St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-13
TO SUCCEED ROCHE /?
Many Good Men Are Talked
Of for the Responsible
Position,
Any Of Whom Would Credit
ably Keep the City's Ac-
count Books.
The Funeral Arrangements
Are Not Yet Made Com
plete.
Probably the Body Will Lie
in State in the City Hall
To-Day.

The news of the death of Comptroller
Roche had scarcely spread without the
confines of The city when speculation
was rife regarding his probable success
sor. The next meeting Of the council
will occur the first Tuesday in June,
and this will be the first meeting under
the new Bell charter. At that time the
dual council will probably select man
for the position. The following is a
partial list Of the names spoken of in
connection with the comptrollership:
o. 0. Cullen, William A. Van Slyke,
NJ. X. Prendergast, NJ. j. O'Connor,
Frank Battley, j. l. Beaumont and j. j.
McCardy. OF course none of these gen
tlemen themselves are. actively engaged
in the matter, all of them having too
high an opinion Of the deceased to be
seeking his place at this time. But the
tongue of gossip is busy with their
names.
Mr. Cullen needs no introduction to
the public. He IS at present the alder
man from the Fourth ward. the preSid-
ing officer of the council, and. in the alb
Sence of the mayor, acting mayor of the
city. For the past ten years he has
held offices OF trust and honor, and has
fulfilled every duty in a capable, and
efficient manner. He is not hamDered
with business cares. and if elected could
give to the arduous duties of his Office
his whole time and attention. His init
mate knowledge of the city's affairs
would make his appointment especially
fitting.
Aid. Van Slyke is another clear-cut
business man whose name has been
spoken of most favorably in connection
with the vacancy There is no citizen
in st. Paul who has made more self
sacrificing efforts in its behalf than
~ an" and none more competent for
the Office of comptroller. With him in
that office the people could hope for an
administration of the same based on
purely business principles. Like Mr..
Cullen, he is not at the present time
actively engaged in business pursuits,
and he could thus afford to give to the
duties of his office all his time and at
tention.
NJ. r. Prendergast is a brother of City
Clerk L. A. Prendergast and Fire Com
missioner j. c. PrendergaSt, and a man
eminently qualified to fulfill the duties
of comptroller. For nearly twenty
years he was a member of the we'll
known firm of Prendergast Bros. About
a year ago Mayor Smith appointed him
a member of the board of control, which
OlilSC IC iINIA uiibil tiullC lGNc1IIIN, HIIGU
he rendered his resignation. He is a
gentleman of wide business experience
a most thorough accountant. and well
equipped for the performance of the ex-
acting duties of the office.
Capt. M. j. O'COnnor is another gen.
tleman who would make a good comp
troller. He was city clerk of st. Paul
for number of years, and afterwards
went into the packing business with
Martin Delaney. He is at present one
of the efficient deputies of Health In
SpectOr Hoyt.
Frank Battley is a well known st.
ability as a member of the Ramsey
county delegation in the last legisla-
ture. He has been promised several
appointments in the city government
and has earned them, but has missed
connections in every instance He is
wide-awake hustler, and has a host of
warm friends who would be delighted to
see him honored with the appointment
as comptroller. He is practical book
keeper and accountant.
J. l. Beaumont is known the length
and breadth of the city as a tried and
capable Official in every office of private
or public trust he has ever occupied.
While acting as assessor of st. Paul, a
position he held for many years. he was
always the courteous gentleman and the
painStaking official. He is a splendid
accountant. and we'll versed in the
methods of transacting the varied de-
tails of the comptroller's Office. The
council would make no mistake in the
selection of Mr.. beaumont.
j. j. McCardy is a Republican, and
with a council where three Of that party
are arraYed in solid phalanX against
some seventeen Democrats, he can
hardly hope for much. All the same.
he has plenty of friends who believe
him the right man TO fill the shoes of
the late Grand Old Man." The fact
that he spent two terms as county
auditor renders him particularly fit to
conduct the Office of comptroller. for
the duties of these two offices are quite
similar. He is said to be the finest ae-
cOuntant in the city, and is methodlcal
III the extreme. Leaving aside Mr.. Nc
Cardy's personal failings. which should
not figure, he would make an A No.
comptroller. but, being a Republican,
is mot in it'' now.
There are doubtless other gentlemen
who could as satisfactorily fill this i'm
pOrtant Office as any of those named
above, and there is no intention of ''de-
claring the nominations closed" The
council thoroughly understands that
there is no more important office under
the municipal government than that of
comptroller, and it will doubtless choose
wisely