The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-28

Change I'm City Engineers to He
Mayor and the Lincoln Club Can
Get Together on Oscar CIaussen
or Any One Else-POIitics Counts
More Than Ability.
The Lincoln club, that mighty engine
of local politics which Tim Reardon says
has membership of about six up to
three months before election and then
increases Its membership to 600 for six
months, has won a victory.
In March last the term of City Engineer
Rundlett expired, and with the naming
of MeSSrS. POttgieser and AmeS to the
board of public works 1t was expected
that the board, being all Republican,
would at once GUST Rundlett and put in
an official who would make more room
for the ward heelers, who, as the valiant
Reardon explains, had swelled the mem
bership of the Lincoln club
Mayor Kiefer informed the members
of the board that he had decided on the
appointment of Oscar Claussen as chief
engineer. Messrs Ames and Pottgieser,
of course, bowed to the wishes of the
mayor, but the other two members of
the board, MeSSrs. Sandell and Mabon,
did not take kindly to the Instructions
In fact, Mabon refused to consider the
order of the mayor and Sandell wanted
to be promised a reappointment on the
board in March, 1900, at which time his
term expired.
To secure such a promise Mr.. Sandel1
and Mayor Kiefer had several confer
ences. 1t is claimed that the mayor
was willing to promise, but Mr.. Sandell
wanted the thing cinched with something
stronger than an oral promise. He sug
gested that the mayor fill out his ap-
pointment as member of the board,
date 1t March, 1900. and place 1t In the
hands Of a mutual friend.
This the mayor would not do, and
shortly after this proposition had been
made Mayor Kiefer was called upon by q
committee from the Lincoln club to see
IL something could not be done to hurry
up the decapitation of City Engineer
Rundlett.
as having said that he would have moth
Ing to do with the matter, as Mr.. San
dell had attempted to bride him with
money for reappointment.
The committee visited Sandell with the
statement and that gentleman denied
that he had made any attempt to bribe
the chief executive. What he had done
was to tell the mayor that If he would
reappotnt him in March, 1900, he would
contribute a liberal sum to the cam
paign fund in the spring of 1900.
Sandell also Informed the committee
from the Lincoln club that he would not
vote for the choice of the mayor for
city engineer. but would agree on any
other candidate for the place. With this
disagreement between the members of the
board Of public works the matter has
drfted along and City Engineer Rundlett
has been holding down his job.
Last week the leaders Of the Lincoln
club held session and another commit
tee was appointed to wait on Mr. San
dell and endeavor to get him to vote
with President PoHgieser and Commits
sioner Ames to make change in the city
engineer.
This statement of Mr.. Mum had the
desired effect. and the motion to refer
was voted down. only Merrs. Sanborn,
Kenny, BloomQt1St and Allard favoring
the reference. The ordinance was then
taken up and the amendments inserted
by the assembly conceurred, IN with the
exception of the one allowing the police,
Ere and health departments to ride free
on the cars.
One the passage Of the ordinance the
vote was to 2. Messrs. Kenny and San
born voting against 1t. The ordinance
will have to be re-passed by the assembly
and q special meeting of that body will
be called for Monday evening.
OTHER MATTERS.
The resolution authorizing the city
comptroller to employ a clerk to check
accounts at $75 per month was passed.
The salary If to be paid from the gen.
eral fund.
The corporation attorney was directed
by a resolution to take legal steps to
enforce the collection Of certificate for
$1,000. given by the West Side bank, due
II,
default in payment.
The city clerk was directed to adver-
tise for bids from state, national and
private banks as repositories of city
funds. The resolution was the outcome
of communication from City Treasurer
Horst, calling attention to the fact that
100000 in excess of the charter require
ments was now deposited in various
banks.
A resolution introduced at the request
of the park board was passed. 1t re-
quests the board of public works to ascer-
tain the lowest price for which the land
comprising Phalen park can be purchas-
ed. This step is the first under the law
passed by the last legislature, which au-
thoriZes the council by a two-thrids vote
to expend $4,000 per year in the pur-
chase of parks.
The ordinance allowing the Chicago
OIedt WESTERN " lay d Track OH 6LdrK0y
street to the new manufacturing plant of
c. A. Stickney, was passed under a sus-
pension of the rules.
The board concurred with the assembly
in the resolution directing the city en-.
gineer to construct bicycle paths on Lau-
rel avenue, from Dale to Victoria, on
Dayton avenue, from Avon to Lexington
and on ST. Adams street from Dayton to
Grand avenues.
The contracts with Charles Stone and
William s. Hewitt for substructure and
temporary bridge at Wabasha street were
approved.
A duplicate of the ordinance intro
duced in the assembly allowing the street
railway company to change the route
of its Hamline line was introduced and
referred to the committee on streets.