The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-16
THE ASSAULT on THE WATER
BOARD.

! The G b e gave to its readers some
time ago the particulars of the scheme
'matured by local Republican politicians
to turn the water department of this
city into a political machine. The facts
which it then revealed are now con-
fessed and elaborated by the evening
Republican organ. 1t is stated, with
out reserve and apparently without
shame that the Republican politicians
of ST. Paul have got together and de-
termned that, in order to maintain a
coherent and aggressive political or
ganization, they must have more plum
der to divide Under the rigid require
ments Of the city charter it is rather
poor pickings around the city hall for
the spoilsmen. With all the opportuni-
ties that the control of the city govern
ment gives and with the disposition
that now exists in the mayors Office
to do the most and the worst with
them, still there is not enough pelf in
the party's bestoWal to make it really
worth while for the runners and heel
ers. For every place that is vacant
there is a terrible scramble. The Gus
todian of the city hall had scarcely
breathed his last before the fight for
bis vacant place became a public scan
dial. For every man who drops out of
the police force there are whole dele
cations from different wards in the city
cooling their heels in the mayors ante
room.
In the election that is about to occur
there must be more promises and more
substantial rewards. Since under the
charter the distribution Of money and
place is limited, the Republican ma
chine feels itself compelled to look fur
Their for inducements. 1t has cast its
greedy eyes upon the water depart
ment and has made up it's mind to
subordinate that, distinctly the most
important branch of our public serv-
ice and the one wherein honest and
efficient administration counts most for
health and for economy, to party pur-
poses. 1t has declared that, when the
term of Mr.. H. Z. Stevens, a most
competent member Of the board and a
trained engineer, shall expire next
spring, his place will lie filed by what
the party calls a working Republi-
can" This means a very uncivil en-
gineer, a man who does not necessarily
know anything about putting down
mains or fixing levels, but one who can
put clerkships and other places where
they will do the most good in the Re
publican campaign. 1t is boldly and
badly announced that Mr.. Bement will
have the choice between yielding to
the demands CT the spoilsmen and be-
ing deposed from the presidency. The
programme, then, is TO go down the
line Of the employees of the water
board and substitute for them other
working Republicans" whose qualif-
cations will not come under debate
at all, except in as far as they able
to manage caucuses, stuff primaries
and pull in votes for the Republican
city candidates.
The sole question: it will thus be
seen, which remains at issue is Wheth-
er the people of St Paul have sunk
so far that this declared policy has
charms for them. They cannot, at any
rate, contend that they have not been
warned, or that they have been de-
ceiyed. 1t Is not the accusation Of a
political enemy anxious to score point
whose truth and falsity they must
weigh it IS the announcement of the
Republican managers themselves, made
without reservation and even with the
air of conscious pride. The water de-
partment Is, as we have said, by far
the most important part of the public
service. 1t represents an investment of
millions Of dollars of public money.
It's honest and intelligent conduct in
the past has brought about progress
sive reduction of rates, until the peo-
pie of St Paul today have one of the
best water supplies in the country pro-
vided for them at charge so modest
that residents of other cities are aston
ished by It, This department has not
only been made and kept self-sustain-
ing, but it has accumulated a sinking
fund at a rate sufficient TO pay off it's
own bonds at I11at1lritI SiOixino