St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-05

meanors which amount to malfeasance in
office. The Pioneer Press claims to have
information from reliable sources that the
city comptroller suppressed his report for
the reason that it shows shortage of $140,-
900, paid to men who have done no
work for the money, and that the
city attorney is in default of S70, 900 on the
bonds of contractors. 1t is charged that
these reports have been regularly suppressed
for five years, and recently were sup
pressed. after being prepared, by request of
other officers of the city government and
the city attorney and aldermen. 1T that
is so, these individuals
OUGHT TO BE IN THE COUNTY JAIL
and not in the council If that is
SO, honesty is at an end in this
city government and for two years the
heads of my departments have been common
thieves, whom | should not recognize or
speak to on the street. The chamber
of commerce has in view only the
best interest of the city. Are you
going to do nothing about this ?
To whom am l to turn. The grand jury
meets tomorrow, and it is the duty OF this
body to find out if these things
dlS buC-WIlClilcI tilO WY ohtNNS
are honest or not-whether these stories are
newspaper lies or truths | believe they
are falsehoods. l don't believe John Roche
is thief. If it is true, he ought to be III
jail. l don't appeal to politicians, | appeal
to every honest man. You can't change
the election now. 1t occurs tomorrow. But
this matter ought to be investigated.
Men cannot occupy these offices of whom
these things are true. Now, nobody can
make these investigations so well as this
chamber Let the author of this report be
sent for and asked to confront his
words. He is only two blocks away.
These city officers are not fit to associate
with me if these stories are true. 1t they
are not, then their authors
ARE EQUALLY DISREPUTABLE.
Capt. Berkey-I don't think that this
chamber ought to be held accountable for
newspaper article.
Mr.. Murray-The article has deeper
meaning than to-morrow's elections. 1t was
gotten up for the purpose OF injuring the
sale of the city bonds.
Capt. Berkey-No man is more anxious
than to have this matter sifted. l bear
witness that Murray has several times
asked John Roche to present his report.
lit ClldIlU6I VI udS uOilC piiO
best it can to build up the city and county.
Its men here have been free with
their money when there was any
call for it. But it ought
not to be made responsible for a newspaper
article. myself have gone to the publish
ers of that article and told them was sorry
that newspaper should find it necessary
to tell what is not true in a political can
vass.
Mr.. Delano-I don't consider this to be
political question. A prominent newspaper
has seen fit to make a direct attack on the
credit of the city. want to move that the
city attorney and mayor test the truth
of this matter in the
CIVIL. OR CRIMINAL COURTS.
Iwant to have every one of these men that
have made these charges where they will
be compelled to tell the truth. The paper
says that there are 10000 votes registered,
large part of which are fraudulent.
Can this be true? The statement has gone
broadcast over the country, and Mime
apolis and other cities will tell us,
as they told me. that this is the
way in which our population is swelled.
To-day you advertise for bonds. To-
gether with this goes the statement that
our city officers, including the comptroller,
are the biggest rascalS in the
ulent from beginning to end. How will
this ...,.-s..
AFFECT THE SALE OF YOUR BONDS?
As a member of this chamber, 1 want
this sifted to the bottom. If thieves and
scoundrels are in charge of city finances
they ought to be bounced out of office
Tc ~ <ol,o
a newspaper has published this, knowing
it to be lie, pitch him out.
Reports such as that make more trouble for
a city than all the elections in the world.
l move that the mayor and city
attorney be instructed to bring
suit to test this matter. | don't want any
committee to whitewash this matter;I want
it done in the courts.
H. P. Hall seconded the motion, and
Mr.. Murray suggested. that the name of
Mr.. Gilman be substituted for his.
Capt. Berkey-This action is inconsid
crate. l don't blame these men for being
excited, but the motion which is proposed
will not accomplish the purpose sought.
The investigating officer should not be the
city attorney and the mayor who are i'm
plicated.
Mayor O'Brien-What do you say? Did
you say that was implicated in this mat
ter?
Capt. Berkey-I meant that supposed
that according to the newspaper reports you
are implicated with the other officers.
Mayor O'Brien-No, l am not, and this
is the reason that l want to see this thing
investigated to see who is the liar and who
is the thief
A motion was made by Capt. Berkey
that a committee of five be appointed, IL
respective of party, to investigate the mat
ter.
Mr. Murray had just as soon it would
be committee of five Republicans.
Mayor O'Brien-The grand jury meets
tomorrow, and this newspaper article can
be put in the hands of the district judge
who will bring it to the attention of the
grand jury.
Capt. Berkey-I want this committee ap-
pointed to report to the grand jury.
p. II. Kelly-This is simply bridging it
over.
Capt Berkey-I have no desire to
bridge it over The grand jury meets to-
morrow and individuals who feel aggrieved
at this newspaper article can bring their
grievances before that body. But as far as
this chamber of commerce is concerned. the
investigation ought to be done by COM
mittee.
THE RESOLUTION.
By this time the resolution of Mr.. Della
no had been reduced to writing, and was
read as follows:
Resolved That it is the sense of this
chamber that the mayor and city attorney,
if in their opinion sufficient grounds exist,
should take such action by suits in the
proper courts as will test the truth of the
publications in the ST. Paul Pioneer Press
in regard to the charges made against the
officers of the city in the performance of
their public duties.
Mr.. Delano suggested that the grand jury
would be the proper place for the investiga-
tinn as in the secret councils of that body