The Saint Paul globe., 1897-01-17
KEEP 1T UP.

PuDnc life in st. Paul would lose
some Of its spice if permission were to
be denied us to witness each season
the performance of the annual farce by
the common council relating to the dis
posal of the garbage contract 1t has
so far lost all pretense of sincerity or
care for the public good that we can
enter into the enjoyment of it's bur
lesque features without being troubled
by any lurking suspicion that any-
body connected with it can possibly ba
IN earnest. Nor do the stage mana
gers even concern themselves. as those
of the legitimate theatrical profession
do, about introducing new scenery Or
furnishing up their old play. They put
1t on the boards each year without al
tering a line or introducing new
transformation scene. It is good
enough for them as it stands, and
ought to be good enough for the pub
lie. SO we go over the merry old
round again.
The prologue is spoken by the
city clerk. The council advertises
for bids for the disposal of gar
bage during the ensuing year This
introduces the real piece, behind which
there turks a serious purpose that is
somewhat inconsistent with the gem
eral plan of the farce comedy. That
purpose is to secure for such gentle
men as have the strongest pull with
their friends in the two houses of our
local Legislature, some nice pickings
from the city treasury. Nobody really
contemplates the removal of garbage
The work is not to be done, but the
assumption that it is gives warrant for
drawing good many thousand dol
lars from the city treasury for work
unperformed, and these dollars come
very handy in times like the present to
people who are ready to do political
chores for ambitious aldermen and as,
semblymen.
The first act finds the chorus on the
stage, consisting Of a lot Of these un-
derstrappers, each one vocally insist
ing that he will take the garbage con-
tract for a year at such figures as he
names. Next there come forward the
heavy performers, in the shape of the
common council, who meet with the
sClemnity Of one Of the tribunals of q
Gilbert and Sullivan opera to decide
what they will do with the mimic prop
ositions before them. With wigs
drawn low and solemn faces, they
spread out their papers and assume an
attitude Indicative of profundity of
thought and great solicitude for the
public interest. Forthwith there steps
before the footlight the disturber Of the
peace, the william Of the play, the
health commissioner. Like the irate
father of the drama, he attempts to
turn things topsy-turvy. He tells his
audience that all these bids are farci-
cal and unworthy of consideration. He
demonstrates by cold figures that the
work cannot be done for the sums
mentioned, that 1t never has been done
and never will be done until private
contractors shall be ready, for philan-
thropic reasons, to spend two dollars
in serving the city for every dollar
that they are authorized to draw from
the public treasury. Having thus cre-
ated striking situation, he with
draws.
Representatives Of the dear public now
deliberate with the profound wisdom of
Mr.. Justice Shallow. What have they
to do with impossible obligations which
contractors offer to assume? Is not
the law and public interest clear? Are
they not required to advertise for bids
for public work and let the contract to
the lowest bidderf What business Of