The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-26
RIVER AT 8 P. NJ.
ANOTHER CHAPTER OF INC0MPE-
TENCE

AS the q l o b e announced several
days ago, the supreme court of
Minnesota has declared unccnstitu-
tional the special law abolishing the
board Of public works in st. Paul. It's
decision rests upon very plain Ind
simple provision Of law. The constitu-
ton Of the state prohibits special leg
islation. This was law which, though
general in it's character, yet, by virtue
of being subject to rejection or adop-
ton by different cities In the same
class, became purely special, and
therefore contrary to the organic law
This was not the only objection to it,
but it was sufficient and fatal The
present official at the city hall, the
commissioner of public works has new
er had a legal existence. Every off,
cial act which he has assumed to per-
form is as though it had never been.
The board of public works has never
ceased to exist. All that Mr. Cope
land has done is not merely illegal, it
is void as the act of a private citi-
zen. All that the board of public works
has done is fully valid, and whatever
1t has not done will have no legal eff
feet at all until it has acted.
We are thoroughly glad of this result.
rot because we deem that the board Of
public works is necessarily a part of
city's form of government, but because
the method by which 1t was proposed to
do away with this institution has been
equally reckless Of the sanctity of law
and public interest, and has been mark
ed at every step by chicane. The poll
ticians who captured this movement
would not wait to make use Of
constitutional methods. In so great
haste were they to consummate their
plans that they took this rough and
ready means and are properly humiI-
lated and defeated. If the people Of st.
Paul, and not a little knot of politicians.
Shall conclude that they desire to have
q single commissioner instead of a.
board hereafter, and carry out their
will by lawful and orderly means. we
will have no word of criticism or oppo-
Eition.
Unsparing condemnation is due to
Mayor Doran and Comptroller McCar-
dy, to whose official action and prac-
tical misfeasance in office the peopEe
will owe the throwing away Of a large
sum of money, and the invalidating of
some, and the delay of all, measures Of
public Improvement since this centro-
zVersy arose. For the conduct of the
mayor there is neither excuse nor palli-
alton. Not even stupidity or ignorance
could be offered in apology for his
course. Nobody asked him to approve
of the beard Of public works Nobody
asked him to resign his pet hope of
appointing the commissioner of his
0Tn seeking. The only request prof
ferred to him was a reasonable one.
1t was that he should simply await
the action Of the courts. He was in
formed that this law would be tested
as speedily as decision could be reach
ed. If found unconstitutional. all op-
position would cease at Gnce. It would
then be in order for him to act,
and the board of public works
would have yielded Instantly and
without protest. The only possible
difference in such a case would have
been few months Of delay He refused.
He took his part extensively, against
the public interest and the best legal
opinion in the community. He has ex-
hi5ited an intense and extraordinary
mort mi f1rl;AS IT,, -
is Incompatible with any proper dis
charge Of official duties, and whose
cause we leave him to explain to the
public.
The action Of Comptroller McCardy
is equally censurable. because he was
not obliged to obey the orders of his Of
fetal chief, and to obey them he had
to turn traitors too the interest Of the