St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-30
Years May Elapse Before the
Election Contests Are
Finished,
Although There Is a Question
of the Courts Jurisdic-
ton in Them.
Leo Heilpern, 1t Has Been Dis
covered, Was a $4,000
Defaultep.
No Such Thing as Champetry
in Minnesota. Says Mr..
Smith.

where will these election ontests end?"
IS question which one or two candidates
would like to see answered. They will never,
under the present outlook. be settled in time
for the contestors to hold office, should they
secure a favorable decision. The Repub-
lican city council will take good care that
neither Enoch Hidden nor Jacob Breyer Sc
cures seat il that learned body.
AS it is generally understood, election con-
tests must be settled in the courts. The case
has to be instituted first of all. That has al
ready been done. The plaintiffs will be very
lucky to secure a trial before next summer.
1t is more than probable that the cases will
not be tried until next fall. Then, should a
decision against the Republican aldermen be
secured, the cases will be appealed to the
supreme court. There the cases are likely to
remain until two years are passed.
This is what the Republican aldermen,
Barrows and Brazie, and the men behind
them have decided TO do. In the case of
Barrows it will, if carried out without let or
h1ndrance, secure to him the occupancy of
his seat tor the full two years. BraZie. of
course, was candidate for four-vear term,
ana he can be unseated before the full term
expires. The Republicans are determined to
hold on to Barrows and Brazie. They pIIr
scheme for delaying the settlement of these
cases. All that can be done will be done.
But they may be blocked at this game.
IL is not at all certain that the district court
ton cases i'll cities. Good lawyers are of
opinion that contests for city offices must be
settled i'll the council. There seems to be no
other way out of 1t.
law as it is now called. provided that con-
tests IN the case of county offices shonld be
settled in the district court This pro-
VISION was taken as covering cities TOO.
But In 1887 the Whiteman law was
passed. That. law contained express pro-
visions for the government of elections in
cities Of over 1000 people. Moreover, it
repealed expressly all laws Heretofore IN
force in cities. The Whiteman law threw
all contests into the city council. Now comes
the Australian law. which says nothing about
contests. 1t repeats any such acts as may be
inconsistent with it. It doesn't repeal the
contest clause of the Whiteman law
City Attorney Russell gives it as his opin-
ion that the district court has no jurisdiction
Ill contested election cases in cities. Any
how the contests are likely to bring out some
new interpretations of law and some peculiar
litigation.
1t is question whether Hennepin will Sc
cure the speakership of the next legislature
At meeting Friday evening of the deega-
tlon, among other political topics. the candi-
dacy of w. II. Lynn for the speakership was
discussed. Members of the delegation are
opposed to the gentleman's candidacy be-
cause, if the desired position goes elsewhere
Hennep1n can, with greater propriety, ask
for larger and more important favors. Her
Democratic vote entities Henrepin to almost
any consideration her delegation may ask.
~
Joseph Rodgers. the present deputy city
comptroller, will in all likelihood remain in
office He is perfectly familiar with the du-
ties of the position, and Scion Armstrong is
reported as having expressed his determine
ton to retain Mr.. Rodgers in the comptroli-
er's Office.
Senator Gilbert A. Pierce of South Da-
kota, was temporary guest at the West yes
terday. Mr.. Pierce had consultation with
prominent politicians during the day and
left the city presumably for st. Paul Sena-
tor Pierce avoided the reporters while re-
manning in Min aeapolis