St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-22

OAO io6os
PROPER POWERS OF A MAYOR.
The very narrowness of the field of
municipal life makes it of the highest
Importance that all rights should have
the strictest guarantees, and that all
powers should be the most carefully
dehned. The three departments OF
government should maintain their IN
dependence. And it is an Indecency
Tor one OF them to encroach upon the
others. The mayor of city should
nave large powers, but these powers
should be strictly confined to the ex-
ecutiVe department of government. A
mayor seeking by weight of official
position to secure the passage of an Or
dlnance or the decision of a court should
be impeached and removed. 1t is, L
believe, we'll to centralize the adminis-
tratiye power. That the head OF the
government appoint the heads of de-
partments, and these in turn should be
entirely independent in their own field.
1t is enough power and responsibility
for any one man to select the best men
for heads of departments, and then to
hold them to strict account in their
"Ohh 'Oi thO eOOu VI luG CITY.
May the executive department decide
what laws shall or shall not be en-
forced? Decidedly moi. This is of the
very essence of a despotisin. When
statutes depend upon the whim or tenn
porary wrath of an irresponsible man
entrusted with high Office the officers OF
public safety become a public danger.
ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS
We are told that there are certain
laws upon our statute books which cam
not be enforced; that what we want is
no puritan government, but common
sense recognition of the facts. And we
are told that only man of the world
can possibly understand these facts,
which is another way of saying the
liberal drafts of wickedness put within
man the perennial fountain OF wis
dom. There are many people WHO
would like to see the Sunday closing of
saloons. The stopping of the sale of
liquor to minors. The suppression of
public drunkenness, and the closing OF
houses OF prostitution. 1t is responded
they really understood the situation
they would not seek to disturb the pub
lie mind. 1t may be that sumo OF these
laws cannot be enforced, and ought not
to be enforced.
SHREWD CONVENTIONS WITH 3 LACK.
LEGS.
If that be true. and / do not discuss
the question at this time, there is rem
/ edy. That remedy is to be found in the
repeal of these laws and ordinances.
Let us have done-with our public hypoc-
risy. Let us have: done with Il state o.
city government in which the laws are;
ignored or revised blythe executive de-
partment, and in which the adroituesss,
ing shrewd conventions with gamblers.
thugs and bacillegs in the interests Of
public safety.
FALSE TO PLEDGES.
1t Is one thing to say that laws which
preserve hoary wrong are set at naught
by the public conscience, or that new
and untried laws are in practice found in
expedient. But it is quite another thing
to say that laws which are aimed at the
suppression OF what are universally re-
garded as human vices should be set at
naught after they have been decades on
the statute books. 1t ought to be con-
sIstent with honor to hold public Office,
bu. how can it be when man sWears
one day that he will undertake to be
faithful in the execution of the laws
which he intends at that moment to set
at naught during every day of his ad-
ministration?
DESPISED BY DEVILS IN HE'LL.
But there is particular basis for
action to be found in the pledges and
understandings made before election by
candidates tor Office. When man
comes forward for the suffrageS of his
fellow citizens and says, Il believe in
wide-open policy; if am elected there
are certain laws [ shall not enforce
one can have some respect for an open
form Of anarchy like that, and if he is
elected upon such basis it amounts in
effect to revolution.
But what can be, said of an official
who goes into Office with two special
pledges, namely these: II will turn
out the gang; will enforce the laws?''
If such man, duly elected on these
pledges, after securing Office, fails to
either turn out the gang or to enforce
the laws, he ought to be lonesome
among all honest men on earth and is
in danger of being despised by devils in
he'll. !
1t may be that the question of munic-
ipal suffrage will need to be studied
before we can finally secure municipal
reform. In many close city elections the
event is influenced by the colonization
of purchasable and vagrant vote
Municipal reform will be slow. 1t can
only come about by an intelligent study
of the problem, and by the development
Of high moral sense.
THE FIFTEEN-DoLLAR INCIDENT.
How far we have to go may be seen
IN the fact that in our own midst a pub
lie official accepts monthly payments
from other public officials who need and
solicit his vote. And when detected
feels no sense of shame, but has Ills
mouth full of plausible excuses, while
at the same time he holds another pub
lie office more valuable than the former
stipend.
'IMPRUDENT IND1sCRETIoN" OF TIKI
PIONEER PRESS.
The need Of more delicate sense Of
honor in public affairs is not only seen
in the incident itself, but i'll the further
fact that great public journal sees ft
to become its apologist and defender.
If we are to save. our institutions.
there must be earnest and faithful work
by men of intelligence, activity and
conscience. l am tired of hearing
about the flag, and the eagle and our
glorious history. No republican gov
ernment can be permanent unless 1t is
clean.
Great Gold Nugget Found.
LEADvILLE, Col, Jan 21.-A gold