St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-30
The Iron.wilIed Controller.

For twenty years John Roche has stood
like a stone wall between the city treasury
and the Schemers of all sorts and condi-
tions who under one pretext or another
were willing TO deplete it for their own adj
vantage. So well was it understood that
neither party could use him that after few
years neither party nominated him. He
ran independently and the people trium-
phantly elected him over both parties.
Since then the politicians have not dared to
set him aside again until now. There are
S3, 600 900 in bonds to be handled and pro-
ceedS expended, and now again an effort is
made to set aside this tribune of the people.
SO strong has John Roche shown his will
against all free-and-easy jobs and raids on
the treasury that he has had spats and
small rows with his own party friends,
mayors and others ever and often. He has
sent his own party friends over and over to
the courts and compelled them to get in
functions before he would countersign doc
uments presented to him. Just recently he
compelled Breen & Young. good Demo-
Gratis, to go into court, refusing what they
asked. Since Mayor 0'Brien has been in
Office read an article in the Pioneer Press
where Mayor O'Brien wanted him to audit
some policemen's claims or something
which John did not approve. The ardent
young mayor, as the story went, waXed
warm and threatened to visit the recalci-
trant John with his anathema if he did not
comply. To this attempt to menace and
threaten and bulldoze the mild-mannered
controller simply and quietly replied,
II CANNOT BE INUNDATED"
| mention this incident for the intorma-
ton of recent and new citizens. who may be
misled by the Pioneer Press and Dispatch.
which have always commended Roche as
the model controller. This incident is only
one of numerous similar 0nes-rumning over
a period of twenty years and is better in
deX of the character of the reliable and
brave custodian of st. Pauls taxes than any
word eucomiums which could be pro-
nounced.
II cannot be intimdated." This is the
answer of St. Paurs Democratic controller
TO st. Paurs Democratic mayor and all
bulldoZers OF his party whether contractors
or officers. This remark reveals TO all who
do not know the man. the stern stuff OF
which John w. Roche is made, and is
enough of itself to cover any delays in max
ing his report-to cover multitude of sins
and to commend him as a safe man to keep
in the Office which he so fearlessly fills in
the interest of the taxpayers against the tax
eaters.
Such an officer should not be removed for
slight causes. His competency has never
been questioned. His honesty no man of
any party has ever doubted. His chair in
that office has scarcely been vacant for
twenty vears-always at his post. With no
greater salary than he had when St Paul
had only one-fourth the population. his
duties have been immensely increased by
the uuadrupling of our population Ills
Office for several years has been crowded
with contractors and laborers. No assist
anee has been given him TO enable him
with these largely increased duties and in
terruptions promptly to make out his reports
as he ALWAYS had done in detail. The char
ter forbidding any increase OF his pay with
out legislation. he refused aid because he
could not consistently audit claims in his
own interest. while he had refused to do so
in all other eases.
He therefore fell behind in making out
his reports in detail. He only made them
general. waiting legislation authorizing cier-
zeal helm To make out all in detail. Such a
clamor was raised that the last Legislature
pioyided for the help required. and now the
reuorts are all in. in detail. | saw there a
pile filling half-buShel basket And not g
man In St Paul. not his worst enemy.
doubts when he reads those reports in
pamphlet form as the council orders them