The Saint Paul globe., 1898-02-26
AS SEEN BY THE CLERGY
ANOTHER STATEMENT ON THE
CITY ADMINISTRATION


Based on the Report Made by the
Christian Citizenship League
Finds Much to Criticise-Mayor
Deran Didn't Have Time Yester-
day to Read the First Broadside.
Mayor Doran was asked If he had
anything to say as to the statements
made by the Christian Citizenship
league in it's report published in The
st. Paul G o b yesterday. He said:
L have been SO, busy with the mat
ters coming before, the board of abate-
ment today that / did not read any Of
the reports except the headlines. Not
having read. cor considered the report
L do not care to discuss it"
Chief Goss objected to the criticism
OF the police department and took the
ground that ST. Paul was a tight"
town, and the city was much better
governed than Minneapolis, Milwaukee
and Chicago, so far as the police de-
partment was concerned.
The report of the committee, appoint
ed at the union meeting Of the clergy
of st. Paul some time ago, and COM
posed of Rev. John ]. Lawler, Rev.
Frank B. Cowgirl and Rev. NJ. D. Ed
wards, was submitted to the union
meeting Monday. Yesterday 1t was
given out for publication, and is al
follows:
What the Clergy Say.
Brethren: Your committee, appointed one
week ago to confer with the executive COM
mittee Of the Christian Citizenship league
and make report to this body, beg leave
now to report as follows:
l. After carefully considering the consti-
tuition Of the Christian Citizenship league
and its plans of operation. and the good
work which it has accomplished since its
organization, we give to 1t our hearty ap-
proval. We commend its non-partisan
spirit and methods and its reso!ute en-
deavor to secure the enforcement CT the
laws, especially those relating to the liquor
traffic, and we rejoice that its labors have
been to some extent successful.
We hope the good citizens of St. Paul
will, in increasing numbers identify them
selves with this movement. We recommend
to the city pastors that they forward this
movement in such ways shall seem
proper to them Individually.
2. We have considered with very great
interest the address delivered to US by the
executive committee of the Christian Citi-
zenship league one week ago, and the in
formation cOnveyedSto us more recently by
the same committee
1t is evident that some progress has been
made in the direction of the better enforce
ment of the laws relating to the liquor
traffic. We understand the giving of bonds
by liquor dealers Is no longer an empty
formaHty, satisfied by documents that are
absolutely worthless, but the city govern
ment now requires paper that is absolutely
good. We are glad 10 be informed also that
the authorities no longer issue scores or
even dozens of licenses to individual whole
sale liquor merchants to be used by them in
setting up in business men who have not
passed under the inspection OF the licens-
ing authorities We congratulate the
league and the municipal authorities upon
this improved method of dealing with the
liquor traffic
Administration's Laxity.
We gladly call attention to the fact that
the present city government has honorably
distinguished itself above some former ad-
ministrations by an unusually strict en-
forcement of the laws against gambling.
We profoundly regret, however, that the
present administration has not seen fit to
enforce more strictly the laws of the state
and the ordinances of the municipality
against the liquor traffic and the social
evil.
We are given to understand that our po-
lice have in certain important instances
afforded protection to some Of the worst
characters in the city. That those who
are paid to protect the people against crime
should be in collusion with criminals is
very serious matter.
We are informed that the city attorney
when violations of law have been reported
to him and evidence offered, has in one or
more instances. neglected to make out the
pi opei papers anu prosecute JneSe cases,
as the duties of his office require him to
do. We may add that his neglect was not
due to forgetfulpess. This also is a very
serious matter, and contributes directly to
the Increase of lawlessness.
Our lnfornants tell US that the so-calied
blind pigs" are rule. not hunted out
and prosecuted by the city authorities The
detective and police system of the city is
not seriously and intelligently applied to
this important work. When these violators
of law are brought to bay it is through
private citizens. who do so at great trouble
and expense to themselves. In this respect
the administration signally fails to do its
duty.
Criticise Police Judges.
According to our information, one of the
most serious obstacles to good go, ernmen.
is the failure Of our municipal Judges to
practically cooperate with go ci izens in
the. punishment of Crime. When so called
blind piggers9 are, prosecuted, it is gen
orally at the instance of private citizens
who do SO at great cost of time and labor
and other exPSnse. Then the unnecessary
and almost interminable delays and post