St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-26
THE REDISrRICTING SCHEME.
st. Paul Opinions on the Plan of Changing
the City Wards.

St. Paul Opinions on the Plan of Changing
the City Wards.
When a crooked scheme is to be pa
through legislative body, either state or
national, the last days OF the session are
usually selected for its Introduction. few
specious arguments for its passage can be
brought forward, hurried canvass among
the personal friends Of the movers OF the
measure can be made and the woodchuck
driven through in the hurry Of the last mo-
ment. aad the effect Of it 10 the community
NAV be little short Of disastrous.
With this preface in mind, It is considered
desirable for the citizens Of st. Paul TO eI-
anime the bill introduced by 4 country MEM
Der into the legislature yester lay, which con-
templates no less radical result than the
entire redistrcting of the wards OF st. Paul,
making nine Of them instead OF six as at
present, and materially changing their
boundaries. When legislation OF this
radical nature Is proposed, it is usually
mentioned first. either in the council or the
cham her Of commerce before the legislature
begins its session, referred to the legislative
committees Of those bodies ana sprcad before
nary steps were taken Rith this bill before it
wa introduced, and if the measure should
pass. It would 90 into effect almost before the
people of the city are aware OF the change.
Whether this course OF procedure should
arouse suspicious of the probity and good
faith of those Who are operating it is ques-
ton for the reader.
OF n large number Of prominent citizens
questioned last night by GLOBE reporters,
none haG heard OF the bill until its introduce
lion except one or two who had noticed an
iniimation in a newspaper few days ago
hat some such measure was to
be preached in the chamber of commerce
last Monday. That not being done, now
ever. they thought no more about it. From
the following interviews obtained last night,
the general concensus of opinion in st. Paul
on the subject may be inferred.
WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT IT.
Mayor O'Brien said he had not seen the
bill or heard of it before, and was curious to
know who introduced it. He thought it very
strange that legislation that affected the city
so materially should be attempted without
consultation with the city council, or any
officer of the city government. 1t was alb
surd. not to say impertinent, to slip bill of
this character into the legislature in the last
days of the session without any one knowing
anything about it.
John W. Willis-I haven't had time to
investigate it vet, but it strikes me that there
is a woodchuck in it somewhere.
Judge William Barrett think the pro-
posed redistrcting scheme the biggest
outrage that ever was, as it makes matters
even worse than they are. At the same time
/ would like TO see some scheme
proposed that would redistrict the
city on the proper basis Of prop
crty, interest, representation and votes,
but It wont do to have it look as though the
business were conducted in the interests of
any party. The present bill is thoroughly
foolish and ! don't believe it has the slight
est chance Of going through.
Col. Alleu-All | know about the subject
is what have seen in the papers and | should
infer that the scheme is not good one, al
though l am not well enough posted to give
an opinion. will look il up.
Commodore n. w. Kittson thought the re-
districting plan was a partizan scheme. One
Of the public prints urged that the heavy
vote for Blame was a criterion by which the
changes should be made. He thought this
was not valid reason, as there was much
boiling upon the side of the Democracy at
the last election and therefore the vote for
the gentleman named could not be fairly
used as the excuse for the need OF n change.
DR.. Day was next visited. He had seen
some mention of the plan as n gerryman-
derng scheme. He could not give an opin-
ion Of the plan as published, for he knew
nothing ABOUT II.
D. W. Ingersoll had paid no attention 10
the matter and therefore could not give an
opinion with safety. There might be many
reasons for changing the ward boundaries
political as well as other influences. II the
change is made it should be free from any
suspicion Of partisanship.
Too little was known about the subject by
City Attorney McMurray for him 10 submit
to an interview. Such thing as remodel
ing the wards could not be done by two or
three men. 1t should have careful atten-
ton and consideration aud was to be settled
ouly upon mature elaboration. He was not
prepared TO pass an opinion upon the need
of more aldermanic districts, but believed
that more voting precincts would be an i'm
proveme Mt The council, however, could
fix this matter