The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-10
TUESDAY, NOV. 10, 1908.
SOME SERIOUS WORK.

The people of st. Paul expect some
serious work from the grand jury that
convenes this morning. It is a body of
representative business and profession
al men, 1t has the entire confidence
of the community. The honor of that
community has been assailed in many
directions, and injurious suspicion still
rests upon it. 1t is the duty of the
grand jury to leave no stone unturned
either to prove those suspicious I'M
founded or to bring to book the actual
guilt that lies behind them.
Concerning the offenses in which in
dtviduals alone are implicated, we have
nothing to say. The members of the
grand jury need no advice in that par
ticular. But there is a series of trans
actions in which the reputation of the
common council has been reflected
upon either by force Of circumstances
or by charges made outright and pub
licly repeated. All these matters the
grand jury should particularly take
cegnizance of, since with it rests prop
erly the initiative in such affairs
Every newspaper in the city has now
followed the lead set by 7 h e G1ob e
in demanding an explanation Of the sin
gular action of the common council i'll
refusing to accept a bid for street
lighting that would save the city $4,000
over any proposition offered. The dis
crepancy is too glazing, the action of
the council taken over the head of its
own adviser is too directly against pub
lie policy to- be passed over without
criticism and inquiry.
To cancel all bids and readvertise in
such case as this is equivalent to
defying and destroying competition,
and will not be tolerated. What rea-
sons lie behind this extraordinary ac-
ton the public has yet to learn. T h e
Clio e has given ample opportunity
for defense of those responsible for it
through its columns, but they are not
anxious to make an appearance and
have little to say. Whether improper
influences were used to bring about
this action or not, the action itself
is believed by our people to be improp-
er and unwarranted. The grand jury
should probe the affair to the bottom.
Quite as. offensive and even more
made freely by a member of the city
council that improper and corrupt at
tempts have been made to influence
members of that body with reference
to certain matters coming before it.
This is an accusation too serious to be
passed over in silence. Since the coun-
Gil itself has not shown any great dis
position to purge itsGlf and to clear its
own honor, the grand jury should take
q hand.
h G 10 b e. in behalf of all the de-
cent people Of st. Paul, urges a fear
scandals, real or alleged, that reflect
upon any portion of our city govern
ment or that involve the Offering of
bride, either in money Or in other favor
or influence, to any public servant or
official. If there is that sort of rot
tenness in st. Paul, let us turn the
cleansing light of publicity upon it.
Far greater than the ordinary RESPONSE
bility rests upon this grand jury. 1t
should set before itself the example of
similar bodies in Minneapolis and in
St Louis, and before it adjourns either
the untarnished honor of the represen-
tatives of the city of ST. Paul in it's
municipal affairs should be made APP
parent. or lot of scoundrels should be