The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-05-29
WAS THERE A DEAL?
Some Inner Secrets of the Council
Given Away.

The sudden conversion of Aid.
Peterson to the absolute belief that
the city should put in a municipal
| lighting plant, and the strengthen
ing of the backbone of the aldermen
who are in favor of such plant,
with the disposition shown to carry
the thing through without further
loss of time has set good many peo-
| pie thinking This followed so soon
after the making of the spring ap-
pointments, and the dropping of Aid.
Peterson's name as possible candi-
date for mayor next spring, that
much speculation has been INDUCED
in by those who follow the trend of
city politics closely. Rumor has had
it during the past two weeks that
Aid. Peterson is slated to be the next
city assessor, in compensation for his
gracefully declining the position of
president of the board of public
works. In order 80 be confirmed as
assessor, four votes will be necessary,
and Aid. Zimmerman must be one
of the four. But Aids. Zimmerman
and Peterson have not been popular
ly supposed to be on the very best of
terms, owing to Aid. Peterson's vote
| in favor of the Omaha ordinance.
| Aid. Himmelmans one great ambi-
tion in the council is to have NUM-
cipal lighting plant established, and
Aid. Peterson has acted luke warm on
this project. 1t might not be an un-
reasonable supposition that Aid. Him
melman could be concjliated into
voting for Aid. Peterson's confirma,
tiOn as assessor if the Second ward
alderman should faithfully support
the project of city lighting plant.
Aid. Lille is Aid. Petersen's brother
in-law, and that would be the third
vote. A few lights in Aid. Adams
ward might make him feel in a friend
ly frame of mind.
In this connection, an interesting
bit of information has just come to
light, which may have bearing on
the subject. 1t comes so straight
that there ought to be no doubt
about it, and the name of our infOr-
mant would satisfy any who might
have any doubts on the point. The
substance of this is as follows:
Before anyone was named as presi-
dent of the board of public works,
Aid. Petersen went to Aid. Adams
and told him that Mayor Weaver
had decided to appoint him peter
SEM to the office, and that the mayor
had said in explanation that he had
| heretofore overlooked the First and
Second wards in his appointments,
and that this office would go to that
section of the city. At the solicita-
tion of Aid. Petersen, Aid. Adams
agreed to vote for his confirmation,
and also agreed to vote against the
confirmation of anyone outside of
those two wards, Aid. Adams being
informed and believing that half OF
the council had agreed to do likewise,
which would make the vote tie. On
the night of the meeting at which
the appointment was made, Aid. Pc
tersen and Mayor Weaver held pri-
vate conference in the rear room,
and at it's conclusion Aid. Petersen
whispered to Aid. Adams in passing
to stay by the agreement. Mayor
| Weaver then announced that Aid.
Petersen could have had the office if
he had wanted it, that the alderman
| did not want it, and that he had de-
cided to appoint Capt. Burgess. The
roll was called on Capt. Burgess con-
| firmation, and Aid. Adams name was
called first. Capt. Burgess residing
in the Fourth ward, in accordance
with his understanding, Aid. Adams
voted mo" All of the other alder
men voted Eyes" Aid. Adams and
Capt. Burgess are personal friends,
and the alderman was wrathy when
he found out that his vote was the
only one. He blamed Aid. Petersen
for not whispering as he passed,
"stuffs off," instead of to stay by the
agreement. At the conference be-