The state herald., 1892-02-19
DENVER GOSSIP.
Contests Between the City officIals....
Some Evil Phases Of
Denver Life,

S0UNOt shSs
DENVER, Colorado, February 10
The average American citizen takes Q
lively interest In the methods Of city gov
ernment and the voters Of Denver arc no
exception 10 tho rule. There arc special
reasons which attract attention To our city
hall at present Like most other individ-
uals the members Of our city government
arc promo TO SEQ things In different lights
and each one having become convinced
that no il right and tho othor fellows
wrong he sets to work with great cnthus-
asm to defeat their evil intentions.
Straightway war Of words comes on and
the Taxpayers are delighted to get an ex-
ira entertainment from their employees.
Last spring Plat Rogers was elected
may or on mixed ticket with distinct
ively reform flavor aud he was expected
to see that tho affairs Of the city were
regulated on strictly business basis. The
health department which had boon particu-
larly criticised was entirely rcorganized
and DIR. Steele, public splrited:physicia
accepted the position Of health commits
sioncr without any salary, desiring only TO
work for the public good. George Water
cAHy .eNAh6 SSSA upPSAAsSa - s1sSs s's
spector in this department soon msde him.
self very popular with his superiors, pre-
sumably because Of his efficiency. The
street commissioner, MIR. Campbell, who
was elected by tho people and therefore
not ontiroly subject to tho ordors Of tho
mayor, was severely criticised for the bad
management Of his department and 90
strongly did tho mayor believe In Camp
bells incompetency that ho brought
charges and sought 10 havo him impeached
md removed by the council. Tho council,
however, stood by Mr.. Campbell and 70.
fused to oust him. The mayor patiently
bided his timo and found another chance o
few weeks ago whom tho annual appro-
priation ordinance was submitted to him
for approval In this ordinance, which
apportions tho city's money among tho
different departments was an item Of tl5, 900
for cleaning the newly paved streets, tho
work to be done by tho street commits
sioncr. This provision along with few
others caused the mayor to veto tho ordi-
nance and he urged that this work should
be intrusted to Mr.. Waterbury. As the
council could not pass the ordinance over
the veto they made tho change asked for.
Quite naturally this contest has aroused q
bad feeling between Campbell and Water
bury, and tho other day when Waterbury
had force Of men at work opposite the
city hall he was assaulted by Campbell.
No great damage was done. and thoy both
still live and eagerly await tho opportuni-
ties Of the future 10 get even.
But in ono point In dispute the council did
not make any concession. The second ordi
nance appropriated only $500 for tho ex.
penses of the board Of public works, whereas
the mayor urged IN appropriation Of $oo, 900.
He exercised his power by vetolng tho
5000 item, and the board Of public works
is ut present left without anything for
their employees. Tho councilmen claim
that tho board OF public works Is extrava-
giant ind that tho work under its super
vision, especially the street paving, is not
being properly done. Tho council desires
to keep an eye on this work itself through
the city engineer, but tho board shows NO
disposition TO surrender its powers, and a
bitter contest is likely to result The
friends Of the board insinuato that the
real object Of the council Is TO givo en-
ploymcnt TO Democratic workmen, instead
of allowing tho board, which is Rcpub-
lican, TO select the men. Under tho char
ter this board, consisting OF three men,
appointed by the governor, is charged with
the expenditure OF the s700,0OO improve
ment fund voted by tho city three year,
ago. or this amount over ti00, 900 yot rc-
mains to ba e1penasi. Tho Improve
ments contemplated Arc quito extensive
and when completed will hnvo changed
Denver in appearance from town 10 Q
city. They consist Of tho purchase oi
parks, tho paving Of the strcots, tho con
struction OF sewers, and other improve
mcnts. There has been merry war
about tho material for paving, and tho
daily papers havo warmly cspoused the
cause OF either stone or asphalt rs their
opinions or interests led them to do. Al
most anything Ia better than mud, Ger
tainiy, ind We arc thankful for two OF
three streets whero ono may walk with
out wading. Tho strongest argument
against the use OF asphalt 10 Its cost,
being about t3.oO per square yard properly
laid. 1t Is to DO hoped that tho reported
discovery OF beds OF asphalt In Western
Colorado and Eastern Utah may prove
that We have Mt our door an article equal
70 tho product from tho West Indies. Al
for tho various kinds Of stone, they arc ol
course moro durable, ind for that reason
cheaper than asphalt, but tho nolso made
by teams upon them dotracts greatly from
their satisfactoriness.
All tho members Of tho police depart
mcnt are Mt present excited on account oil
IN unprovokcd attack made last week upor
Policeman Smith In kothery's saloon. Ths
saloon WINS opon after midnight and smith
went In and ordered II closed, ns tho law
requires. Rothery md two other men at
tackled him savngciy, beating and kicking
him until he was nearly dead, ind probs
bly, would havo finished him II another
officer had not come to his rescue. Tn,
police board md tho mon on tho forco ar,
very much inccnscd against the perpctra
tors Of tho outrage, and II will probably q,
hard with them. Tho larger part Of III,
crimes committed In Denver arc pcrpctrat
cd In the SALOONS or gambling houses M,
there nro several Of these places which mr.,
especially notorious BY reason Of their un
savory regulations. Tho police board hal
recommended that aomo Of those placo
DO shut up. but tho city council cannot re
sist tho strong inducemcnt OF their llccns,
money and lots them run. Tho Firo IN,
Police Board, another aift TO Us from tn,
Statc) has given us tho bcst and cleancs
administration Of tho police department
that has boon known In Denver for man,
yoars. This board has nothing 10 do witt
politics, but 10 sworn 70 execute tho ;aw
by tho bost means that II can command. /
Ia q long SVldo in tho right direction, bu
falls In sor,o points yot Tho laws IN refcr
cnco TO gambling und prostitution aro In
terprotcd by tho board In . rather pocuiia
way. Their chief aim appears 70 bc h
compel disroputablc women to 1.-Two In two
story houses, and gamblers 70 play on ''th
| square," All bunco establishments an,
"cut throat ganica arc promptly suppress
al and paiieemen n vatxh tha biU uarhila "a,