St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-12

The tiny ripple of reform that set in
about the time it was discovered that
the city of ST. Paul was burg of some
thing less than 10000 inhabitants, and
not metropolis that was humping"
itself along towards the 100000 mark,
has kept steadily increasing in volume;
and at the present time it has assumed
the gigantic proportions of regular
ocean tidal wave. The present codition
of the SANITY City. looking at it from
financial standpoint, is the inevitable
consequence of the boom in real estate
that swept over these parts along about
the year 1881. The result of this afOre-
said boom was to create a sentiment of
liberality, which, however unwittingly,
has permeated nearly the whole body
polite.
The activity in real estate which pre-
vailed from 81 up to 'SS made things
hum pretty lively while it lasted. Peo-
pie fiocked in here from every quarter
to take advantage OF the flood tide that
was running, and be swept into the
haven of wealth. Money was freer than
water, and the individual with $50 was
considered a poor investor who could
not add a cipher to it inside of week.
Men with small capitals. and still small
er intelligence, bought property which
they hoped to turn over before the sec
ond payment was due: men forSook
their legitimate business and plunged
into the wild intOXication OF real estate
speculation. And what was the out
come? The boom, like all boOms, petered
out after it had run its course, and left
horde of individuals with mortgaged
property on their hands which they
could not dispose of at any price. In
other words, a large mass of our citi-
ZenS became what is commonly called
property poOr.' 1t was during the
heyday of this boom that great liberality
began to creep into public affairs. The
salaries of officials were gradually in
creased to keep pace with the Get
there, Eli" sentiment that was then
prevailing, ard each department ran
with a full head of steam. There was
no dishonesty practiced, nor were any
charges OfdiShOneSty made; the strained
condition of things was due entirely to
TO the false notions that the spirit of a
boom Will always begeJ. For a city
supposed to have all the way from 49,
00O to 100000 inhabitants, the public eX-
penditures and general taxation were
not one whit too high, but when the
cruel census man came around and dis
PEELED the illusion, the people began to
awake fIOm their lethargy and inquire,
"Whither are we gong"H Then be-
gan the talk about reform. Reuench-
ment with great big r was the
WatchWord. Everybody had a little
scheme of his own how best to bring
the city down from the giddy heights to
which it had scared to the bed rock of
simplicity and buSinesS-like methods.
These schemes, some of them wild and
wOOlly, some absurd. some sensible,
have been ventilated very freely by the
excited populace, and it was while these
Vagaries were being tossed about that
the legislature convened. And oh what
q JOB that legislature had before them,
especially that portion of it that was to
look after the interests of Ramsey
county. These men had a herculean
task, a thankless task, to perform,
Theirs it was to meet the demands OF
the reform crankS; to seek advice from
all and take counsel from none; TO rec
Oncile the various conflicting theories
and from the pOtpOurri of opinions to
select what seemed proper. Meetings
of citizens in bodies of from to 100
(all representative, of course), collect
map out plans of campaign embodying
ali manner of legislation, good, bad and
Indifferent and which were submitted
for the consideration of the Ramsey
delegation. in addition to this. the
delegation itself held meetings from
time to time in the city attorneys office
and talked remedial legislation so
long and so hard that Pat Egan,
the janitor, pressed Dr.. Days court
house chimes into service again
to drown the babble of voices.
Well. the legislature convened, and the
Ramsey delegation. each member loaded
to the muZzle with gigantic jags of re-
fOrmatOry roast, entered upon its duties.
A great deal of criticism. much of it
harsh and uncalled for, has been in
dulged in concerning the work of the
Ramsey delegation, which is composed,
with few exceptions, of as able a set
of men as ever went up from this county.
Ii Is impossible for any delegation to
please all. However sincere their eff
forts to conform with the public behest,
there viii always be disgruntled sore
heads ready TO decry and belittle what
ever may be done. The present session
of the legislature is now almost COM
pleted, but six working days remaining.
and what sins OF omission or commits
sion the Ramsey delegation has been
guilty Of are matters OF public record.
no delegation was ever confronted with
such mountain Of obstacles. and DO
delegation ever strOre harder 10 over
come theiG. With 4 view to ascertain
lng an expression Of public opinion as
to, the legislation wanted, together with
what reforms, if any, should be nitro
iuced by ;he various city and county
boards under Ihe neW order Ct things,