The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-08
MUCH-NEEDED ACTION.

The Gil is not in a position to de-
clare just what the majority Of our leg
islative delegation have done or propose
to do or whether they have done or pro-
pose to do anything whatever. about the
present shameful situation regarding the
Office Of the abstract clerk In common
with the rest of the community it is per-
fectly convinced that it is nothing short
of public scandal and disgrace that the
situation should be allowed to continue.
The present board of county commits
sioners is a complaisant BODY. It's rep
utation loses little or nothing by COM
parison with that of the band of Re
publican patriots and statesmen who
gave us the fnestimable blessing of the
attic prison, and the beautiful multi
plicity of contracts and jobs of one kind
or another which have grown out of the
enterprise. When it comes to helping
Republican statesman out of a difficulty
it is quite uncertain whether indeed, the
present board is not the superior in re-
sources of the two.
The local Republican organ-or, at
least, that one Of the two local organs
which is now regarded as having the
official party label attached to it-recent-
ly told a most touching tale of the beau
tiful state of things which had just been
established in the office in question, and
bOv, ftc affo ire vyara oouy oarfaiD to rim
on smoothly to the end of time, to the
great gain of the community and es-
peciary Of all who had transfers of
realty on their hands.
But the story was one which no one
believed, not even the man who wrote it
or the other man who conceived it or the
third man who passed it as legitimate
local news. But it did duty as a cover
behind which the abstract clerk might
seek shelter from any unfavorable Of
fetal action on the part of his party as
sociates-a remote contingency in any
event. The members of the board of
county commissioners are perhaps too
deeply concerned in the legislation now
pending affecting their official compensa-
ton to bother themselves with the af-
fairs of the abstract clerks Office even
ii there were no other reason why they
should not so concern themselves. It Is
no doubt an occasion Of regret for many
of them that they cannot be just as
lavish as they would like in dispensing
the county funds in making good the de-
felt said to exist in the salaries of the
employees of that official. They should
not, however, lose sight of the fact that
the puhli4 are entirely conscious that
there is a state Of things in existence at
this moment in the office in question such
as ought not to be tolerated even for Il
single day.
There is no hope, of course, from this
body OF narrow partisans But there
ought to be hope from the state legis-
lature. The necessary legislation should
be enacted putting the affairs of that Of
fee in some acceptable form, by merg-
ing it in the register of deeds office Or
otherwise. There is a much greater need
of some such action than there is Of in
creasing the pay of the county commits
sioners, or providing that n given Repub-
lican politician shall hold two city Of
~fices at one and the same time Unless
some Intelligent action is taken in this
regard before the legislature adjourns
the office will continue to be, as it has
for some years been, source Of public
and private expense and inconvenience.