St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-18
THE JUDGE REPLIES.

Judge Shoemaker then came forward and
in a speech of twenty minutes, replied to Mr.
Stacy. He took fiat issue with Mr.. Stacy on
the question of the consttutionality of the
Howard charter bill.
II have learned Some new constitutional
law tonight, if nothing else" said Judge
Shoemaker ITO declare first that the
Howard charter bill must either repeal or
amend and then TO say because it leaves
the library board and school board they
are, that the bill Is therefore unconstitutional
is a new principle of constitutional law, that
1 had never heard Of before" The speaker
plainly had the audience with him this
point.
Mr.. Shoemaker then gave his attention
to the Sheehan home rule bill, and proceed
ed to ridicule the manner of appointment by
the district judges OF the fifteen freeholders
who formulate a plan of municipal govern
ment that may be desired by the individual
city Mr.. Shoemaker characterized the
Sheehan bin ignis fatuus. 1t ig-
notum per ignotius-those who attempted to
define it were trying to explain something I'M
known through the means OF something more
unknown Mr.. Schoonmaker secuted the
idea that the Sheehan bill would ensure
representative form of government. Under
such a plan the public Of this city would
never be able to secure such a charter
they wanted.
AS for woodchucks in the Howard charter
especially the gas woodchuck, Judge Schoon-
maker explained why the power OF the coun-
Gil to regulate the price Of gas was stricken
from the original Howard charter OF 1893.
The speaker dwelt in bitter language upon
Z
sion of the legislature.
The speaker exalted the Howard charter be-
cause ii strips the park board of the power Of
condemning property for park purposes. In
conclusion, Judge SHOEMAKER said that the
people of st. Paul were tied hand and foot.
The retrenchment committee and the daily
press had said that the only way the city
could save money was to reduce the expenses
of the street force and cut the salaries of the
poor man The Howard charter permits the
people to govern themselves, and that is why
1t was advocated.
Mr.. Stacy concluded the debate with ten
minute speech. At the outset he reminded his
hearers that the last speaker had not, in his
reply touched upon the school board question
which he dilated upon so freely in his opening
address. Mr.. Stacy submitted that there was
one thing that the people would get with the
Howard charter, and that a mountain Of
litigation. Better keep the Bell charter than
take such chances. Better continue your red
tape for another year than adopt morass Of
uncertainty"
In regard to the bonds issued by the city.
the gentleman does not maintain that those
bonds were Issued by the boards. They vera
issued by the single board, the council which
Is the central feature of the Howard charter.
Chairman Woolsey then declared the meet
ing adjourned, but the people were rising
from their seats Commissioner Fairchild. of
the board Of public works, stepped to the front
OF the platform and said
1.-The Howard charter advocates had to
send to Minneapolis to get a man to debate
with Mr. Shoemaker. Judging from what
they heard tonight they will hardly send to
Minneapolis again
Thereupon Mr.. Fairchild offered to debate
the same question with Judge Schoonmaker
at any time and at any place in the city OF
St. Paul.
Christopher W. Horr retaliated with
challenge onering to meet Mr.. Fairchild in
any time. Three minutes later the hall was
deserted.