The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-14

reform Press Bureau on the Sol
diers' Home Boards Action.
The fact that A. C. Clausen, the chief
inspector, resigned just when he did has
not interrupted the inspection of tho
BOOKS and accounts of the railroad and
warehouse branch Of the state govern
ment. Gen. Pope's staff or some portion
OF 1T has been carefully looking over the
books, records, expense accounts, etc,
OF the commission and the grain depart
ment and a report which will probably
be made at the conclusion of the work
may be an eye-Opener to the people of
the state. The expense accounts of a
number Of officials are being checked
up. 1t may be news to the readers of the
q b to know that the expense &C
counts OF some of the officials exceeded
the salaries. The report of State Auditor
Dunn shows that while Mr.. Clausen for
instance, drew $1,000 year for the fiscal
years 1878 he also was allowed
S4'S3l.N expenses the first of these two
years and $4,221.16 the second year. He
thus received from the state $7,S31. 20 in
1897 and S,221.16 in 1898.
Chief Deputy Inspector Strait, whose
SeN4NA "et0 ~, fOJ.0O d year, was allowed
over $500 expense money in 81 and the
same in So. He got altogether in '97 s., 696
and within $50 of that sum the next year.
Chlef Deputy Barncard drew the same
salary with an expense account of near
ly $4,000 for the two years
A. K. Teisberg's name appears with fire.
quency In the audited accounts for travel
ing expenses, while he draws two salaries,
one as clerk of the railroad and ware
the grain inspection department Gen.
Pope may be looking over some of these
old vouchers or he may only be running
to earth the reports that certain clerks
are drawing salary for working six days.
while they in reality do but two or three
days work each week.
The mention of candidates for MAYOR
on the Democratic ticket next spring
has resulted in a new name being
brought forward. After a consultation
with number of his friends former
Judge John w. Willis has decided that
under the circumstances there is a
chance for him to receive the nomina-
ton for mayor, and he will shortly for
mafly announce his candidacy for the
office. Mr.. Willis was a candidate for
congress in this district last fall on the
fusion ticket and was defeated by Ste
vens He has always been rock-ribbed
Democrat and has a host of friends in
the party who appreciate his services
in the past, and will, if the opportunity
offers, rally to his support.
The talk among a certain class Of Re
publicans Of selecting the head of the
city ticket next spring from the COM
missioned officers of the Thirteenth reg
iment, is creating a deal of dissatisfac-
ton. The rank and file of the party
take very kindly to this proposed ac-
ton, but the politicians at present hold
ing positions are opposed to any such
idea. With the return of the regiment
from thu Philippines the trouble will
commence, and it promises to be con-
tinued until the next city convention is
held
The Reform Press Bureaus letter to
the state press this week will contain
the following:
The action of the soldiers home board
in continuing the policy of leaving the
state boards still in Republican ring con-
troll, that has ScandaliZed the whole state,
has caused a perfect storm of protest
from the people. 1t is, as it were, the
last straw to break the camel's back.
1t has been the same from the begin
ming of the Lind administration-the pris-
on boards, the grain department, the re-
formatOry board and all the reSt-alWays
some so-called Democratic member has
been found to act with the old Republican
ring and at the last moment thWart the
demands of the people and the wishes
of Gov. Lind. in the soldiers home case
the commandant, McMillen, remains, and
Secretary Beebe, both of whom have held
office, under various degrees of criticism,
more or less personal in character, for
so many years that both have grown foS-
SLICED. There has been, and is now, the
loCdest demand for a change, but the Re-
publican trustees, securing the hold-oVer
Democratic" member, Pearshall, to act
with them, reappOints the fossils. The
deal by which it was accomplished was
to give PearshaIl the quartermastershtp
for personal friend. The adjutant was
changed and the appointment given to
Frank J. Mead, who distinguished him
self in the recent campaign by organic
ing the Hennepin county old soldiers for
Eustis, and in conducting the Eustts
press bureau for the state Republican
committee Thus, the soldiers home man.
agement remains Republican, with all the
stencil that has followed it for years, and
yet the Republicans, laughing in their
sleeves, pirate of Gov. L1nds attempt to
introduce politics. The soldiers home as
managed for years, has been nothing but
ing one at that.
No politics Indeed. Not only the
rankest of politics has prevailed In each
and every board or department, but each
attempt of Gov Lind to reform them,
while futile, makes clearer the deals and
schemes by which Republican ring rule
The business is done by controlling the
so-called Democratic members under
former Republican appointment. In the
state prison board this has prevented
a. successor to %Wolfer, the odium Of
which has wrongfully fallen upon Gov.
Lind's head. In the refofmatory board
it retains Houlton and the rest. In the
grain department, Gen. Becker being
such Democratic" member, Judge Mills
and he manage so as to retain their per-
sonaI relatives, the nepotism in whose
cases exceeds the sum of $4,000, that
relatives and the two members draw from
the state annually. And so on to the
end of the chapter There is a rising
tide Of public sentiment which bids fair
not to be satisfied until there is a COM
pIete exposure of the influences prevail
ing in the various boards, the result of
which would certainly be a complete
sweep if there is power in the executive
TO accomplish 1t. It is a safe statement
where Republican politics does not pre-
vail, in the manner stated, and where
nepotism is not practiced to a degree
amounting to public scandal
The 'Beckerian funk is Editor Lam
phere's terms to designate the act by
which supposed Democrats on the
various boards, act with the Republican
members In preventing reforms of the
boards or departments. The term is apt.
Up to date the Beckerian fiunkers, aside
from Cen Becker himself, are B. F. Mel
son, Of the prison board; Capt. o. c.
Merriam, of the reformatory board, and
Pearshall, of the soldiers home board
Distinguished benef1ciarfes of the said
Becker1an funk, besides the 81 000 a year
Warden Wolfer, Republican; Tams Blk
by's brother. Republican; Supt. Houlton
and relatives, Republicans.