of SCI. 600. 900
Of course made some reduction in the rate
OF levy inevitable but il is not without
some skill and effort that it has been cut
down to the Singularly low figure of sixteen
mills for all purposes. The city levy is III
mills, the county and state demanding the
rest. There are few cities of the size Of
ST. Paul. and in its progressive condition.
which can show so how 4 rate Of taxation.