St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-04
IN TIE FLOUR CITY.
The Grand Jury Now to Take
a Whaek at the Fire
Department.
1t Will Be Difficult to Get at
Drunkenness and
Ineificiency.
Aid. Rand Denies That He In
tended to Stand by
Runge.
A Rumor That Insurance Men
Intend Soon to Raise
Rates.

The grand jury Will be the next body
to wrestle with the fire department
muddle. First it was the special inyes-
tigatlng committee, last night the coun-
ell took hand in the game and before
adiourning, decided that the grand jury
should be informed that therewere prac-
tees going Oh in the fire department that
would require the services of the prose-
cutting attorney for the county.
The aldermen rather redeemed them
selves last night. 1t was reported on
all sides that there was combine at
work that had for object the white
washing of the sensational report sub
mitted by the special investigating
committee Such is not the case. All
those present last evening, twenty
three out of the twenty-siX aldermen,
agreed that the whole matter should be
probeG to the bottom. Two resolutions
were adopted. Aid. Rand fathered
one to the effect that certified copy OF
the report of the
Smelling Committee
be prepared by the city clerk, and sent
to the grand jury fer its consideration.
There was at first "a disposition to let
the matter rest here, but hot war
fare ensued. 1t was argued that if
the matter was left entirely
with the grand jury nothing
could be done with any of the
charges except stealing at fires. The
alleged lack of discipline and the
charges of wholesale drunkenness and
ineiliciency and favortism would not
come within the province of the grand
Jury to investigate. Several motions
were made, but the one presented by
Aid. Harvey filled the bill. This pro-
vided that Gray and the other members
of the investigating committee be re-
quired to give up the evidence that had
been reserved. with view of formulat-
ing charges for the impeachment of the
fire department laddieS, including Chief
Runge, who had been guilty of crimes
or other offenses tending to the demon
alization of the department. This was
unanimously carried.
1t Was Executive
The meeting, as was expected, was
executive. Twenty-three aldermen, to-
gether with City Attorney Simpson,
City Clerk Haney and Janitor Gaylord.
who acted as Sergeant-at-armS and
grand bOuncer, were all that were adj
mitted within the council chamber. The
aldermen resolved themselves into
committee of the whole and selected
Aid. Bradish as chairman. He made an
excellent presiding officer, and, was
thoroughly at home, and except to
whistle when he was driven into par
liamentary corner, was all right.
"a So re
but most of them were on questions par
liamentary. Aid. Rand called Aid.
Lackey to account for an alleged inter
view with him in daily paper in which
it was stated that Aid. Rand, Anderson,
McAllister and Harvey were friendly to
Chief Runge and would stand by him,
no matter what happened. This Aid.
Rand denied emphatically and stated
that all he wanted was 10 see
Justice TO +ile City.
Aid. Anderson also disclaimed any
intention of screening Chief Runge if
he was guilty of anything repre-
hensibIe
Aid. Lackey stated that the interview
was misleading, and that all he had said
was that Rand and Anderson were
friendly to Runge.
Aid. Rollins took shot at Chairman
Gray, of the investigating committee,
and his confreres for the evident lnten-
ton to temper the wind to the other
members of the fire department and
throwing the onus on the chief. Aid.
McAliisJer also struck at Aid. Gray for
abusing the aldermen at the council
meeting of Friday night. Aid. Schwartz
thought they should act quickly, as the
insurance men would soon raise rates.