St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-02
BOBBY AND FIREMAN.
Both Exercised Over the Re-
cent Cut in Their
Salaries.
WILL DEMAND A LEXOW.
Chief Stetson Investigating
the Financial Management
Of the Department.
SOME BAD DOODLE STORIES.
President Snyder's Combine
Is Interested--Police En-
pIoyes Wrought Up.

viii LeXow investigation be de-
manded for Minneapolis. beginning with
its fire department? There are good
reasons for believing an answer can
be made in the affirmative. The bitter
feeling engendered by the scandalous
Investigation of two years ago has by
no means died out 1t has been smOuld
ering ever since. ana the recent cut in
the salaries of the fire fighters and pO-
licemen has famed the embers OF dis
content into a flame of resentment. 1t
was thought at the time the special
committee on investigation recommend
ed a whitewash report for Chief Runge
that his enemies would lever cease
until they evened up matters with him,
and recent developments but confirm
that belief. And there is 10 doubt but
what 4 thorough Investigation, covering
a period OF several years, and which
will include aldermen dead, dashed and
forgotten, is to be asked for III the near
future.
Tie first operation of the proEe will
be in the direction of the fire depart
ment. Chief Stetson has been making
some Quiet but pertinent inquiries as to
the financial management of the depart
ment for the past few years, and the re-
suits of his labors thus far are said to be
astounding.
1t will be remembered that the re-
cent eut in the salaries of city employees
was based on the fact that the fire de-
partment expenses had largely eX-
ceeded the estimate for 1894, while the
police department for that year had
fallen considerably below the estimate.
Hence the employees ofthat depart ment
feet that it is an outrage TO decrease
their wages because Of shortage i'll the
fire department.. The fact that they
have been compelled IS submit TO q cut
along with the tiremen has provoked
a great deal of inhammatory talk. In
yestigati0n followed. and startling dis
closures of crooked deals i'll the pur-
chase OF supplies are said TO have been
the result. Supplies, 1t IS SAID, were
purchased in excess OF the needs OF the
fire department, ana IN many cases at
eXorUitant prices. The accusation Is
sweeping enough TO include the pur-
chase of horses, and 1t Is alleged that
plenty of evidence exists TO prove chat
a "rake-utf'' on purchases Of all kinds.
amounting to thousands OF dollars. has
been received by somebody.
The Snyder combine i'll The council IS
not aversu 10 probing this thing to the
bottom. Its members feel the necessity
OF strengthening their position, and are
said 10 he lending helping hand to
hurry on the investigation.
The appointment Of Chief StetSOn has
opened the mouths Of many Of the fire
men. They are talking freely, and
their talk Is not complimentary 10 eX-
Chief Ruuge or the aldermen who cOnStl-
tuted the old committee OIL fire depart
ment. The talk of the firemen is inter-
spersed with many stories OF aldermanlc
| gratis" One of them relates that
! after a certain contract had been
awarded by the city council, an eX-als
! derman took a crowd into saloon op-
| pOsite the city hail and flashed $1,000
! bill in-payment for the drinks. accom-
panying The display OF wealth with the
remark, Drink hearty, boys; this
! money comes eGSy."
( Another story Is to the effect that q
I certain contract was let by the late
council at price 80 per cent above the
! one agreed upCn by the knowing ones,
! and that the contractor when he re-
/ ceiYed his money divided it among GER
! tain aldermen.
The nurity Of Dr.. Prices Baking