St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-18

mony of c. w. Douglass, who detailed
for the benefit of the COMMITTEES his
system of domestic government. Mr..
Douglass said he lived on the top of
the emoankment, not so near the edge,
however, that his domicile went with
the avalanche. Mr.. Douglass said that
large chunk of earth, some ten feet
in diameter, fell off over a year ago,
and smaller bits had been dropping
off ever since. He had never notified
the engineering department that it was
dangerous. A year ago, however, he
had spoken to Aid. Hare about it and
had predicted to the alderman that
some children would be killed. Aid.
Hare made no answer at the time,.
but recently, since the accident Aid.
Hare had remarked to him, that it was
like locking the barn door after the
horses had been stolen. Mr.. Douglass,
in response to Mr.. Van Sykes ques-
ton, declared that he wouldn't notify
the alderman of his ward of a danger
Gus condition of a street, as there was
a city engineer who had eyes. Then
Mr.. Douglass expatiated upon his dis
ciplinary tactics as applied to his Off
spring.
hiiCW Nillo pteSC was UCihSOiOuo,
continued Mr.. Douglass, land 1 for
babe my children to go near it 1 never
licked my opldest girl over three times
in my life, and I never punished the
youngest one; but when they both
went under the embankment to get
sand, 1 punished them"
LEWIS IS PIPING HOT.
Assistant. Corporation Attorney Phil
lips, who was representing the city
and naturally croSS-eXamined the wit
nessess who insisted it was liable,
asked Mr.. Douglass if he knew of dan
gerous sidewalks on the West side.
This question so aroused the ire of Mr..
Lewis that he interposed a vigorous
kick, and protested against the cor
poration attorney asking such ques-
ton. Mr. Lewis said that 1T looked
as if the engineering department,
through it's inspector, had imputable
knowledge of the danger.
Mr.. Phillips thereupon explained his
position and fatty asserted that there
was no more reason to impute neglect
on the part of the city in this case
than in the cases of defective side
walks.
Mr.. Van Slyke then made the inquiry
which touched Mr.. Lewis $50 near"
when he asked if the representatives
of the district were not as much to
blame as anybody else. In defense of
himself Mr.. Lewis sought to show neg
ligence on the part Of the city engineer
in another matter but did not succeed.
Mr.. Robb then moved to receive the
petition and refer it to the legal de-
partment of the city. Messrs. Lewis,
Arosin and Reardon objected, and
when the question was put voted no"
and SO the motion was lost by tie
vote.
STROUSE JACKETS 'EM.
Mr.. Lewis wanted to adjourn. Then
1t was that Mr.. Strouse took occasion
to score the Republican trio, and Mr..
Doran too.
81 consider an alderman just as much
an employe of the city as the city en-
gineer," said Mr.. Strouse. His duties
do not end in simply attending council
meetings. 1t is their duty to report
any necessity in his ward, or any dan
gerous condition of things he learns of
there. Yet you have heard Mr.. Doran
confess he did not report this case, and
he knew of it when he was a member
Of the assembly. This accident was a
most unfortunate affair. / realize that.
But who is to blame for it?' After
paying a tribute to Mr.. Rundlett's
abilities and superior qualifications as.
a city engineer, Mr.. Strouse concluded:
Il say it is a wrong, an outrage, a
crime to attempt to blast the reputa-
ton as such a man as Mr.. Rundlett
upon the strength of a petition like
this, which expresses nothing but the
opinion of men no more capable than
1 am of judging of the responsibility
of this accident. This matter should be
left to the courts, as suits have been
or will be brought against the city for
damages. You know very well that
this committee would never fix the re-
sponsibility, so what are you trying to
do? 1t is certain you can never bring
these poor children to life
The committee then adjourned, and
there will never be a quorum present
to consider this matter again, as the
committee numbers six, and Messrs.
Strouse, Robb and Van Slyke will not
attend any meetings called for that
purpose.
Yesterday forenoon all the members
OF the committee, attended by the city
engineer and several Sixth ward citi-
zens, visited the scene of the accident
and inspected the premises.