St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-11
An Investigation That Is APP
parently Aimed at Demo-
cratic Aldermen,
Which Probably Accounts
for the EarneStnesS Of
It's Demand.
A Kick Against an Electric
Line on Minnehaha
Avenue.
Board Of Trade Antics and
Ministerial Monday Morn
ing Grumblers.

Owing to the absence from the city OF
Aid. George Il. Warren, of the Thir-
teenth ward, who was appointed on the
special committee to investigate the
charges made by the Minneapolis Times
against members of the city council,
President johnson yesterday substi-
tued Aid. A. S. Adams, of the Twelfth
ward, in place of Aid. Warren. The
committee will meet in the council
chamber at 9 O'Clock this morning. just
what will be investigated the chairman
of the committee said yesterday he
couldn't tell. The council gave the
committee power to send for persons
and papers, but in this, it is alleged,
the council exceeded its authority. Sec
ton Of chapter 4 of the Minneapolis
city charter gives the council the power
to remove officials, whether elected by
the city council or by the people, after
a trial, and for such trial it has the
authority to compel the attendance OF
witnesses and the production OF papers.
In an investigation, however, the char
ter does not specifically convey the
power to compel the attend
ance of witnesses, and several
lawyers have advanced the opinion
that unless the information desired by
the committee is volunteered they Will
be poWerless to compel the attendance
of witnesses. 1t is probable, however,
that the committee will take CognlZance
of a charge which was recently made
on the floor of the council by Emerson
Cole, when the matter of abandoning
Water street northeast, to allow Shaw
81 Elliott to build an extension to their
mill, was under consideration. AT that
time Mir. Cole openly charged that at
least two of the aldermen who opposed
the abandonment of the street did so be-
cause it meant dollars and cents to
them" Coming from so conservative
man as Mr.. COleFis supposed to be, the
charge created something of a Sensa-
ton at the time, and as he has never
made any TetractiOn. OF at least never
explained to the council what he meant
by his assertion, it is more than likely
the committee will invite him to appear
before it and to tell that he knows con-
corning the opposition to the scheme.
City Clerk Haney said late yesterday
afternoon that he had not received any
instructions from either the committee
or the city attorney to summon any wit
nesses to appear at the investigation,
and he couldn't tell what had been
done. Chairman S. B. Loye would not
say just what the committee proposed
to investigate, but, in general way, he
said: "The Times has made grave
charges against some of the aldermen,
and if possible the committee will get
to the bottom of them. We are going to
give everyone who knows of any irreg-
ularities chance to tell all they know"
"It has been intimated on the street
that the committee will conduct the eX-
animation behind closed doors. Is that
true?" was asked.
mo, sir" answered Mr.. LOye. 'While
| am chairman OF that committee there
will be no star-Ghamber business about
it. Everything connected with the ex-
animation shall be open and above board,
and if the lightning is going TO strike,
l say let it strike where itmaY."
Aid. John T. MCGOWAN and Fred
Brueshaber Jr., of the First ward, who
were referred to by Aid. Cole in his
dollars and cents' speech, said yester-
day that they were perfectly willing
that their action in regard to the Water
street matter should be investigated.
They both claimed that they had acted
cOnseientiOusly in the matter, and for
the best interests of their ward.