St. Paul daily globe., 1885-04-14
CURRENT COMMENT.

''Who do you think will succeed Commits
sioner Baldwin Brown on the water boards"
was asked Superintendent Henion of the
water works department yesterday. II am
not betting man. replied the genial colo
mel with smile, ''but will venture wager
of new hat that Baldwin Brown will sue
ceed himself. I don't believe Mayor Pills
bury can find better man for the position
in the city, and believe, furthermore, that he
realizes the fact.''
~
"The dead line has been an abject failure, !"
said Washington avenue business man
yesterday. "My employees tell me that there
are more saloons running in various parts Uf
the city than ever before. Liquors can be
obtained in any ward and at almost any hour
of the day or night, Sundays not excepted
Not nearly so many licenses have been issued
as usual, and the only conclusion that can
arrive at is that liquors will be sold wherever
| there is demand for them, and if the saloon
keeper cannot get license he will sell with
out icenSe.n
~
An ice dealer says that many of his custo-
mers among the saloon keepers favor con-
tinuance of the active patrol limits, s'be-
| cause" said he, "they do not have to take
out license, and thereby save just $780,"
~
The question of electing city attorney is
exciting more interest than any other Office
to be filed by the city council to-day. Even
attorneys who are not aspirants are giving
the subject deal of attention. You can
scarcely step inside law Office and not find
the occupants engaged in an earnest dis
cussion of the question. The popular senti-
ment is that the city should employ the best
and ablest legal talent to take care Of its
affairs. The salary is now only 81, 800,
which is generally considered too little. The
best attorneys cannot afford to accept the
Office for mere bagatelle. Said one attor
ney: 81 don't believe the city has won
three suits the past two years, unless they
were attended to by some attorney other
than the city attorney. remember one suit
the city did win, and it was defended by H.C.
Benton. The city had agreed to issue bonds
for S63, 600 in aid of the Osseo branch and
afterwards the road was gobbled up by the
Manitoba Railway company. r. 9. Benton,
the attorney for that road, brought action
against the city to recover the 500, 900, and
Fl. G. Benton was retained to defend the
case. The court gaze judgment for the
city and Mr.. Benton's fees were 49, 500 or
just 500 more than the salary of the city
attorney foI an entire year. How much bet
ter it would have been to have given Mr..
Benton the S2, 500 for years services. 1t
is true that 10 city attorney ever before had
so many suits to defend, but can it not be
that the reason that everybody who has the
slightest claim against the city brings an
action in the district court to recover
because the precedent has been established
that the plaintiff usually gets judgment?"
Til above is a fair sample of conversations
which may be overheard at almost any hour.
~
Aid. Parker has not entirely given up hope,
but will allow his name to be presented to
the city council this afternoon for appoint
ment to the Office of superintendent of the
poor, and he has pretty good following.
%x*
81 am anxious for an opportunity to put
my boot through that caucus slate this after
noon," remarked a Republican alderman.
eff do make kick there will be music in
the air. There are several others who stand
ready to follow me, and think we would get
the Democratic support"
##x
DR.. John T. Lee stood first yesterday in
the examination Of applicants for the meat
lnspectorship and his name will be presented
to the city council for appointment. DR..
Lee is an eX-alderman, graduate of the col
legiate department of the Minnesota College
hospital, and a gentleman of recognized
ability and integrity who will certainly fill
the position satisfactorily.
*"*
There is another plan on foot to furnish a
temporary court house, and so prevent the
spending of another dollar in patching up
the old court house. This scheme involves
the remodeling of the Harmonic building and
its advocates are confident that it will surely
"knock the persimmons."
~
The talk about a new union depot to be
located at the haymarket and a bridge across
the river is so vehemently denied that the sus-
picion arises that there is something in the
report after all. A well-known gentleman
who is in position to know stated yesterday
to the GLOBE that there is no doubt as 10 the
scheme being carried out in due time, and
advises the public not TO be too fast in ac-
ceptiug the statement Of railroad officials and
interested parties to the effect that it is
ridiculous"