St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-21
MARI is INDICATED,
And the Street Commissioner
Makes His Aceusers APP
pear Ridiculous.
Elmer Foster, the Ball Player,
Attacks a Tribune Re-
porter.
Judge Smith Refuses to Give
Mrs. Moore a Di-
vOPce.
A Remarkable Aldermanie
Change of Base--Votes
Compared.

Street Commissioner William A. Mari,
OF the Twelfth ward, against wnom Sc
riOus charges in connection with the
street grading in his district were
brought by Joseph Smith, S. II. Barker,
J. r. Stevett and others. received a COM
plete vindication yester. lay at the han Is
of the special Investigating committee
of the council, consisting of Aid. Bra
dish, Barrows and Warren. Joseph
Smith was the first witness examined.
He said that when Mr.. Mari graded
Tenth avenue south, between Thirty
eighJh and Thirty-ninth streets, he
took out about eighteen inches more
dirt than was required, and that in con-
sequence of this the city was put to a
needless expense in handling the dirt
back again to bring the street mp to the
established grade. He also said that
the commissioner had caused men and
teams engaged on street work and paid
by the city to do work for Aid. WOod-
ward, and claimed that he had used one
of the city'S teams to carry furniture
from the Twelfth Ward club house TO
the residence of Harry Cramer. While
he was engaged by the citv he knew
that Mr.. Mari had allowed dirt to
be hauled into Aid. Woodward's
yard and that Aid. Warren's brother-in-
law, Mr.. Merritt. had filled up his place
with dirt that was taken from the
streets without paying anything for it.
lie admitted in his crosS-eXamination
that Aid. Woodward had paid him for
all the work he had done for Wood
ward, and that the city was not charged
for the time. S. II Baker. who had
hauled dirt for Mr.. Lansing, said that
Lansing had paid him for his work. He
admitted that the charges which were
brought against Mr.. Mari were drawn
un by j. L. Parker. who was Aid.
WoOdward's opponent Oh the indie
pendent ticket last year. Although he
had signed all of the charges, he said he
didn't know anything about nine of
them. A number of men who had been
employed by Mr.. Mari were called to
show irregularities. but they couldn't
remember anything they could COM
plain of. Karl Pierce, one of the men,
created considerable amusement by de-
scrlbing an indignation meeting which
was held at Smiths house, when it was
decided to throw Aid. Woodward out of
the council and elect another man who
would make Mr.. Smith the street COM
missioner.
Commissioner Mari took the stand in
his own behalf. He admitted that he
had allowed one of his carts to work
half day for Aid. Woodward when he
had nothing for the men to do. but it
was Woodward and not the city who
dirt to be hauled to Mr.. WOodHard's
place, but the Twelfth ward alderman
had paid him just the same price for it
that any other citizen would,
and the money had been turned into
the city treasury, and he had the
city treasurer'S receipts with him TO
prove it. The receipts showed that the
money had been turned over before the
charges were made. He admitted that
he had allowed Mr. Moffit to haul gravel
which belonged to the city, but showed
that it was used in improving Fortieth
street, and that the work was done at Mr.
.'.ofitt'S expense had saved the city con-
siderable money, and had been done
with the knowledge and consenp of all
the aldermen of the ward. In regard
to the charges that he had used
the teams engaged upon the city'S work
for hauling manure from his own place,
he said that the city had not paid one
cent for it, as it was done when it was
raining, and he Offered his time book
and pay-rOlls to show that his state
mentS were true. He admitted that in
grading Tenth avenue south he had
gone four or five inches below grade,
and said that he had done so under il
structions from the city engineer.
Assistant City Engineer Howe, who
had charge of the street grading, said
that as the soil in the vicinity of Tenth
avenue south was very sandy, the COM
missioner had done very proper thing
In going below the grade in the street,
and then using scrapers in filling in
Isyit 70 frfA CT
was much cheaper than shoveling.
and he had Instructed the street
commissioners of the several wards
to do this whenever they struck the sand
at the established grade. In Mr..
HOwe'S opinion the work done by MARI
was frSt-claSs, and he had ALWAYS
found that he attended strictly to bust
ness. Foreman George Bracket, who
had charge of the men, corroborated the
statements made by MIR. Mari and En-
glneer Howe, and said that the trouble
was that the men were not taken into Mr..
Marr's confidence, but they were kept
right at their work. Aid. Adams said
the work done by his brOther-in-law on
FOrtieth street had saved the city at
least SIS, and that all the aldermen had
instructed the commissioner to allow
him to have the gravel. all of which was
placed on the street. and not upon Mr..
MOf1itt's private property. Harry Cra-
mer was called to show that Mari was
not in his employ, as alleged in the
complaint.
After short executive session the
committee formulated a report to the
council. stating that after careful in
vestigation of the charges they found
that Mr.. Mari should be fully exoner-
ated, as not one of the charges had
been proven; and, from all the commit
that the people who had made the COM
plant were actuated by malice.
"LICKED" A REPORTER,
Elmer Foster Arrives at the Zenith
OF His Glorious Career.