Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-06-20
he walked over to the street and said
vuifh choorfr1l irco1opoo


the foundation wall.
Gordon came back to where Randall
still stood.
"Of course you know your rear end
Zine for this building runs fifteen feet
farther south than the law allows?"
Tommy Randall was chewing 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 bluff, hearty man.
| ner: Say, Mr.. Gordon, what's the use
| Of quarreling with me over this little
matter! OF course I know that tech
! nlcally the ordinance isn't lived up to,
but it is practically a dead letter any
how. None of the contractors ever pays
| any attention to it. What difference
| does it make anyhow? l mean to put
up a good building, and the people
know my rents are fair. No one ever
complained that Tommy Randall ever
screwed 'e1r for rent when it was hard
" 6Cl. Live anu lcL ave Is LILY uOlIO.
Gordon looked him in the eye.
"Mr. Randall, you know or ought to
know that this double decker you are
putting up here is a death trap and
that the law distinctly provides for this
space at the rear Of the lot to give the
tenement dwellers sufficient light and
air at that end of the building. After
you have got your building up it will
be fire trap like old No. 10. You de-
iberately violate not only the ordi-
nance in regard to rear space, but you
are planning to violate other provisions
of the building acts in regard to light
ing areas and metal staircases. I've
seen your plans, and they are nothing
more nor less than copies of plans Of
No. 81. I'll have you arrested unless
you change the ground plans Of this
building"
"You will. eh?"
Tommy spit out another piece OF
splinter and contemptuously started
down toward the masons 1T amt the
first time I've been arrested, but the
fellows that does it remembers it
longer'n l do
Gordon went over with Ford to the
city hall. and together they swore out
a complaint before the city attorney.
That officer eyed Gordon rather curl
ously, and while his assistant was
making out the warrant Gordon asked
a few questions.
'"This case will come in Judge Cham
bers' court %
The assistant looked up and paused
in his writing.
The city attorney eyed Gordon again.
Judge Chambers has Jurisdiction in
the Waterside district 1t has been Gus
tomary. however. to follow the prec-
edent established by the new building
act of 81 and call these cases in the
district court"
"Jury case?"
Eyes"
cam right in saying that the com
planning witness in cases of violation
of city ordinances has the right to APP
pear and cause the party complained of
to appear in the police court that has
jurisdiction in civil cases over the dis
trict in which the violation occurs?"
THAT is the law" The city attorney
sn"Ec and sfeminsly with reluctance
Gordon went one step further. 'Then
this warrant will cite Randall to ap-
pear before Judge Chambers. If cases
that come under the provisions of the
building act of 1897 are appealed from
the police court of Judge Chambers, do
they go to the court of appeals or the
court of special please"
The city attorney hesitated
THE court Of appeals There is no
choice in the matter"
Gordon was silent. The city attorney
eyed him again with interest.
care you a law yer, young man"
NO.
do you know Tommy Randall init
mately?'
mo. Do your
The city attorney evaded the ques-
ton.
Hes a bright one, Tommy is; very
bright. Very bright, don't you think?'
"Will this warrant he served at
OACS1 0OIuUu dShSu III LIS luIu
ing question.
The attorney placed the warrant in
the hands of an officer, with instruc-
tons to serve it on Tommy Randall at
| once, and as he gave the order it
seemed to Gordon that everybody in
the office, from the city attorney down
to the policeman, eyed him with sort
of plying contempt.
He walked out Of the building boiling
with wrath at the insolent attitude of
every person in the city administration
with whom he had come in contact
during that weeks experience.
But Chambers seems to be unpop-
ular around here" he said to Ford.
'"That's hopeful for us, isn't it?'
'HOw unpopular"
Didn't you notice the city attorneys
hesitation when Chambers name was
mentioned? And while you were talk.
ing I overheard little talk between
two men at the other end of the Office.