St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-24
NEARLY ALL BUNCOMBE.
Investigation of the Police and
Census by the Commission.

Investigation of the Police and
Census by the Commission.
Yesterdays mornings meeting of the
police commission was more like one of
the old-time sessions of that immortal
body, when Commissioner Giertsen
used to be clawed all over the floor and
then sat upon, than any meeting for
some time. Mayor Babb wore his mill
tary air, the same in which he enveloped
his manly form on many Southern
battle field, and he looked and talked
more like the mayor of Minneapolis
than he has at any time since Jan. l,
1889. He seemed to feel that the public
expected something of him, and to have
determined that the public would not
be disappointed. He looked as if he
meant business; as if he proposed dem
onstratIng that he was the boss of the
city and the high muck-a-muck of the
police department. OF course, every
one who knew the mayor and
who was at all conversant with the
matter under consideration, knew that
he was making big bluff. But bluff
sometimes ''goes" for straight matter.
The action of the police in connection
with the recent census excitement and
UllC ICOG VI GIlC CUs j dul ClluLlCi 0GOl
especially the lending of the patrol
wagon to Marshal Daggett, was the mo-
mentous matter which the P. G. had as
sembled to discuss and to decide. The
police have been roundly scored in va
rious quarters for assisting Daggett.
The commission had resolved to take
some action on the matter.
AS soon as the worthy mayor had de-
clared the commission in session, he
carefully adjusted his glasses, and. with
expression, read an item from the Pho
neer Press which stated that some men,
bers of the police commission approved
the action of the officers and that Supt.
Bracket would undoubtedly stand by
his men; and when he had finished the
mayor solemnly gave it out that he had
never seen reporter for that paper nor
ever said what he was credited with
saying. He further made the bold, ag-
greSsive statement that the police
commission and the commission alone
controlled the police department, and
that if Supt. Bracket or any one else
| displayed spirit of INSTRUMENTATION he
would be promptly suspended.
A little routine business was at first
transacted, and then Capt. Helm was
called in to relate the particulars of how
Daggett came to be assisted. The cap
tain told the facts as they have before
been published.
"Have you had frequent calls for as
sistance from United States marshals?"
Queried Mayor Babb, most dignifedly.
NO" replied Jake, "but we have had
from sheriffs and others, and it has
| always been customary to give these
people all the assistance they wanted"
Officer Rutledge, who summoned the
wagon, was next summoned. He went
| over the details of that matter. Ser
geant Kirkham and Officer Fox, who
went with the wagon. gave similar de-
| tails. Supt. Bracket said it had al
ways been customary to lend the patrol
| wagon, as Minneapolis officers have re-
| ceived the same courtesy from other
| cities.
Mayor Babb summed up the case and
said:
| l feel the insult from St. Paul as deeply as
anyone. believe that any violation of law
ought to be punished. But do not feel like
hunting up a scapegoat think if they are
not guilty they ought to be exonerated.
A vote was taken, and the officers
were eXOnerated from all blame in the
| matter.
The whole dignifed, formal. thorough
investigations seemed to partake of the
nature of bluff. In fact, there is good
authority for saying that the mayor
would have never thought of doing any
thing about the matter had not his at
tention been called to it by outsiders.
The other commissioners, it is quite GER
tain, were well satisfied with what the
officers had done, for, as the officers
said, they knew nothing about what the
arrests were for until afterward.
The superintendent report shows
that the whole number of arrests for
May was 347, 1853 of which were for
drunkenness, 80 for petit larceny, "a
for disorderly conduct, 2 for defrauding
hotel for noE-support of family, As
for vagraney. Leave of absence was
granted to Nicholas Rauen. days; b.
II. Bacon, days; John Kvittum. 8 days:
J. G. Fay, 8 days; M. s. Mallon. 10 days;
John Leonard, 10 days. G. R. Burrill
was appointed special policeman at
the Northwestern Guaranty Loan
building, and John Eddy special on
the st. Louis road. Bills amounting to
$474.32 and pay roll of SIG, 2O6.O3 were
approved and passed.