St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-23
GRAVE ACCUSATION.
John Jaeger Pays His Respects to
CITY Contractors.

John Jaeger rays His respects to
City Contra tors.
John Jaeger has his eye upon the city
contractors, and yesterday raised mild
sensation at the meeting of the chamber
OF commerce. He addressed commu-
nication to that body, which contained
the following:
We spend more money for improvements
according to cur population than any city in
the world. and great many of them are done
SO poorly that they must be done over again.
Especially is this true of sewers, which run
up into millions of dollars in cost, and par
ticularly those built by certain parties of the
city of st. Paul during the last three or four
years The work is done so poorly and the
material used in them so bad that it is
shame that the taxpayers of st. Paul do not
rebel. There are certain contractors who
perform this work that care only for their
pockets. They know that they are stealing
The mouey from the taxpayers OF st. Paul.
When man puts i'll soft bricks that will
crumble TO pieces in a few years and cheats
the people of ST. Paul, and receives his
money, he is no better than thief, and ought
to be arrested and dealt with according to
law. for he himself knows that a
soft brick will not do in sewers
Mr.. Rundlett and the city engineer
department are the supervisors over the sew
ers, and ought to know of this stealing, and
yet they know and allow these things TO be
the people of st. Paul. Instead of that he
upholdS these contractors.
Gentlemen of the chamber of commerce,
you are interested in the city of st. Paul, and
/ believe you are anxious to protect its tax
payers. If this is the case, 1 respectfully ask
your honorable body to secure a full and
thorough investigation of these matters, and
you will find that they are not only as bad as
represent, but even worse.
An animated discussion followed the
nf
Pitt Murray wanted the communication
suppressed. Such document ought
not TO be published; it might injure
the credit of the city. Thomas Cochran
regarded it to be libelous charge City
Engineer Rundlett. who was present, de
sired that the chamber should Investi-
gate the matter. w. S. Morton thought
it undesirable to recognize any such
communication. He did not know Mr..
Jaeger, Ii. S. Fairchild informed him
that Mr.. Jaeger was a large manufact-
urer and very likely knew what he was
talking about Mr.. Gilbert hoped the
chamber would not take any action
concerning the complaint of contract
to the city. Mr.. Hodgson inquired
how did they know Mr.. Jaeger was a
disappointed contractor. Mr.. Quinby
was satisfied that if Mr.. Jaeger had con-
tinued to furnish material for the city,
things would need much closer watch
ing than at present. Nj. 5. Curry
argued that the communication should
receive attention. The chamber must
do something more than pass resolu-
tions. 1t was ultimately agreed to in
vestigate the charge, and Messrs. Som
ers, Reardon and w. S. Morton were
| appointed members of the committee.
The committee held meet ing in the
! afternoon. The sewer work at Merriam
Park was investigated. and that i'm
various parts Of the city will be visited
to-day OF tomorrow.
Mr.. Jaeger, interviewed, said: 81 simply
| desire to see fair play and justice. Com.
| plants have been made, and time and again
| hushed up. These frauds have been prac
| ticed on the people long enough. I can sub
stantiate every word contained in my com
munication, and when compared with some
other statements l can make and prove. the
charge published will be fouId a very mild
| accusation"