St. Paul daily globe., 1892-06-24
THE BUILDING INSPECTOR
SHIP.

At the last meeting OF the DOdFQ OIL
aldermen of this city an ordinance was
introduced by Aid. COPELAND abol-
isbing the term of the present
building inspector of the city of
st. Paul, and changing the present
building ordinance with respee. to
the qualifications to be required in the
building inspector. The present erdi-
nance provides that the building in
spect0r shall be q practical architect
and sanitary engineer. The proposed
ordinance provides that the building in
speetor shall be practical architect
and sanitary engineer. or shall have had
five years previous experience as build
ing inspector in a city of above 40, 900
inhabitants.
The object of this ordinance is ap-
parent on its face. First. the removal
from office of the present building in
speetOr, Mr.. MORRIS, before the expira-
tion OF the term for which he was
elected; and next, the amendment Of
the ordinance so that no question can
De raised as to the legibilIty of the
former building inspector, GATES a.
JOHNSON.
The GLOBE does not propose to dis
cuss whether this action by the COM
mon council will be legal or otherwise,
but 1t must be a matter of regret to all
good citizens of this city to find that
now for the first time in the history of
the city ofSt. Paul such a narrow par
tisan spirit as that eYinced by the pro-
visions Of the proposed ordinance per-
tainS in our common council. In
the first place, there IS absolutely no
valid reason for the removal of Mr..
MORRIS. the present building inspector.
He is gentleman whose lire (which Tor
the most part has been passed in the city
of st. Paul. has been above reprOach;
man who, it is admitted by even the
Republicans, Is not only the most COM
petent man who las ever filled the
office of building inspector IN this city,
but is as competent to fill il as it is pos
sible for experience and study to make
one. In addition to all this, he has
never been partisan, but on the con-
trary has been a genial, unobtrusiYe
gentleman who has held himself aloef
from all party strife, and probably has
not even bowling acquaintance with
one out of hundred OF either the Dem
Ocratie or Republican politicians of
this city.
Neither can the passage of the pro-
posed ordinance be justified upon party
grounds. GATES A. JOHNSON has al
ways been a Republican. and as such
has been permitted to hold the Office of
building inspector for years under a
Democratic administration; and, unless
Mr.. JOHNSON has in some way acquired
a right to hold the office of building in
sDector for life, no criticism can be
made upon the failure of the late coun-
ell to re-elech him. Whatever might
have been said as to the election of Mr..
STARKEY, as to the reasons for that
election or the advisability of it, moth
ing can be said or will be attempted to
be said against the election of Mr..
MORRIS. 1t is matter of regret, aside
from its political effect. that the pres
ent council of this city should see
fit to adopt any such narrow and big
eted policy as will be evinced by pur-
suing the course adopted in the board
of aldermen. Years ago, when there was
only one Republican alderman in
the common council, Hon. W. D..
CORNISH, he was by his Dem
-Ocratic associates elected president
of the council. The same thing
was repeated with Hon. CHARLES
D. KERR, who also represented Re-
publican minority. The present school
board, appointed by ex-Mayor SMIEH,
has Republican majority: and, if we
examine the higher offices of the county
of Ramsey, the spirit of fairness
evinced by the Democrats is even more
striking. Since his first election to the
bench of the Ramsey county district
court Judge BRILL. the present senior
judge, a Republican, has never been op-
posed by the Democrats. although on
many of the occasions of his re-elec-
tiOn the county was overwhelmingly
Democratic. Judge KERR Republican,
and Judge KELLY, also Republican.
have been in like manner accepted by the
Democrats. And 1t has been thought by
a large number of leading Democrats
that the same course should be and
would be pursued concerning Judge
CORNISH. also Republican, when he
comes before the people next fall for
election. This condition of affairs has
made st. Paul pleasant city to live IN.
Men holding different political opinions
have still been able 10 recognize in
their opponents honesty and integrity
and fitness for office. and in social life
political differences have been entirely
disregarded. If now, however, when
power is within their grasp. the Repub-
Iicans see fit to change this condition of