The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-02
INsENsIBLE TO sMAME.

INSENSIBLE TO SMAEEE.
Another step has been taken by the
municipal administration of st. Paul
In exalting partisanship above public
interest and in refusing to consider the
public benefit where it opposed itself to
partisan demands. We have already
had occasion to comment upon the
extraordinary conduct of Mayor Doran
in appointing, and of a Republican
council in confirming members of the
police force who are ineligible by law.
The local government has seen fit to set
aside deliberately and ostenta tiously a
plain and unqualified provision of the
Bell charter. If it can do that in one
particular, it can do it in all. It has
simply announced that it will abro-
gate the fundamental law of this city
whenever it sees fit to do so. In the
same line, although even less eXcusa-
Bile, If anything, is the course that has
been pursued with reference to the
abolition of the board Of public works,
and the substitution therefor Of a sim
gle commissioner.
We will not stop here to consider at
all the question whether the change is
figure In the discussion A law was
passed through the last legislature au-
thorizing the city council to take this
action 1t was the product of certain
resentment ON the part of those who
have had assessments to pay III hard
times against the officials who were
obliged, by the mere fact of their posi-
ton, to fix such levy However that
may be, the law was enacted, subject
to a grave legal question as to it's con-
stitutionality. Lawyers Of the highest
standing are divided in their opinion
Notwithstanding this, the city council
passed an ordinance, obeying the party
lash abolishing the board of public
works in accordance with this law,
and the mayor signed 1t. He thereupon
appointed Mr.. Copeland as commission
er, with the understanding that he
would proceed forthwith to take pos
session of the office, by force if nee
essary.
Up to this point the matter is one
of policy and of partisan interest But
at this point the public steps in and
becomes a party. No matter whether
the department Of public works is to
be conducted hereafter by four men or
by one; no matter whether such pat
ronage as may be within it's control is
to be given to Democrats or Repub1f-
cans, it is of the utmost Importance
that it's decisions shall be valid, and
that no question of the legality of its
act may arise. Nobody knows yet, or
can know until the supreme court of
the state has passed upon the question,
whether, as a matter of law, the board
Of public works is in existence today
or not. If the law of 1895, under which
the council acted, is constitutional, then
anything which the board of public
works may do or authorize, or any as
sessment that may be paid to them
after the 1st of August is utterly in
then anything which the new commits
sioner may do, and any assessment or
charge paid to him Is utterly invalid
The great mass Of the people, who
care precious little as to how the mat
ter may ultimately be decided, do
want, and are entitled to protection
against the dangers and embarrass-
ments Of this state Of affairs. It was
proposed by the legal advisers of the
present board to save the people harm
less by having both parties act to-
gether In all public matters until the
courts had passed upon the law. If
both the old board and the new COM
missioner, occupying the same Office,
but acting Independently Of each
other. united In confirming or denying
any act. then 1t would not be disturbed,
no matter which of them may eventu-
| ally be declared by the courts entitled
| to the position, Nc possible injury or
| damage could result from It to either
party. The members of the board ex-
pfessiF waived any claim to salary, un-
/ less the courts Should decide In their
faveF. There was absolutely nothing
te be lest, and everything to be gained,
by accepting this PHepesitieHi which
was act a eeHpFeRise eH the question
at issue, but simply a HedHs viYeadii
q methed Of getting aieng HHtiI the
courts had aeted, without making the
public p sufferer:
FPS FeieetiaR af this public spirited
aRa fair proposition by the samiHistFa
ton, its purpose ta eaFFy cut. by anE
show Of force necessary, the policy that