The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-15
THEY FEAR THE WORST
MAYOR KIEFER AND LIEUT.. B0ER-
NER ARE ON THE ANX-
IOUS SEAT
IT IS NOT ABOUT LADYsMITH

err, Where the Grand Jury Threat
ems to Make Warm the Seat of the
King by It's Inquiry Into Existing
Social EviIs-InvestigatiOn Is Ex-
pected to Be Searching.
Mayor Kiefer and the police department
are in the throes of suppressed excite
ment over the Investigation Of the grand
jury into the administration plan Of
wholesale licensing Of disreputable women
throughout the city. The grand jury is
evidencing desire to thoroughly sift the
system, and its sponsors are said to
rather dread the stirring up imminent
If the investigation shows up nothing
else, it will open the eyes Of the public
to the condition Of affairs, and even q
mild report condemning the system,
which is considered the least notice the
grand jury can take, Is dreaded by rea-
son of the political effect. A skeleton
hidden away in the administration closet
is one thing, while a skeleton under a
grand jury searchlight Is another and the
thing dreaded most by those responsible
for the existing immortality brought about
under the guise Of securing financial re-
turn to the city. Then, too, If the grand
jury should delve far enough into the sub
ject, there Is a story Of why the present
plan was adopted
1t Is an alleged fact that respectable
people living in blocks and apartment
houses on certain streets cannot be in
the least assured of the responsibility of
their neighbors. The police admit that on
the streets most affected by the fallen
women licensed by the system there Is
scarcely a block or rooming house that
is not overrun with disreputable women.
The grand jury wants to know how many
of these women there are. Clerk Conroy,
OF the municipal court, was asked for a
record Of those of this class who had
paid fines under the system. He prepared
a list Of 1854 names. How many more
there are who are not on the list Is g.
matter Of speculation, but even In police
circles it is admitted that the licensing
system has brought out at least 500 crea-
lures who consider themselves licensed
and are enjoying protection" These
women must live somehow. They have
sought the busy streets Of the down town
retail district and can be found living
among respectable people, with no way to
stop the outrage because the mayor and
his police department sanction such q
system. f*-' ~ .@~9 - -
In its inquiring frame of mind the grand
jury has subpoenaed Patrolman Chris
tan, who was given the job of rounding
up every woman able to pay SIS fine when
the system went into effect. How much
he will tell Of the assessments levied
upon these women perhaps only the
grand jury will ever know. 1t is
said Lieut.. Boerner has also been
subpoenaed. He Is popularity understood
to be the originator Of the plan and keeps
an elaborate set of books, the contents
Of which may enlighten the grand jury
to no small extent when they are taken
into court.
1--WE want to learn" said member Of
the grand jury, about this license sys-
tenn, aside from its moral effect, If all
of these women are paying fines and #
all of the fines paid go into the city treas
ury."
Lieut.. Boerner. according to report, can
furnish the Information. The books he
has are said to contain the story OF each
Womanis life Of misery.