The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-04
IN THE SAME ROOM, AT THAT.
TODAY, HOWEVER, MAYOR DORAN'S
POLICE ARE EXPECTED TO
BE ON HAND
TO STOP THE PEOPLES SERVANTS
From Protecting Their Interests
Mr.. Copeland Felt Hurt, While
the Spectators Smiled.

supreme court to reveal. The new
commissioner of public works discover
ed that he had no monopoly in his par
ticular line of business. For the board
of public works was also on hand to
look after the city's affairs. The board
and the commissioner both transacted
official business in the same room,
much to the annoyance of the commits
sioner and greatly to the amusement
of the spectators. Both passed upon
the same matters, but here the similar
ity of their proceedings ceased. The
commissioner of public works adjourn
ed the confirmation of the assessments
for the condemnation of Phalen park
and the paving of Oakland avenue.
The board Of public works confirmed
the assessments in both cases. Be
tween the two, the interested property
owners are exclaiming. Where are
we at"
This novel situation of affairs devel-
oped at the afternoon sessions Of the
board of public works and the COM
missioner. The commissioner sat with
in the railing at the table over which
the four members of the board were
wont to conduct their deliberations. At
Commissioner Copeland's right sat AS
sistant Corporation Counsel Phillips,
while his chief clerk, John Mueller,
fanked him on the left.
The four members of the board of
public works coupled seats at the long
table in the rear of the room. Pres
fdent German sitting at the head of
the table. Stationed at the gate leading
to the space behind the railing was a
burly policeman, not quite so gigantic
IN his proportions as Andy Call, but
nevertheless eminently qualified to
tend the door, as he didn't know
soul except Mr.. Copeland, who was the
only one that he permitted to pass.
When City Engineer Rundlett sought
to enter in response to summons from
Mr. Copeland the big policeman block
ed his progress, and told him he could
not pass.
well, I'm not anxious to pass" re-
turned Mr.. Rundlett, "only I happen
to be the city engineer and Mr.. Cope
land has sent for me-
The officer cast an incredulous look
at Mr. Rundlett, and then glancing at
a gentleman who stood within the rail
Ing, he inquired whether 'it' was "all
right" evidently desiring a corrobo-
ration of Mr.. Rundlett's statement that
he happened to be the city engineer"
Assured that lit was all right" the
officer lifted the gate off its hinges in
MS EFFORTS to find the spring catch, and
Mr.. Rundlett passed in.
The two matters before the public
works department were, as already in
timated, the combinations Of the Pha-
len park and Oakland avenue paving
assessments There were from fifteen
to twenty written objections in the
possession of the commissioner Of pub
lie works. They were filed with the
board last Friday, but passed. with the
other records into the hands of the
commissioner. G.. W. Horn and w. L.
Ames were the spokesman In behalf of
the DIRECTORS to the confirmation of the
Phalen park assessment. Mr. Horn
urged that the confirmation be de-
ferred until after the fall election. in
the hope that the times would improve
He maintained that to confirm the as
sessment at the present time and pro-
coed to collect it would cause many
owners of mortgaged property to lose
1t entirely and would inf1ct a great
hardship upon them. Mr. Ames spoke
in the same strain.
Commissioner Copeland was free to
confess that he did not fully compre-
bend the status of the Phalen park
matter and therefore announced that
the confirmation would be continued
until Tuesday, Aug. II, at D. m.
The principal directors to the con-
firmation of the assessment for paw
Ing Oakland avenue were Judge Willis
and A. G. Otis. Both had filed written
objections, basing them on the ground
that the contract was illegal because
there was no sum set apart in the tax
estimate for 1896 with which to paw the
assessment levied on the city's proper
ty which abuts on Oakland avenue.
Mr.. Otis further objected because some
of his property was enormously as
sessed for water connection charge
able to another piece of property. In
view Of this error, Commissioner Cope
land likewise declared the confirmation
of the Oakland avenue assessment con-
tinued until the same date and hour as
the Phalen park confirmation.
While all this was going on, the board
of public works was in session at the
long table in the rear of the room,
Walter F. Erwin, the former deputy
clerk, filling the Office of chief clerk
to which the board had elected him in
the forenoon. On the table lay several
written objections to the confirmation
of the assessments In question. At this
juncture Jared How, the attorney for
the board, held a brief private con-
lSICilCO Will aSOpGldHUy dShlI1S the
latter for permission to make a state
ment, informing those present who had
objections to make of the exact status
of affairs, in order that they might
protect themselves by also filing their
objections with the board of public
works. Mr.. Copeland refused to grant
the desired permission. Mr.. How as
sured Mr.. Copeland that he would be
courteous in all he had to say, but Mr.
Copeland withheld his consent.
Mr.. How then waited until there was
a lull in the proceedings, when he an
nounced audibly, that the people
present could make their objections be-
fore the board as well as the commits
sioner of public works.
Thereupon Mr.. Otis, who had finished
stating his objections to the commits
sioner proceeded to the rear of the
room and presented them to the board
of public works. This action displeased
Mr. Copeland nightly. Advancing to
the counter, Mr.. Copeland declared in
loud tones:
II wish it understood that I don't
recognize the old board Of public works
in any way, manner or form. The hear
ing In this matter Is adjourned as far
as I am concerned"
President German, Of the board of
public works arose at once and said:
Mr.. Copeland, wish to say that we