St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-13

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Inspectors Office - Inspector
Morris Subscribed for Some
thing, He Don't Know What
The Employees Respond in a
Manner Which Virtually Ad-
mits-Franklin Meets the Men
and Offers HIS Check In Ex-
change for Affidavit That There
Was No Levy.
The publication in the GLOBE yester-
day of the business methods adopted
by Aid. Franklin in collecting SIS per
month from the employees in the build
ing inspectors office created decided
sensation. The reformers, of whom the
alderman was prominent leader, while
not inclined to talk about the matter,
endeavored TO make light of the charges,
number of them saying it hardly
seemed possible.
The mayor was of the opinion the
charges were false, and with this view
wisely decided he would not pay any at
tention to them neither; would be take
any steps for an investigation.
The grand jury adjourned at o'clock,
and as far as could be learned did not
take up the matter with view of inves-
tigating the charges. The body will re-
assemble on Jan. 90, for short session,
and it is possible the charges will be
fully investigated at that time.
Ex-Building Inspector Morris, seen
yesterday by Clio BE reporter, at first
refused to talk on the subject. In an
swer to questions rather pointed he
finally said JIG. MacCarthy.un short
time ago d deputy in his office, had
asked him to subscribe to fund in the
summer of 1892. He did not inquire
particularly as to the object of the fund.
and could not now remember just how
much he did put his name down for.
He was not, he said, present at the
meeting of the employees held in his
office last Saturday, at which Aid.
Franklin presented an a ffidavt for the
men to sign stating that they had not
paid any money to him. In conclusion,
Mr.. Morris asked that if anything was
to be said connecting hi m with the mat
ter it would be made as light as pos
sible.
Aid. Franklin in his own defense sent
to the leading Republican organ state
ment in which he stated the matter
was new to him, and he mad not de-
cided as to what course he would pur-
sue. The charges he also said were an
outgrowth of political persecution in-
augurated some months ago because he
declined to vote for Gates A. Johnson
for building inspector. The charges he
alluded to as political canards, but no.
where in the statement does he deny the
truth of them.
The employees in the building in
spector's office would neither affirm nor
deny the truthfulness OF the charges,
all of the four now retained under the
new inspector declining to be inter
viewed. Late yesterday afternoon As
semblymen Doran and Reardon visited
the building inspectors office and held
a consultation behind closed doors.
Present at the conference were the
two assemblymen, Building Inspector
Gauger, I. j. Kelleher. Philip Anfang,
w. P. O'Brien and j. Meyer. the four
assistants in the office. None of the
parties would talk after the conference
was over, but it was learned that the
publication of the charges will be made
the excuse tor the immediate letting out
Of the four employees and the selection
of others by Inspector Gauger.
Aid. Zimmerman, who was chairman
of the special committee to whom the
ordinance, which if passed would have
ousted Morris III July, 1892, was re-
ferred, was seen yesterday afterD oon.
He said the charges made ag ainst
Franklin were great surprise to him.
When the ordinance was first passed by
the board Aid. Franklin voted in favor
of the passage. The ordinance then
went to the assembly, where it was
amended, and when 1t came back to the
board of aldermen it was referred to
the committee, of which he and Aid.
Copeland and Jensen were members.
The intention was to pass the ordinance
at the time, but on counting noses it
| was found the measure could not pass