The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-12
ALDERMEN TURN DOWN SCHEME
MATCHED BY FOXY REPUB-
LlCAN ASSEMBLYMEN.
THREE DEMOCRATS ON
BOARD OF EQUALIZATION
Assembly Breaks the Caucus Slate by
Naming Rosen in Place of Whit
comb, but the Aldermen, Armed With
Legal Opinion, Approve Only
Three Selections.

Disregarding the caucus nominees
for positions on the board of equaliza-
ton, the assembly yesterday afternoon
selected Aid. BantZ and DObner and
Assemblymen Rosen and Van Slyke.
Last night the board of aldermen ap-
proved three of these selections, but
refused to indOrse Assemblyman Ros-
en-. Assemblyman Whitcomb, orig
inally determined upon, was selected
instead.
1t was a case of Democratic shrewd-
ness overcoming Republican filibuSter-
ing, and while rife with the bitterness
that comes with past political differ
ences, was sufficiently interesting to
engage the attention of every member
and cause an amount of wire pulling
that seemed hardly commensurate
with the size or the Importance of the
jobs at stake.
Republicans Were Foxy.
To head off the necessity of indors-
ing the full caucus slate, the Repub-
lican members of the assembly had
called a meeting Of that body yester-
day afternoon and proceeded to elect
slate Of their own. Their principal
desire was to have one of their own
number on the board and in this they
were backed by President Schiffmann
and Assemblyman Van Slyke, but when
they got together two of their num-
Der We're found to be avowed candi-
dates, something the wavering major
ity, no matter how much it was de-
sirOus of giving one of the places to
q Republican, were not willing to agree
TO. ASSemblyman DOran was the first
10 catch President Schiffmann's eye,
and offered resolution naming Aid.
Bantz and DObner ana Assemblymen
Van Slyke and Whitcomb for the four
places on the board, which was as
quickly seconded. Here the Republic
an members, forgetting their brief eau
Gus OF q short While before, interpOSed
an objection, and for the next few
minutes were busy offering the names
of one of their own number in the
place of AsSemblyman Whitcomb. Ar
noIu presented the name of Assembly
man Schumacher Assemblyman Wheel
er that of ROsen, and finally, seeing
that neither received a second, offered
both Rosen and Schurmier, they to
take the places of Aid. Dobner and
.Assemblyman Whitcomb.
In the vote taken this selection was
lost and again the Republican mem
bers We're at sea in their effort to f~1d
man that would bring forth a sec
ond. The tender Of the name of AS
semblyman ROSen finally brought this
much desired requisite, and in the
vote which followed Aid. Bantz and
Dobner and Assemblymen Rosen and
dn OlS ne were QeCldrGO elected. Sew
en- votes in all were recorded in their
favor, this majority being made pos
sible by the addition of the votes of
President Schiffmann and Assembly
man Van Slyke.
Board Gets Opinion.
Unwilling to be bound by the action
of the assembly, the members of the
board of aldermen, when they met last
night, debated long and earnestly be-
hind closed doors as to the best way
out of the difficulty, and finally, with
on opinion secured from First Assist
ant Corporation Attorney McDermott,
proceeded to partially indorse the &C
ton of the assembly.
Mr. McDermottS opinion was to the
effect that the board was not bound to
follow the action of the assembly in
making the selections by resolution.
The board, he held, could adopt a pro-
cedure of its own, only that each
member selected must have the in
dorsement of the two bodies. Anyone
not receiving this Endorsement would
not be elected. The charter, he ex-
planned, named no specific manner in
which the vote should be taken, except
that four members should be elected.
Acting on this, the board at once
proceeded to elect the members separ-
ately, following the assembly selec-
lions in order until they came to the
name of Assemblyman Rosen, which
was rejected. The name of Assembly
man Whitcomb, the caucus nominee,
was offered, and the full vote of the
body was given him.
Republicans Fall in Line.
Throughout, the Republican MEM
bers Of the board, Corning, Holt and
Elder voted with the Democrats. Prior
to the meeting the entire BODY held a
conference behind closed doors and
this unanimity of opinion was the re-
suit. The Democrats claimed that it
was not politics, but a slight soreness
between the two members in the as
semoly that had caused that body to
reject Assemblyman Whitcomb, and by
tSs they secured the aid of the three
Republican members
As result of the action of the board
last night, the Democrats have a full