St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-05
THE INsPECTORsHIP CONTEST

The examination in the JOHNSON
STARKEY contest is growing as interest
ing as was the testimony in the wheat
Investigation last summer, and the
GLOBE cordially commends it to the at
tention of those of its readers who are
Interested in fathoming the limits of
human knowledge. There is peculiar
charm about the trial of cases before
referees or legislative committees, be-
cause the rules of evidence which rob
court proceedings of so much of their
picturesqueness are entirely dispensed
with. Either side can ask witness
anything it pleases, and, whether 1t has
any bearing on the subject or not, the
answer is taken down, subject to Objec-
tion.= The immediate purpose of such
judicial inquiries is to assist some de-
serving stenographer in making an
honest living. He. being paid by the
folio, does not shrink from the sight of
a record daily growing more voumIn-
Gus. incidentally it is sought, in the
present instance, to decide who shall
be the city's building inspector. A
good deal of the testimony thus far
has been addressed to Mr.. STARKEY'S
qualifications for the Office for which
he has been named The citys charter
preScribes that an incumbent must be
learned in the arts and sciences,
knowledge of which is presumed to be
needed Tor proper discharge of its
duties. The contestants attorney has
taken the position that Mr.. STARKEY
does not know very much about his
business, and last week spent several
very enjoyable hours in showing up his
deficiencies. On this theory he con-
Quoted a sort of reverse civil service ex-
animation, testing the extent of his
ignorance by series of carefully
framed interrogatories. The victim ae-
quilted himself admirably under this
ordeal, and showed the most gratifying
unfamiliarity with great many sub
jects on which his inQuisitor had
knowledge enough at any rate to ask
him questions. His marks have not
yet been published, but there is no
doubt that he will stand pretty high
from this point of view.
Yesterday it was the other SIDES i'll
ningS, and Mr.. STARKEY was given an
opportunity to show what he does
know. 1t remains to be seen whether
OF not this will take more time than 1t
did for him to tell what lie didn't know.
If it does, he will win. The legal
method of deciding such contests is for
the supreme court to measure with
yard stick first the evidence of ignor-
ance and then the evidence of learning.
Even single inch of learning in excess
will give Mr.. STARKEY the victory, SO
exact and impartial are orr judges. Up
to date the outlook is exceedingly dark
for the contestant, although the stenog-
rapher has nothing to complain of. 1t
was established yesterday that Mr..
STARKEY knows brick when he sees
one, and can tell brownstone from
granite. He has also read many works
OH architecture, particularly those issued
by the chamber of commerce, descriptive
of our local buildings. He is also up
on sewers, if this expression can be al
lowed OF such underground structures,
and just before adjournment he ratified
off definitions with eommendable YER
bosity.
1t was plain TO see that Mr.. JOHNSON
was quite disconnected by this exhibit
ton. His attorney suggested that the
witness had been examining between
sessions, but this was Indignantly de-
MED. Even if no new subjects are de-
yeloped, there is basis enough here
for at least one mile of evidence of
learning. 1t all depends on the phys
ical vigor of his attorney. If he can
think of things enough In these lines to
ask him which he does know, he will
forge ahead so rapidly that he can never
be Overtaken. There are two dangers,
however. One is that his attorneys in
formation and his own may not coin
eide after awhile, and the free run of
learning may be interrupted in spots.
This would confuse the appellate court,
and make it necessary for it to cut up
the testimony and paste it together in
Its proper order before beginning the
measurement. The other is that Mr..
JoHNsoN's advisers may oil the sur
rebuttal display an unexpected capacity
in some of the occult sciences or dead
languages. If they once begin to tackle
the witness with questions about theos-
ophy or the Zend Avesta, the GLOBE is
afraid that his goose is cooked. lie had