The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-17
MAYOR FIXES FENCES
ELMER e. M'DONALD, OF THE
SIXTH WARD, NAMED ON
SCHOOL BOARD
DoNAHowER ON WATER BOARD

Not the Alderman, but His Uncle, j..
G. DOnahOwer, Formerly United
States Marshal, and a COmrade of
the Mayor In the Days of the
Civil Variety Attorney Pleased
Rt Loop Decision.
! Mayor KteferN yesterday announced ap-
| pointments to the school and water board
| Elmer E. Mcdonald, of the Sixth ward,
| Is named on the school board, and Jere-
miah c. Donahewer, of the Fourth ward,
will take the. place on the water board
made vacant by the resignation of j. F.
! Hoyt. Mr.. Mcdonald will serve as
member of the school board until March,
| 1901, and Mr.. Donahower, although APP
/ pointed for the unexpired term of j. f.
! Hoyt, which ends Dec. 81, will be then
reappointed for term of four years.
Both appointments were a surprise to
| the politicians. Owing to the position
taken by Mr.. Mcdonald in the Republican
| city convention in 1898. and also in the
| campaign which followed, the friends of
Mayor Kiefer simply looked wise and
| laughed when it was rumored that Nc
Donald would get the appointment. Del
egations from the Sixth ward, including
the Republican politicians who did their
best to beat Kiefer in the convention,
and We're lUkewarm in his support after
the nomination, called to urge the ap-
pointEneht of Mcdonald. The mayor said
nothing" but those close to him gave
it out that Rev. William Oehler, pastor
of the Peoples German Congregational
church, on the West side, would undoubt-
edly be named
When this information was published
in the l o b e, the friends of Mcdonald
| commenced to hustle; and in the past ten
days SO much pressure was brought to
bear on the mayor that he consented to
give Mcdonald the appointment. From
a political standpoint, the mayor has
helped himself greatly, to down the OPP
position to his denomination which exists
in the Sixth ward Some of the friends
| Of the mayor say he had no thoughts Of
politics when the appointment was made,
and that he simply desired to heap Goals
I of fire on the heads of tbs aspiring Sixth
ward politician. The mayor when asked
as to his reasons for appointing McDon-
aid. said the Sixth ward was entitled to
| the appointment, as the member who re-
publicanS of the: ward were united on
Mr.. Mcdonald. and. aside from these
| facts many men high IN the party coun-
| ellis from other wards had urged the ap-
| pointment. These, FatherTttan any hopes
of future political advancement for HIM
self, had caused the appointment of Mr..
| Mcdonald. -
| The appointment Oft. c. Donahower
q Of ff1o
other surprise for the politicians. Presi-
dent Wolterstorff, when advised of the
appointment, said there must be some
mistake, as he had never heard the name
| of Mr.. Donahower mentioned in connec-
ton with the appointment. Undoubtedly
the naming of Mr.. Donahower by the
| mayor had more. personal than political
| significance. Mr.. DonahoWer and the
| mayor. were both members of the Second
Minnesota volunteer regiment in the Civil
war and the acquaintance forIned4on the
battlefield has become closer as the years
rolled by. The new appDintee TO the wa
| ter board was formerly. engaged with his
| brother in banking at. St. Peter, but
lately retired from business. He WAS for
a term United States marshal for Minne
sofa, and Is prominent in Grand Army
circles. S4e is an uncle of Aid. Dopa-
! hover, president OF the board of alder
men.
Corporation Attorney Markham eN-
presses himself as greatly pleased over
| the decision of the supreme, court In the
Broadway loop case. There Is great
| difference of opinion" said Mr.. Mark
ham, "as to the advisability of operating
| the Broadway loop, but the decision gives
the council reasonable control of the
| streets, and this point applies to all cor
| porations. The decision Is Of Importance
| because Of the controversy between the
city and the Northwestern Telephone
| company, and to great extent sustains
|, the position taken by the legal depart
| ment that the council is possessed of
| power to make reasonable restrictions in
granting the use Of the streets for any
purpose The lower court denied the APP
plication for writ to compel the street
railway company to operate the loop.
The city appealed, and while the supreme
court orders q new trial. it holds in effect
that the writ should have been issued.
It is likely that the case will be appealed
| by the company to the United States SUI
preme court"
The Lincoln club will hold a regular
meeting tomorrow night. The principal
business to be transacted is the naming
of committees to arrange for the annual
banquet of the club which is held on the
anniversary Of the birth of Lincoln. Feb.
L.
There is not the least doubt but what
the present administration and city off,
Gals are opposed to the adoption Of a
new charter The comptroller is out
spoken in his opinion that under the pres
ent enabling act there can be no new
charter at least for this city as it would
not be possible to continue the present
plan Of issuing tax levy certificates of in
debtedness in anticipation Of the tax levy.
The other officials while not publicly eX-
pressing their opinions are doing the best
they can to Kill off a new charter. 1t is
being argued that If the school revenues
can be increased there is no need for q
new charter and influence is being
brought to bear on the members of the
council to adopt the suggestion of the
comptroller to take money from the gen
eFal fund for building new school and
repairing the ones which are in bad con-
dftfon, EST he ma j0Tity.fo of the members of
the school board agree with the comp
troller that itas is perfectly legal to take
building and repairing of school buildings
and in the event of the council directing
that the money be SO appropriated the
board will go ahead and repair the build
ings even if no new ones are built. There
is much dispute over the law on the sug-
gestion Of the comptroller that money
can be taken from the general fund for
the erection Or repair Of school build
ings. The charter in one chapter under
the head of the treasury departments