St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-29
DOODLE INVESTIGATED.
The Committee Makes Very
Voluminous Report.

SOtu1n1nOuS Report.
The special committee, consisting Of
Aid. S. B. Loye, A. S. Adams, V. M.
Smith, Joseph Ingenhutt and John A.
Gilman. which was appointed to con-
slider the charges made by the Times re-
garding the peculiar performances al
legged to have taken place among the
councilman,m made a very voluminous re-
port, covering nineteen pages OF closely
typewriter legal cap pages. After re-
viewing all the testimony the committee
reports:
First-The only matters coming to
our notice needing any consideration
are the Eighth ward street vacation and
the negotiations connected Herewith,
and the Shaw d Elliott First ward af-
fair.
SecOnd-All the facts in relation to
the Eighth ward matter are before us,
ard nothing further could be obtained,
because there is practically no dispute
as to the facts. In our opinion there
was nothing criminal in the conduct of
Aid. Sterling, nor was his action done
with any dishonest intent; but we
think he misconceived the obligations
of his official position in calculating to
any degree that he might receive per-
sonal beneht out of the transaction, or
would be entitled to a commission, as in
a real estate sale. An officer OF the city
is to look to the city's interest alone,
and, so far as this negotiation had In it
an element of profit to the alderman in
dividually, it was improper and to be
condemned.
Third-The charges against Aid. Nc
Gowan and Brueshaber are, if they
II 1NINr tnt nE al
acter. The testimony offered was hear
say and not legal evidence. Mr.. Elliott,
probably the only man who could give
evidence which would prove the truth
or falsity of the charges. refused after
repeated requests on the part OF your
committee to appear and substantiate
the statement made to President John
son and Aid. Cole. We regret our i'll
ability to go to the bottom of the mat
ter, and in the interest of the gentle
men aSSailed, if Innocent, and ofSgoed
government and honest officials, if they
are guilty, there should be if possible
some further investigation demanded
by these gentlemen or required by the
council, if in the opinion Of the city at
torney, with the knowledge of the situa-
ton as now ascertained, such an inves-
tigatiOn would result in disclosing the
facts and turthering the ends of justice.
We know in investigations of this
character we are not alone in our lack
of power. One can not be made to teS-
tify to his own elimination even though
OH the stand i'll court Of justice, and
in any transaction in the nature OF brib-
cry there are always two parties to the
bargain, and as consequence it is next
to impossible to secure the facts. We
have given you all that has come to US
and the manner in which it has come.
Fourth-We regret that any news
paper which claims to have the welfare
of our city at heart should be so reck-
less as to publish such sweeping in
situations of dishonesty Oh the part of
an indefinite number of public servants,
without the manhood to publish any
thing definite in the way of a
charge, not hesitating to smirch
the good name of all in official
position in the city; and when given
full opportunity to present the evidence
so boastfuIly rendered in the publica-
ton. producing no proof. but only at
most rumor, and in the main the imagin-
ings Of an Over-ZealouS and not over
scrupulous reporter; protfering these
rumors and imaginings to an intelligent
public as justifying the charge of COM
blnatiOn of men in the interest OF dis
honest practices and for revenue for
themselves alone. and an allegation of
being in possession of positive evil
dence against members of this body
which, if published, would result In the
calling of mass meetings in at least six
of the city's thirteen wards" We be-
lieve this council will welcome every
honest effort by the press to aid it in
preserving the integrity in every depart
ment of the city government included
in its own body, but 1t asks aid and not
SenSatiOnaliSm.
After Clerk Haney had finished the
reading of the report, Aid. Sterling
took the floor on aQueStion of personal
privilege. saying he had suffered consid-
cradle agony of mind from what had
been said in the papers. He was glad
the committee had quoted so much of
the testimony relating to the Eighth
ward street matter. Quoting from the
report, he said the conclusion was that
he had done wrong. The report also
said that it was the duty of an alder
man to look after the interests Of the
city. In trying to get something for
the city out of the land which was to be
vacated, Mr.. Sterling said that he had
only the best interest of the city at
heart. The talk of his receiving a COM
mission had come from others rather
than himself. He believed that the
citizens still regarded him as an honest
man. His character was in his own
keeping, but his reputation, which was
to large extent in the keeping of
others, had been assailed. He declared
that he was not actuated by any selfish
motives or hope of personal gain. He
did not think it was right for the city to
vacate any of the streets without obtain
ing something in return for it. AS Aid.
MCGOWAN was absent, Aid. Loye, chair
man of the co mmlttee, moved that any
action upon the report be postponed
until the next meeting of the council.