St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-24
A STRONG ARGUMENT.
Why New Comptroller Should
Not Go In.

George Refs, the present city treas
urer, will retire from politics entirely
at the end of his fiscal term. Therefore,
what he has to say upon upon the stu
alton is entitled to more than Ordilfary
thought. Mr. Refs, as a citizen and
taxpayer, is naturally disposed to project
his own interests, and in so doing he
must protect the interests Of the other
taxpayers. Necessarily the treasurer
must be a new man, and lie holds that
it will be a very dangerous thing TO
have both a new treasurer and new
comptroller. The financial affairs Of
tie city, Mr.. Refs maintains, should not
be placed in the care of men who are
absolutely unacquanted with the
regime. This is a strong and eloquent
argument for the candidacy OF ,. a.
POnthan, the present comptroller
The changes in the city charter by
the legislature Of 1891" said Mr.. Refs.
Yesterday, in commenting upon the sit
uation. 'were OF most radical and
sweeping character. Much Of the legis-
Iation had been hurriedly gotten up.
and a good deal of it was of such vague
and contradictory nature as 10 puzzle
even the best legal minds. While there
are, in the main. many good features IN
the law, il is exceedingly difficult to
change from the old TO the new and
practically keep things in running
order fNe comptroller had a most diff
ficult and intricate task to perform. and
when Mr. Roche, our city comptroller,
lamented by the whole city, was so sud
denly stricken by death-at this very
juncture, when the new order OF things
was to 90 into vogue-the matter was
viewed with apprehension and alarm by
tie populace.
mir. Ponthan was elected successor.
and he has worked hard and faithfully.
and has during the past year shown his
unusual ability as comptroller in the
careful and systematic arrangement of
his office. Both of his bookkeepers,
Mr.. Franzen and Mr.. Naumann. are
competent and able accountants, and
considering TIE difficulties of the situa-
ton as it then was do not hesitate TO
say that no one could have done any
better, and but very few would have
done as well as well as Mr.. Pontllan has
done. He has proven himself patient,
Woodworking aud painstaking official,
and gentleman whose scholarly attain
ments have shown to his advantage"
Il regret very much TO see the means
that are employed in the present pOlti-
First the city. then the party yet meas
UreS of the vilest and most despicable
character have been employed to the
city's detrlment for political ends. Such
things can only work great injury to
the city and tend to keep decent and
honest citizens, who are sensitive OF
their reputation. out of politics, and in
this way great harm is done. and l fear
it will grow worse if not stopped soon.
The same economic laws governing in
dividuals also hold good as 10 cities
four or five years ago everybody bought,
built or speculated-s0me Of them too
much, and our city spent more money
on public improvements than would
now be done, but it was the spirit Of the
times. The press and the public de-
manded it. Since the depression, and
during the last two years, the old mat
tiers have been cleared up, the improve
ments paid for, SO that OF the many inn
provenient assessments but little still
remains. A better feeling prevails, and
the signs of better times are on the in
crease every day,