The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-01
MAY cALL IN A COP
IF NECESSARY, TO GUST THE BoARn
OF PUBLIC WORKS THIS
MORNING.
THEY WILL REFUSE TO QUIT
AND MAYOR DoRAN AND JOHN
COPELAND ARE LIKELY 70
HAVE TROUBLE.
PUeNAcIous TO THE VERY LAST.
The City's Chief Executive VIII Not
Listen to Any Propositions
for Compromise.

R. L. German, ]. c. Quinby. VIM
Banholzer and Robt N. Hare. consti-
tuting the present be ard of public
works, have gone as far as pub1fc-spir-
tied men could go in an endeavor to
nave wisdom and care of the public in
terests prevail over what many good
lawyers say is, at least, an unwise
law, of very doubtful legality.
All OF their efforts to provide against
lnterm1nable trouble and litigation in
the future have been rejected. curtly
II not scornfully. Mayor Doran has
persistently refused to listen to any
proposition for Cancellation or COM
promise. Ex-Ald. John Copeland will
this morning be given his commission
and will attempt to take possession of
the newly created commissionershiD
of public works. That he will take
possession by force, if necessary, every
person in authority about the city hail
seems to expect
AT closing time last evening the four
members of the board and several cf
the clerks were present Rumors had
been circulating all day that the board
would very likely remain in the Office
all night, in order to hold possession.
They did not do so, however and are
evidently prepared to accept the law
ana allow the supreme court to finally
solve the present deplorable tangle.
While they offered to serve for the hem
eflt of the city, without pay if neces-
sary, until decision is reached. thew
express the belief that they will in the
end be reinstated and receive nav for
all the time they may be forcibly de-
MED possession of the office.
Judging from the interest manifested
Yesterday, there will be large gather
ing OF people present at 9 o'clock this
morning to see what was commonIy
referred to as 'the firing of the board
OF public works." The fun is exnecfed
TO begin at o'clock. At that hour Mr-
copeland, who will have his comnis-
sion mandy, will appear at the office of
the board and demand possession bv
virtue OF appointment at the hands Of
mayor Doran, according to law" That
ne VIII pe formally refused possession
IS sure, and President German or At
torney Jared How will probably state
IN legal form the grounds for refusal.
Then Chief Of Police Goss will yerv
likely get into the game, with several
police officers, and more or less gently
esc@rtstiie four n1efafe9s ff siie beard
outside. What further steps win ba
taken no one seemed to know 1t is ex-
pected, though, that Commissioners
Copeland will allow the present clerks
to hold their places temporarily. in
order to keep the office running as
smoothly as possible.
Messrs. ElIer & How, attorneys for
the present members of the board of
public works, have for several days
been in consultation with Aid James
u. Markham, who is acting as the
legal adviser Of Mayor Doran in the
matter. On behalf Of the existing board.
a proposition was made that the new
commissioner take joint possession Of
the Office as it stands, with the old
board. All hearings would be held
jointly, but the commissioner and the
board would reach conclusions and act
independently of each other Thus all
work necessary would be done in legal
manner, whichever way the supreme
court may decide. If this proposition
had been accepted, the proceedings in
court would be on a writ of quo war
ranto, and Eller & How agree to try to
have the case decided at the earliest
moment possible after the supreme
court meets in October. But further
than this, the members of the board,
and the present force Of clerks, were
willing to agree to go ahead with their
duties and perform their work an
usual, on the distinct understanding
that If the supreme court holds the law
to be constitutional they should not
receive any pay fer the time interVen-
ing between this day and the time when
the courts decision is rendered.
Mayor Doran would not agree to en-
ter into any arrangement whatever. of
an amicable nature. 1t is understood
that Mr.. Markham regarded the propo-
sition of Eller & How with favor The
chief executive, however, has seeming
ly determined to listen to nothing less
than unconditional surrender on the
part of the board.
Jared How was seen last evening by
a G o b reporter, and, in addition to
confirming the proposition outlined
above. he stated some of the grounds
on which the proposed change is to be
contested. I'VE believe the law is fair
ly open to the objection of unconsti-
tutionality," said Mr. How. TT does
not specifically name the Board Of pub
lie works Of the city of ST. Paul, which
it was aimed to abolish. 1T does not
provide that any certain person shall
have the care and overseeing Of the
street lighting of the city; and IL for
no other purpose than seeing to this
decidedly important matter, represent
Ing an expenditure Of over 800 900 a
year, the present board must continue
to hold office. All of the contracts at
present existing, and covering the ex-
PSHhllulc VI IdIS sc SUMS Ol money, con-
tain clause that the board of public
works shall approve the work and es-
Inmates before the contractors can
draw any money. The contracts made
with the companies which have laid
the asphalt pavements In ST. Paul, pro-
vide that at the end Of ten years the
board of public works shall finally ac-
cept the work, If satisfied that all the
terms of the contract have been full
filed, and that the money now held
back shall then be paid over These
contractors are not likely to agree to
accept the decision of one man, IL
against them when they made con-
tract the final steps in which were to
be taken by a board composed of four
men. Besides, If this proposed action
is carried out nobody will pay any as
sessment into the city until the matter
has been settled by the court There
would be no possibility of securing the
return of any moneys paid, If it were
decided that the operation Of the com
missioner Of public works was Illegal"
Eminent Chums Go A-Fishing.