The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-19
MAYOR REvOkES
zIEGENHE|N N
Police Chief Kiely Ordered to En-.
force New Regulation Exempt
ing Only Temporary Permits.
DISABLED VENDORS IMMUNE.
Conference to Discuss ACCESSIBILITY
of Substituting Police for Street
Sprinkling Inspectors
Cabinet Sessions.

Mayor Wells issued a revocation Thurs
day Of all illegal permits granted by thu
Ziegenhein administration. and notified
Chief of Police Kelly to enforce the new
regulation. The order refers to signs, pen
nants. streamers and street. sidewalk ant
alley obstruction Of every class. The only
permits exempted are those awarded tenn
porarily, pending the passage of ordi
nances. and those given to disabled stree,
vendors.
A communication was also addressed by
Mayor Wells to Chief of Police Kelly and
TO Street Commissioner Varrelman request
ing conference for the purpose of ar
ranging a system to have the police super
intend the street sprinkling. The Inaugural
ton of this policy would dispense with the
services OF many inspectors and would eff
fest a saving of $4,000 per annum to the
city.
During Mayor ~Ziegenhein's regime 1t was
customary to issue permits to erect signs
and distractions Of all sorts. as we'll as to
allow practices that had been denied by
the heads of departments. Permits were
even issued to lay railroad tracks. to build
and move houses and sheds. to conduct
printing establishments on the sidewalks,
and SO OH.
oasAlluGtlOh " ultSlS pCi
mits by Mayor Ziegenhein, or by his son
and private secretary, Freddie Ziesenhein.
was the topic of sensational omment
downtown. Last summer when a Federal
building contingent Of the Republican ma
chine was at outs with Z~iegenhein, 1t was
stated that a ~ell,kno Republican bust
that money had been paid for a permit to
erect a sign on a building on Eighth street
and Lucas avenue.
The merchant who procured the permit
stated that h0 ho1 pni1 Aha C1tNncky n ~
employe in the Water Rates Department
and a close friend of Fred Ziegenhein. to
get the permit. You see." the merchant
permit, but 1 paid Abe slupsky for his time
In attending to the matter for me. l was
TOO busy to go to the City Hall. and, as
l just offered to pay him to transact my
business for me-"
While the Board of Public improvements
was celebrating on a proposed new ordi-
thus to cause the removal Of posts from the
sidewalks. Mayors permits were being
issued for the location of posts of various
kinds on the sidewalks downtown. A post
was placed almost in the center of the side
walk in front of the Holland building. cut
ting off from use about three feet OF the
walk. Vigorous COMPLAINT was entered and
the post was moved to the curb line. Short,
ly before Mayor ~Ziegenhein's term expired
a post was located in an inconvenient place
on the southeast corner Of Twelfth and
. oNANOeos AAo POSk sum uAAA
At the last meeting of the City Council a
switch bill came up for passage. Several
Councilmen objected to the measure. Chair
man Virgins Of the Committee on Rail-
roads then explained that the switch was
already down, by virtue of a Mayors per-
nit Some months ago another. bill was
passed by the Municipal Assembly to au-
thorize the construction Of a railing on the
sidewalk at Sixth n PINE streets. 1t was
discovered that the railing had been In
position for some time. also by virtue of a
Rumors were common that the Mayors
permit was frequently a means OF extend
ing to ward politicians. henchmen and City
demned in the City Council by Captain
Hodges. Mr.. Virgins and others. by mem
by officials of the Department Of Public
Buildings and other officials. Permits were
issued. despite the protests Of Commissioner
Of Public Buildings Longfellow. ailowin
practically permanent portions Of buildings
to extend upon the sidewalks.
ne Mayor s Mslls ssl, mand dse 5 5eyaSes to ai m aadse
new applications. Posts and signs that OBJ
struct the sidewalks. streets and alleys.
platforms on the sidewalks and public
of the Law. will have to be removed. or
modified to conform to law. or be leealized
by special ordinance. The Instructions to
oficers to direct the removal OF obstruc-
lions and the discontinu1nce CT Illicit trad
ing. for some Of the old permits authorized
retail traffic In public places. to the detri-
ment Of licensed storekeepers.
THE order" said Mayor Wells, does not
apply to cripples and disabled vendors Of
trinkets. 1t would be uncharitable to take
away from these ~unfortunates their means
of livelihood. Besides. allowing them to
continue their vending keeps them from
the city Institutions. Permits issued. pend
valid"
81 must commend Mayor Wells for this
action said Street Commissioner Varrel-
THE wholesale issuance of Mayors
permits has always been detrimental and
and I have frequently attempted
out success"
The sprinkline season extends through
eight months. from March until December.
and the cost for inspection has been S.
2Ss. 60 a month. The division consists Of a
superintendent. at a salary Of $125 a month.
with an allowance of $50 per month for
horse hire. twenty inspectors at $2,06S. 60 q
month. and a clerk at SIS a month.
Mayor Wells intends to institute his cab
met sessions as soon as the new officials
partnents. At regular intervals he will
summon all the officials to his office. and In
these conferences municipal affairs will be
discussed.
Another custom that distinguished the
administration was the issuance
Ing them liberty. Mayor. Wells has not an
his policy on this subject, but q
case was brought before Temporary Private
Secretary whyte two days. after Mayor
Wells's installation. and Mr.. Whyte re-
OF the Mayor, saving that It
would be the rule in Mr.. Wells's office to
a all such cases referred back to the