St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-24
WILL DABB ANSWER?
Was He, While an Alderman,
Interested in a City
Contract?
II So, What Were the Terms
and Was the Bargain
Fulfilled?
More Pointed Questions for
Candidate Babb to Re-
ply to.
Public Acts Which He Can Not
Afford to Ignore at
This Time.

use vi THESE COLUMNS IOf reply over
his signature. If the condition of
things were not as represented there
was no reason why he should not have
accepted the offer made and availed
himself of The opportunity to set him.
self right before the public. Surely no
man who had not entered into
trust to raise the price of ice
and control the employment of
discharged labOrers would willingly
remain in the plight in which the un-
answered questions leave him. and if
he did not enter into a conspiracy to
lower the price of labor and raise the
price of ice these columns will be open
for an explicit denial by him. Let him
answer each Of the several questions
propounded and he shall have no Oc-
| casion to complain of unfair treatment.
In order that he may not have chance
to claim that he overlooked the QueS
| ti0nS they are republiShed as follows:
THE QUESTIONS REPEATED.
l. Did you, on The I'd day of April,
| 1883 in defiance of the law relative to the
restraint of trade, and in order TO force the
| price of ice up to figure far above that at
| which it would otherwise have been sold,
! enter into conspiracy with one or more
other large dealers in ice, the terms being re-
QuCeu 10 WIlllllS, III WHICH YOU IAcu llc
prices to be demanded ard charged for the
season of 1883!
.. Did YOU on said day enter into written
agreement with one or more ice dealers not
TO sell or deliver ice to any person already
indebted to either for ice, and make the
terms so strong as to deprive even a sick
man. who was unable to pay his former bill,
of the ice which his physician declared to
be absolutely necessary?
3. Did you on said day enter into written
with more ice dealers not
10 hire or attempt TO hire any man or men
employed by either party without the consent
of the other:
permit the employment of a man discharged
with or without cause, and so strong as TO en-
able YOU to dictate the wages TO be paid under
penalty of no work elsewhere?
>. Did YOU on said day enter intoa written
agreement by which either party might at will
demand the discharge of any enDloye OF the
other for any alleged violation of so-called
rules, no matter how trivial, and by which all
parties were 10 do their best to keep him un-
employed?
&. Have you entered into written con
tract with one or more other ice dealers to
meet on or about Dee 1, 1888, to form new
ice trust for the coming season? And do you
agree with James G. Blaine IN the opinion
that trusts are largely private affairs. con-
corning which the public have no right 10 in
quire:'
ascertain llldl Ollt NlllIlCS GltDGlluull, lOI-
merly, but not then, one OF your employees
and who had been working outside of the
trust. was then canvassing for trade for
another ice dealer? And did you then and
there declare that you would deprive him of
work I've the consequences TO your pocket
what they might?
:. Ild you thereupon call at the Office or
said ice dealer for the purpose OF notifying
him that he must discharge said Charles
Giebenhain in accordance with said contract,
YOU claiming that it covered all former en-
plOyes no matter when orwhy they quit your
service!
g. Did you, in the absence of said ice
dealer. leave a peTemptory order 10 that Ell
rect. ana did you afterw Is cause the same
10 be reduced 10 writing:
10. Did you April 20. 1888, make or cause
TO be made another written demand of the
same purpOrt, coupled with the statement
that unless il was conceded to you would
Withdraw from said ice trust ana furnish ice
TO whomsOever you pleased at as low figures
as you saw fit!
IL Have You not repeatedly charged said
ice dealer with bad faith III not discharging
SAID Charles Giebenhain, ana insisted that il
was your mutual duty to keep down the
price OF labor and keep up the price of ice?
~. In evasion of the spirit of your written
agreement, have you made, or caused to be
made. contracts by which you were 10 re-
ceive the rates fixed in your schedule and
make a rebate in the shape of n present in
cash to your customers at the close of the
season?
- When you were q member of the city
council were you directly or indirectly inter
ested in any contract for furnishing ice to
the city, in utter defiance of the plain terms
of the city charter: II so, what were the
terms of said contract and i'll what manner
were the interests of the city protected?
To the end that Candidate Babb may
not be able to claim want of knOwl-
edge as To the offer made above, copies
of to-day'S issue of the GLOBE will be
left at his residence and mailed TO his
address. OF course he will cheerfully
answer the questions when he learns
that answers are desired, and while he
is about it let him also answer the fol-
lowing:
SOME NEW QUESTIONS.
IA Was the ice dealer mentioned in pre-
vious questions the gentleman who is so
well known as Herman a. Westphal, the
pioneer ice-dealer Of Minneapolis?
10. Are the documents by which the eX-
isteuee of the ice and labor trust and your
connection Herewith can be shown now in
the pos ession of suid Herman \. Westphal?
IS Is the trust mentioned above the only
trust in which you have entered with said
Westphal to increase the price of ice?
II. Have you been and are you now re-
ceiving royalty from said Westphal as a
consideration for not bidding against him
when the contract is large enough to di-
vide?
Is. Have you repeatedly threatened said
Westphal 10 underbid him unless he would
divide profits on certain contracts?
10. Have you receiveda percentage of the
amount paid Westphal by John II. West for
ice last season, and are you to receive large
percentage from the same source this yeary
90 Are there other deals of the same nat
ure by which you force large consumers to
pay bonus for ice not furnished by you?
81. While you were an alderman and pro-
hibited from making Il direct contract to fur
nish ice to the city, did you propose to West
hfsrla6 4 1fN-f.1 TIM
-. Was said proposition accepted. and
did Westphal make bid which you as alder
man was instrumental i'll having accepted?
%. Was said bid at about double the rul-
ing rates for ice in similar quantities, and for
more than double after deducting cost of ice?
-. Was the ice delivered at the city hall,
the various engine houses, etc, delivered
wholly by Westphal. or jointly by Westphal
and the company which you controlled?
%. Were the bills presented at the exor-
bitant rates as contracted for, and by you GER
titled to he correct as chairman of the coun
ell committee on claims?
90. At the close OF the season did You re-
ceiye your share of the proceeds? If SO, was
il i'll the form of Il check:
%. What was the amonnt of said check?
Who collected the same: and who now holds
the check so Endorsed and paid:
%. Do you think that man who, while q
city Official, would be party TO trust of
the character indicated, is proper person to
occupy the position of mayor:
If not wearied by answering the fore
gOing-nOt in the lump, but SeriatIm
and in detail-it might not be amisS to
reply also to the following:
TIE EIGHT-HoUR RECORD.
%. AS an alderman, were you one of the
committee 10 whom were referred sundry
motions and resolutions looking TO making
eight hours a day work, when in the employ
OF the City?
SO. Did you report against the same, and
were you Endorsed therein by other alder
men now candidates for reelection?
81. Did you as alderman of the Eighth
| ward. do all and singular the things for
| which the present aldermen have lately been
so severely urraigned: and did you introduce
| the system so generally complained of in the
/ - i