Evening journal., 1901-04-17
AN UNWORTHY MOTIVE


IL makes little difference to the peo-
pie whether the funds OF the Street and
Sewer Department are deposited in the
vaults OF the Security Trust and Safe
Deposit Company orinth the union
National Bank. so long as the rate of
interest ON such deposits Is the same,
for both institutions are solid in all re-
spects. But IL does make a difference
when an unworthy motive inspires the
directors TO make q change, and the
people regret that a feeling OF resent
ment against an officer OF the trust
company should have been the cause Of
the transfer OF the department funds
to the bank.
Whatever people may think OF the
various new charter bills submitted to
the Legislature in recent years all
must admit that John S. Rossell the
trust officer of the Security Trust and
Safe Deposit Company. has been an
earnest. intelligent and untiring advo-
cate OF such legislation. He has con-
Quoted his campaign for municipal re-
form along broad and decent lines,
never denying TO others the right to
disagree with him; relying at all times
upon argument, and never resorting to
the cheap methods OF the demagogue
to advance a cause of which he is the
recognized leader. In the first place,
he did not seek the work which has
consumed so much OF his time. II was
forced upon him by the Legislature,
which appointed him a member of "A
commission created for the express
purpose Of drafting a new charter for
our city. He took up the work with
much earnestness, and the more he
studied the question the more he be
came convinced that something should
be done TO cure the defects in the or
ganic law Of our municipality. Il fail
ed 70 pass. At regular intervals since
then other bills have been sent TO Do
YER They all have failed OF enactment.
The last bill was drafted under the su-
peivision of The Board OF Trade and
bore the stamp of It's unqualified APP
proYal, and that board appointed Mr..
Rossell a member OF its charter re-
vision committee which prepared It.
Being a citizen Of the city OF Whining
ton, member OF the Board of Trade
and man OF intelligence and public
spirit 1t was clearly within his prov
ince to serve. and that service did not
bind the Security Trust and Safe De-
posit Company to the charter or any of
its propositions. He iabored In his
individual capacity for what he be-
lieyed. and stiil believes. to be the pub
lie good.
II Is manifestly unfair for the Board
OF Directors Of the Street and Sewer
Department to show its resentment of
his exercise OF the rights Of citizenship
by withdrawing its funds from the
custody Of the financial concern with
which he is connected. The same rate
Of Interest is paid by the Union Ma
tlonal Bank, the same measure OF Sc
curity obtained, and there is nothing
advanced 10 Justify the change.
We do not pretend to discuss the
merits or demerits Of the several char
ter bills with which Mr.. Rossell was
connected, but We do advance the
broad, generous and popular PROPOSE
uon that the people will not stand for
the action Of any official department
which seeks to club a corporation be-
cause one OF its officers exercises the
right TO think for himself on public
questions and to express his thoughts
in the halls of legislation or else
where