The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-11-15

| Mayor Weaver is no more eXtraV-
agant than was those of Mayor Hill
lard and Mayor Pau. There is little
profit to be gained by trying to
throw odium upon other administra-
tions to cover recklesness on the part
of the present, even though it be to
protect sOn-in-law. 1t is not too
much to claim when we say that were
the present Mayor any other person
than the one he is, the vituperations
of our neighbor would know no bounds
in denouncing many acts that it now
refuses to discuss, or if reference be
made thereto, to try and find some eX-
cuse or palliation. The FREE PRESS
is not disposed to criticlse the senior
editor of the Reuieoo for shielding a
member of his own family. He would
certainly lack in filial affection did he
do otherwise, but it would be greater
wisdom on his part to forego compar-
isons. They are odious and only
prove the weakness of his position.
But Mayor Weaver is by no means
alone in the responsibility which his
administration must assume for pub
lie extravaganza, and the humiliat-
ing position in which the city finds
itself. For the predicament in which
the city is thrown on the electric
light bond question, more blame is
attachable to the city attorney than
to any other single individual, in not
more closely looking into the law and
ascertaining the exact provisions
which must be complied with in or
der to make the election valid. The
next most responsible individual is
the editor of the ReUie,u for misrepre-
enting matters connected with the
slight question-in holding out false
statements regarding the ability of
the city to snake it's own light so
much cheaper than3-they could be
bought, when the fact is, and was
demonstrated to the unprecedented
mind before election, that the city
could buy it's lights cheaper than it
could produce them. This fact has
now become so clear to the council
that they have abandoned the idea of
city ownership,'despite the verdict of
the people, given under false repre-
sensations. A good many dollars
were wasted in special election ex
penses, bond issues and other features
connected with this tom-foolery I'M
dertaking, for which our neighbor is
good deal responsible.
The Revieto forgets, or at least fails
to refer to the fact, that $4,000 in
water BOMBS were voted under Mr..
Pfau's administration, and that sew
eral thousands of this sum were ex-
pended by that administration for
purposes other than the laying of
mains. His administration was thus
greatly aided in paying off consider
able sum of old bonds. Mr.. Pau
must feel proud of the defense which
the ReUie,o makes for him when it
says: "When Mr.. Pau was elected,
and the Sl7,00O transmitted from his
predecessor was to be provided for,
he raised the question of legality of
the proceedings, but was told that
was the practice, and he yielded to
it," So, if theft had been committed,
and Mr. Pfau was "told that was the
practice" he would be expected to go
on stealing in order to hold the
practice" good! And of course he
would be relieved from any moral or
legal criticism because it twas the
practice" Carry such a ridiculous
proposition as this to it's logical end
and see where it would land the city.
And yet the Reuieu has established
this very proposition for the sake of
finding an excuse for the present con-
dition of affairs. 1t is certainly a
most wonderful pen production, with
out logic, reason or justification.
Attorney Cray's article in Wednes-
days FREE PRESS can be read with
profit by those in authority, and the in
ference that preceding adminlstra-
tions did acts which were not in ac-
cordance with law and equity should
| furnish all the stronger reasons why
the present administration should
steer clear of such breakers regard
less of what the practice" has been.
1t is to be hoped that recent events
will bring the city fathers Ito closer
observance of their oaths of office,
and that they will peremptorially re.
fuse to act other than they would in
the transaction of their own personal
matters. They are all good business
men and would not think of making,
in their own private affairs, any such
expenses as they have tackled onto the
city. The city is not unlike an in
dividual-there lis a limit to it's Ca
pacity to pay, and we have already
passed this point by several thousand
dollars.
=
IT is truly pathetic to read the