The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-21

BLIND Pigs STIR
Up COUNTY BOARD
Seng inslnuates That Powers
Could Furnish Evidence and
Session Grows Warm

The board ~ county commissioners
yesterday wrangled for more than half
an hour over blind pigs" alleged to
exist in the county outside the city
limits, and during the discussion COM
missioners Powers and Seng became
involved in an argument that became
decidedly personal before it concluded.
Charges and countercharges were made
and excitement ran high for a few
moments.
The trouble had its beginning when
Commissioner Gray, at the request Of
number of White Bear citizens, in
troduced resolution calling upon
Fred Turner to deposit a certified
check for the full amount of the liquor
license which he has applied for. The
villagers feared that Turner, unless
compelled to put up "a check, would
delay securing license until the sum-
mer was so far advanced that he would
not, care for one. The resolution
aroused the ire of Commissioners
Wright and Powers, and Commissioner
Pottgieser was inclined to take their
view of the matter.
1--WE have no right to pick out one
man. said Pottgieser. Il believe we
should have the town boards report
all such places; they get half the Ii
cense money!
Yes, and there are plenty Of them
to report" declared Commissioner
Seng. And they will all have to settle
or go out of business. 1t isn't nee
essary for the town boards to report:
there are members on this board that
know where some of the places are To-
Gated" and Mr.. Seng looked squarely
at Commissioners Powers, of Mounds
View.
Powers in Rage
Commissioner Powers flushed under
the yelled accusation, and when he
arose to answer what he considered
a personal charge. he was in a rage
Pounding his desk with his clenched
list and glazing at Commissioner Seng.
the Mounds View member fairly
roared:
IF you fellows know so much about
these places, Why don't you go ahead
and do something? 1t looks to me as
If you were in 'cahoots' with them"
Then Mr.. Seng lost his temper
You; you, Mr.. Powers! you are in
nice position to charge anyone of
being in 'cahoots' with blind pigs. If
you wanted to report on one you
wouldn't have to go more than $50 feet
from your own house. And you know
it, too
Ills was Tic SlSld1 IOr general con-
fusion, and it looked at the time as
if the argument might go farther than
words. For many months it has been
1nsinuated, during heated arguments,
that Powers might be able to tell
something of blind pig in his dis
tr1ct, but this is the first time that the
accuser had ever gone so far as to
speak out openly and say that the
place was on Mr.. Powers farm. Pott-
fOrPG1W oh
ed to dodge.
Il didn't mean Powers" said Pott-
gleser. as soon as he could find his
breath.
If you mean there is a blind pig on
my place, | want to say that it is not
So" roared Powers, still addressing his
remarks to Seng. ''This has been in
situated for months, and I viii not not
stand it any longer. Do you hear?
say 1t is not true. There has been no
liquor sold on my place this wear.
neither was there last year"
l don't say that You run it. but Won
know where it is, and you cannot DENY
that It is within $50 feet of your house,
said Seng.
7 don't know it; L have never bought
drink there, and l don't know that
liquor is sold there said Powers, but
with less emphasis than had accompa-
MED his former remarks
Mayor Spreads Peace Oil
Mayor Smith, with the assistance of
the more conservative members of the
board, succeeded in restoring quiet be-
fore any blood was spilled. but there
was still bad feeling between Seng and
Powers. and the former declared he
would see to it that every blind pig in
the county, outside the city limits, was
reported, and that the proprietors
either take out a license or close up.
When matters quoted down, Com
missioner Gray's resolution, calling up-
on Turner to put up a certified check
equal to the amount of his license fee.
was passed, and Mr.. Turner will either
have to make the deposit or his place
at White Bear will be closed up pend
ing the granting of his license.
Members of the board, after the
meeting, stated that the crusade had
only begun, and it was intimated that
steps would be taken to close every
country saloon that failed to take out
a license as required by law.