The Irish standard., 1895-01-12

direction have been made We believe
the efforts of the mayor wore honestly
made in the interest Of order and good
government. Mr.. Enstis has been criti-
cised for ruling the city too much in per- E
son. It Is claimed that he usurped the
powers belonging to department off oers,
yet it is known that mayor is held re re-
sponsible for the. smallest detail as well
as the most important acts OF 9 city ad-
ministration. The method OF dealing
with the common drunk and the largest
appropriation are alike laid at the door
of the mayors Office. 1t .is not wonder
full then that man who was willing to
shoulder all responsibility should also
have desired to enquire into the smallest
details.
Mayor Eustis did enquire into details
and for so doing is deserving OF much
credit.I If our fire and police depart.
menta were organized on a civil service
| basis there would be some ground FOL
holding that mayor should not inter
fere to too great an extent. The pre-
sumption would then be that the heads
|of those departments knew more about
their respective work than any mayor
could possibly know, because they had
acquired their positions by long and de-
served promotions. Unfortunately oul
police department is generally presided
over by civilian, who takes up the du'
ties Of the police department for the
first time on the day Of his appointment
as chief of police. 1t is not presump'
tuous for. q mayor to assume that he
knows as much about police affairs as 8
man who never was policeman of any
kind. Yet because Mr.. Eustis assumed
that much he has been criticised. II
certainly ought to be q source OF graft.
tude to the OK mayor to know that he ie
blamed for doing too much rather than
too little.
His efforts in unravelling the Cling
murder case we're of themselves sufficient
to commend the gratitude and respect ct
the community. His. dealing with the
disturbing elements such as the saloons,
the crusaders and the ministers was on
the whole commendable. He might have
acted with more dignity by leaving the
ministers to themselves. We speak of
good qualities now because the bad ones
have certainly had their share of attsn-
ton.
It is to be hoped that the new admin
istration will profit by the mistakes Of the
old. The retention of Cthe police force
organization is a step in the right direc
ton. There. can be no argument for
changing the head of the police depart
ment every two years. the appointment
of man every two years to direct the
affairs of the police department who has
no knowledge OF police affairs is abso.
lutely unsapportable. 1t is the most
s.nseless and detrimental act that has
marked our whole municipal ADMINISTERS!
tions 1t is also an especial pleasure to
The IRISH STANDARD to record the fact
that MIR. Stetson has been placed at the
head of the fire department. He has
shown himself to be fitted for that posi-
tion and his experience in that line will
be worth much to the city. En- the alb
sence of that system Of rotation in the
police and fire departments which IS 90
much needed, it appears that the new
administration has done the very best
possible thing.
We confidently look forward to the
time when the lives and property Of the
citizens of Minneapolis will be guarded
by men whose long experience and faith.
fulness have placed them in control.