The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-03-19
SEEK THE CITY. JOBS.
MANY APPLICANTS FOR PLACES
AT DISPOSAL BY MAYOR.
Position of Chief of Police Will Not Go
Begging; ]. N. Day, President of
the Board Will Hold Over Another
Year; Liable to Be Quite Contest
Over Engineer; Other Positions at
the Executives Disposal.

On the supposition that a. G. Meyer
will be tine next mayor, numerous can
didatcs for the various offices are taxi
ing up his time. Listening to candi-
dates and making selection from among
the material offered is one of the most
important duties of the mayor, and up
on the wisdom of his selections will in
a large measure depend the success or
failure of the administration.
Mr.. Meyer will have an advantage
over any of his predecessors in the
fact that he will owe his office to no.
body. and will have no political debts
to pay. For this reason, the people will
expect more of him, and will expect
that he will ill the various offices
with the best men available, regard
less of their pull in ward politics. 1t
will not be necessary for him to con-
fine himself to the applicants and Of
iiccseekcrs, but he can 90 outside of
these and let the office seek the man.
\ golden opportunity is his to raise
the character of his administration
above the average of cities of this size
if he will avail himself of it.
Contest Over Police Chief.
y lively contest has already devel.
oped over the position of chief of po-
lice The present incumbent, Anton
Osten, is candidate for reappointment.
Officer Edwards, who was candidate
for chief two years ago, also seeks the
position of head of the force. Other
men whom the incoming mayor is said
TO have under consideration are George
Pond and Mic klenschmidt, present
chief of the fire department.
Members of the police force are also
on the anxious seat, for they are pro-
tected by no civil service regulations,
but must take their chances, relying
upon their past records for efficiency.
All of the present force would like to
continue to draw the stipend, although
not looking upon it as princely nor
sufficient. Others would also like to
get upon tho force.
No vacancy will occur in the Office /,
of president of the board .of public ,
works this spring, SO ]. n. Day will
have another year to serve. i
Best Office in Bunch. 1
he office of city engineer will be the
best Office at the disposal of the mayor
this spring, but the number of candi
dates is necessarily limited by the
question of qualification. While John
Wilson, the present highly efficient city
and sanitary engineer, has made good i'm
every sense of the word, it is rumorcd
that j. X. Thompson, a former city ell
gineer, has the inside track He was
city engineer while Mr.. Meyer was
OH the city council, and Mr. Meyer
was pleased with his work, and also
feels that Mr.. Thompson would take
tine office for less salary than Mr..
Wilson would take it for
The position of health officer is an
other one to be filled. There is con-
siderable doubt expressed OH this sub
icct, but rumor has had it that DIR. A. F.
Schmitt is booked for this position. I
However this may be, the man who fills
the office during the coming term will
have to go some" if he is to fill it
as efficiently as Dr.. Bjelland has. The
people will hardly lie satisfied with
any official who does not make an
active and wide awake official. giving
largely of his time to the city for a
small salary.
Tony Thompson the efficient city
ball Janitor and poundmaster, seeks
reappointment.
Mr.. Meyer has given no intimation.
50 far as The Free Press knows, as to L
whom he intends to appoint to the va.
rious offices, and he may not have
any of the above named persons under
serious consideration