The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-02-28
From Saturdays Daily.

Haynes, to be passed upon by itself
the aldermen to act as accusers, Judges
and executioners. Four of the alder
men listened TO and needed the voice
of the people, after lengthy and
somewhat animated discussion.
After all of the other business OF
the council had been disposed of last
night, except the allowing of the bills
Aid. Atchison offered the following
motion:
"Moved that the city attorney, con-
ferring with the council, draft a res.
olution preferring charges against NJ
| B. Haynes, as a member of the board
of public works of the city of Man
kato, Mimi, and ex-OfficiO city engi-
neer of said city, and setting a time
and place for hearing on said charges
so that the common council of said
city may determine whether said NJ
B. Haynes should be removed from
| such offices or not. Said resolution
to be introduced at the next regu-
lar meeting of the council"
Spoke For Mr.. Haynes.
Evan Hughes then addressed the
council upon behalf of Mr.. Haynes,
saying that it was surprise to him
and to the citizens that the matter
came up now. The city had existed
for nearly fifty years, and had had
many officials, some good, some ex-
cellent, some fair, and perhaps some
below fair. OF all that list, none had
been subjected to such action as was
proposed now, and of all he would
have least expected the charges to be
brought against Mr.. Haynes. Mr..
Hughes referred to Mr.. Haynes long
residence in the city and his long SER
vices for the city as city engineer at
a previous period. When he was city
engineer before, much noise was made
by those who had to pay assessments
for the public improvements then or
dered, but in looking back from this
dispasssionate distance no fault is
found with any of the work done
by him. No one then claimed that
he was not competent, and he had
been employed by railroad companies
before and since, and by many coun-
ties, and he had yet to hear any fault
being found with his work by them,
or their refusing to pay him. If he
was incompetent it is strange that
they should employ him.
One alderman had expressed the
opinion during the evening that there
was not a dishonest hair in the head
of any member of the board of pub
lie works, and Mr.. Hughes thought
that this was the prevailing senti-
ment. Yet this charge, this stain up
on Mr.. Haynes reputation, was being
called for, not because he had grated
or was dishonest, but merely because
he had made mistake, as it was
claimed. as the council going to re-
quire the city attorney to bring
charges against this honored citizen,
who was a resident of Nankato be-
fore some of us were born?" asked
the speaker. The city has been and is
now proud of Mr.. Haynes. 1t seems
that the council does not realize
what an awful thing it is to bring
such charge as proposed. In the eX-
element following the Civil war, sim
liar charges were brought against
President Johnson, and he was tried
by the house of representatives, but
H. Oh nctn
charge is serious thing to be pub
lished throughout the state"
Mr.. Hughes said that if anybody
else has charges to bring let him
do so and the council pass upon it then,
but do not let the council sanction
this motion to itself order the charges
that it would have to pass upon. Il
ask you in the name of all that is
right, l ask you as gentlemen and
citizens, not to pass this motion and
in this way cast a slur upon one of
Mankato's best citizens said Mr..
Hughes in conclusion.
Motion in Bad Taste.
W. r. Geddes, who was present on
another matter, also spoke for Mr..
Haynes, saying that the matter was
new to him and he had not been
retained by Mr.. Haynes. He could not
refrain from saying something for an
old meighbor and friend. He thought
the motion in bad taste, and contrary
to Justice, fairness and common sense.
1t was asking the city attorney to
prostitute the duties of his office, and
he would be manly man if he would
refuse to do it, and unmanly if he
did it. He expected to see him refuse
to perform such a duty. If the
Judge of the district court was to
invite the prosecuting attorney to con.
kind of taste, and would not hurt
Mr.. Haynes, but will react on the
council and administration. He had
heard only three men speak against
Mr.. Haynes, and all the rest had
condemned the action of the council
taken at the last meeting There
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