The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-05-01
By CHARLES NJ. SHELDON,
Ax q - bis Strps.- ~RsAers ttardys Seven Days a.
copyrtchs, xsaa, ~ OAGses II. EAsido~

naQ q conference with MISS Andrews.
81 am perfectly satisfied as to this
administration, Gordon said, speaking
with repressed indignation. "They are
al set of political thieves. What do
they care for humanity? So far as 1
can learn there has never been con-
H1ction during the whole of the present
administration for violating tenement
house ordinances. There have been
numerous complaints filed at different
times, but they have all been treated
with the most insolent contempt or po-
utely entered in some department,
there to lie untouched. But there is
one course open to us now, and I'm
going to take it,
'Of course l know what you mean.
You can carry a complaint directly to
the city attorney, have Tommy arrest
ed and bring the case into the police
court. Do you know how many times
we have had Tommy arrested?"
Gordon shook his head in surprise.
within the last eight years, for one
thing and another, Tommy Randall has
been arrested as many as fifteen times,
with no result except failure on our
part to convict. Do you wonder that
we women in Hope House have given
up arresting Tommy"
at seems to me the person to arrest
ts the mayor" grOwled Gordon. BE
fore God, he is guilty if ever man was"
ARREST Tommy and bring the case in
Tf1li11o (Nha mi npS' AaanpHinCr 70
the statute law, the jurisdiction of
Chambers court extends to all cases in
Waterside district Chambers has new
er had q case of this kind. From all
that we know of him so far he is not
afraid of Randall nor in any way in
debted to him"
Gordon gravely assented. He was sit
ting in the library, where his view
through the window extended down
Bowen street to the end of the burned
district. He could see a group OF work
men laying out foundations for Tom
mys first double decker.
The sight suggested a plan to Cor
don, and he went out and walked over
to the place.
Tommy Randall was at the farther
end of the lot, but as Gordon came up
he walked over to the street and SAID
with cheerful insolence.
Cline day for building, Mr.. Gordon"
Gordon went down to the end of the
lot The basement excavation had been
made, and the masons were at work on
the foundation wall
Gordon came back to where Randall
still stood.
"Of course you know your rear end
line for this building runs fifteen feet
farther south than the law allows"
Tommy Randall was chewing a bit
Of pine splinter. He spit out the piece,
then turned toward John Gordon.
lis this your building that's going
up? Don't you worry about me. !
know what I'm doing"
Then to Gordon's surprise Randall
came up close to him and said in what
was intended for a bluff, hearty man
ner: "Say, Mr. Gordon, what's the use
of quarreling with me over this little
matter? Of course | know that tech
nically the ordinance isn't lived up to,
but it is practically dead letter any
how. None of the contractors ever pays
any attention to it. What difference
does it make anyhow? | mean to put
I'D a good building, and the people
know my rents are fair. No one ever
complained that Tommy Randall ever
screwed 'em for rent when it was hard
to get Live and let live is my motto"
Gordon looked him in the eye.
"Mr Randall, you know or ought tt
know that this double decker you arc
putting up here is death trap ant
that the law distinctly provides for this
space at the rear of the lot to give The
tenement dwellers sufficient light ant
air at that end of the building. Afte
YOU have got your building up it vii
be fire trap like old No. 10. You de
Mberately violate not only the ordi
nance in regard to rear space, but yo'
are planning to violate other provision
of the building acts in regard to light
ing areas and metal staircaSeS. Py
seen your plans, and they are nothini
more nor less than copies of plans o
No. 81. I'll have you arrested unles
you change the ground plans OF thi
building"
''You will, eh?'
Tommy spit out another piece o
splinter and CONTEMPORARY starte
down toward the masons. ut amt tn
first time I've been arrested, but tn
fellows that does it remembers
longer'n l do"
Gordon went over with Ford to tn
city hall, and together they swore on
a complaint before the city attorne!
That officer eyed Gordon rather cur
ously, and while his assistant wa
making out the warrant Gordon aske
a few questions.
"This case will come in Judge Chan
bers' court?"
The assistant looked up and pause
in his writing.
The city attorney eyed Gordon agail
"Judge Chambers has jurisdiction
the Waterside district. 1t has been Gu
tomary, however, to follow the pre-
edent established by the new buildin
act of '97 and call these cases in Il
district court"
''Jury case?"
"Yes."
Gam right in saying that the cor
planning witness in cases of Violate
of city ordinances has the right to a
pear and cause the party complained I
10 appear in the police court that III
Jurisdiction in civil cases over the Oh
trict in which the violation occurs?'
"That is the law" The city attorn'
slowly and seemingly with reluctan