St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-11
CURRENT COMMENT.
Showing How the Public Is Stirred up
Over The Stamp Robbery.
Legislation Needed In the Matter of
Regulating Special Policemen.

r>.-O~>1ALr-oOI-,. HE postoffice robbery is
{ EygEEySszSSE7a }still q matter of general
SEssSsI {sssssS ssSssl public comment and go
}ssI Ia VI Swhere you will, you can
Eth YTESM not escape facetious allu-
81 Y EE N4<fE SSions to the great piece OF
81 lEM HES engineering that enabled
"a MI 1--WE tthe burglars to open a
81 NSSs -PsseF IS safe without noise or any
81 a Ia parent di fiji Guilty.
2vssssSszNg W. S"Have you got any
shiSoSsR, x @'2 stampsg" seems to have
~ NJ taken the place of the
Syfs9Rss essGssY time-worn salutation, rs
T@Ea5Y this hot enough for your
8 j; !: !; 4; !" !: ! i ]: L:
NWEqn ~ The old chestnut of ask
EXAN ~ lug the bartenders if they
~ MWtAf will take their pay in
Y II 6~ stamps, and then giving
- ~ it in stamps with the feet
1T has been revived. Per-
haps the funniest joke
that has resulted is upon j. o. L. Meagker, a
wen-known laundry man. The day
of the robbery he went up
to Henry Household, where he
knew but slightly and said. ''Say, mister. L
live cut OF town and have run short of
money. I'd like to leave s75 worth Of stamps
with you as collateral for $50. When I'm in
town again I'll redeem EN-" ssJust wait
here moment said Henry, as he
sped around the corner. Meagher waited,
and in less than two minutes found himself
han&oufed and on the way to tho lookup, in
charge of a highly excited policemen, who
was laboring under the delirium that he had
captured one OF the postofdce robbers. The
explanation of Meagher that he had only
been in fun. and Identification by several
citizens finally secured his release.
~m*
She was q gentle-appearing, fair haired
young lady, and when she entered a Plymouth
avenue car q 'slin" turned his fshy eyes
it became unbeara5ie. The young lady arose
and without s. momsnt's warning walked u p
to the ''slim'' aud struck him in the face with
force enough to knock out Patsy Cardiff. The
young man looked sillr and at the next cross
ing left the car. The miss resumed Der seat
with the remark: "Guess he won't look at
me that way again. I hated to hit him, but I
had to. You see have been taking boxing
lessons and know how to handle my lists, -
and she held up two little hands more fitted
for playing piano than smuggling.
~
It has been source of considerable annoy
ance to the present administration, although
it WAS the prend contamination OF the re-
doubtaaIe Ed a. Stevens, while serving in the
dlal Capacity OF police clerk and political ad-
visor of Mayor Pilsbury. The matter per-
hitting special policemen to exercise q little
brief authority was exceedingly obnoxious to
Ea's peculiar ideas, and his fseils subteness
conceived tbs idea of abolishing entirely the
especial" police system, adopting in lieu
thereof the modern ''liEaited police scheme.
Through his efforts, backed by the influential
Pills,ury family, the city charter was
amended to suit his tasts. The specials
were eliminated, and the ''llInited' became
their substitutes. The limited can only
exercise police functions on the prem
Uses of people who secure, by means of peti-
tons, their appointment to the position OF
questionable rights, aad SHOULD they presume
to appear with. the badge OF ofice on In any
other place then the promises designated in the
commission they at once become subject to
arrest and prosecution. What is the result2
The merchants police, which have been
found very useful and effective adjunct to
the regular department., especially in the
way OF watching property at night. are CON-
pletely shorn of every vestge Of power, be-
cause should they End a sneak thief lurking
in an alley or elsewhere, they have no legal
right to interfere. Again, 1t Is often Of more
than ordinary Importance to have on certain
special occasions, such IS at times when I'M
unusual gatherings oonsregate Ia tho city, to
appoint number Of special policemen to
serve at that specified time or times. But
under the new code they cannot be aPeoiuted.
1t is quite probable that the next legislature
Will be asked to make radical change in the
present system.