The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-21
COL. KIEFERR WILLING
WILL ALLOW BOARD OF PUBLIC
WORKS TO ELECT A CITY
ENGINEER
N
LINCOLN CLUB DEMANDS IT
This Mighty Engine of Local Repub-
Iicnn Politics Visits the Mayor
and Informs Min That He VIII
Be Left at the Post in 1900
if He Persists in His Obstinate
Course.

Mayor Kiefer has weakened in the po-
sition which he assumed relative to the
appointment of his Candidate for city en-
gineer He insisted, when Messrs. Pott-
gieser and Ames were appointed to the
board, that Oscar Clausen should be the
next city engineer. OF course boths.Ames
and Pottgieser were ready to obey. but
there was some trouble in getting the
consent of then other two members,
Messrs. Sandell and Mabon.
Sandell was called to the mayors office
and requested to join the new appointees
in the selection of a city engineer. The
| first question Sandell asked was who TIE
mayor had selected. This question put
the mayor up in the air. and he pro-
ceeded to read Mr.. Sandell q long lee
ture, the substance Of which was that he
was the mayor, and what he requested
| should be granted. without question:
Mr. Sandeu would not agree to this, and
was anxious that. if he was to vote blind
in the matter, the mayor should at least
| give him some promise that in March.
1900, he would be reappointed as a MEM
! ber of the board.
| 1t Is understood that the mayor was
willing to promise, but Mr.. Sandell, who
has learned a thing. or two in politics,
wanted the promise In writing. The
| mayor refused to lend himself to any
! such plan and negotiations were broken
| off then and there.
| The matter has drifted along for several
| weeks without anything being done as to
the election Of new city engineer. Re
| Gently, however. that mighty engine of
| local politics known as the Lincoln club
| took up the question and decided that
| there shouk be no more talk but action
| in the premises.
| At a meeting Of the club, after spirited
| discussion, committee was appointed to
| wait on Mayor Kiefer and demand, in the
name of the organization. that a new
| engineer be elected at once.
The committee called on the chief ex-
! ecutive of the city and made the talk
| about the demands of the club that some
| thing should be done
| The mayor explained to the commit
| tee that he was as anxious as the Lin
| coin club to make a change, but two
members of the board Of public works
| refused to considerethe matter. 1t was
pointed out to the mayor that this was
only because he Insisted on having his
own candidate elected
The mayor Is reported to have said to
| this that he was the head of the Repub-
lfcan party in the city, and would be
held responsible for all actions of the
party and this being the case, he would
have to insist that the man he had
named be elected engineer
/ This declaration was more than the
| committee from the Lincoln club could
! stand, and several Of the committee told
| the mayor plainly that while he might
| at the present~ttme be the head Of the
| Republican party unless he changed his
! views the party would march on and
leave him standing at the post when the
nomination was made in 1900 D.,
With this plain talk the committee
| withdrew, requesting that the mayor
| think the matter over and consider well
the proposition whether. he desired to
throw down the gauntlet TO the Lincoln
| club.
From the way the mayor talks now il
| is evident that he has considered the
question and is, willing to give In a trifIe
| to the wishes Of the Lincoln club with
draw the name of Mr. Clausen for. the DO
sition Of city engineer, and instruct
Messrs. Ames and Pottgieser to vote for
the candidate who has been selected. but
not agreed upon. to take the S., 600 Job now
held by City Engineer Rundlett.