The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-09
-Washington time q ?. m. St. Paul..
REPUBLICAN TESTIMONY.

It Is one Of the remarlzst bic features of
all the hostile criticism which is Ieveled
at the existing Republican administra-
ton of city and county affairs that in
every case there is d Republican more or
less Well Informed. ana more or less dis
Interested, who stands ready to verify
each such criticism as it is made.
No ore can claim that any of the public
condemnation which has been visited on
the administration Of cur local offices is
the result of partisan Democratic state
ment. Indeed, Democrats are so carefully
excluded 50 far as possible from all Off
cial Knowledge ana are 50 entirely free
from responsibility that nothing short of
the grave scandals that have arisen or
the information furnished by those who
are Identified with The local officeholding
combine would suffice TO give substance
to any statements which might be cur
rent regarding local abuses.
Mayor Kiefer for instance, bore very
convincing testimony TO the ineficfency
or worse Of the police department when
he felt called on to raid public gam
bling house. maintained almost within the
shadow Of the central police station. He
has thrown some light on the influences
which are relied on by a certain class of
Republican officeholders to remain In
their places. He has. too. given US some
insight into the methods and influences
which prevail in the Republican board of
public works and in the board of county
commissioners, of which he is ex-ofticio
chairman.
ON the other hand. we have, or have
had until recently. when it was evidently
silenced, the daily testimony of the Dis
patch as to the alleged gross unftness of
Mayor Kiefer for the position he holds
and Of the general worthlessness of his
appointees to the several Offices which he
mas filed. The county attorney has told
Us how the abstract clerks Office has
been run into the ground and has given
US his official assurance that two officials
both RepubIicans-ono Of the register
Of deeds Office, the other of the county
treasurer's Office ought to be in state
prison. Mr. Ritz and his friends pay their
respects from time to time to the pres
snt incumbent of the -fought-over
assessors office. Auditor Johnson tells
rs Of the farcicaI projects Of the mayor,
while the mayor and his friends in turn
aonource Johnson and the editorial poll
hcians Of the Dispatch as being quite in
capable of passing current in decent So
ricty. political or social. The abuse of
the city printing has been sufficiently
aired by the two Republican sheets dur
Ing their struggles for control of the
spoils to establish the need of the in
Prevention Of some friendly. interest on
behalf of the taxpayers.
And now comes Mr.. Andrew Hoban and
adds to the wealth of Republic testi-
mony which is at the disposal of the peo-
pie to establish Republican incompetence
and corruption in the conduct Of our local
affairs. Hoban is probably sore" be-
cause he has not been treated with that
libcrality In the bestowaI of contracts
which, according to Republican ethics.
should be shown to a Republican con-
tractor who has. so to speak, stood out
side the polling booth for fifteen years in
the interest of his party. But Hoban,
none the less, evidently knows what he
IS talking about
Meanwhile, let it be remarked, the vot-
ing public is not saying a word Its time
to talk has not yet conner When It does
1t is not unlikely that its testimony will
entirely corroborate that which is being
furnished by the Republican statesmen
regarding their own pubic operations.
Gotham physicians are now giving new
life TO people by administering enat,s