, 1872-12-05

] missioner Sheridan cited case y hicb came be
| meath his own observation. scotenman,
daughter out riding in Union Park: After en-
tering the park the young lady desired to val
around it. Her father hitchea tne 14e norse 70
! tree, and they went away. When they returned
they found the animal in the possession OF po
Icsman, who courteously invited them to accom-
pany him to the station. They had not the mos
remote idea Of the nature Of their offence
Upon reaching the saon aoo 1n1y were aegaee aia
| ing morning. o common-sense Justice dis
charged them Now, the Superintendent's orde
| Touid have inflicted a monstrouB injury upo1
those people. It would have placed obstacles il
! the way OF their obtaining bail.
| The Superintendent SAN nothing in his orde
to prevent man from getting bail
| Commissioner Sheridan said that that nigh
| all be. Still he favored relieving the 6uper1n
tendent OF a portion Of such responsibility. Mat
ters Of general character should be submitted
the sections Of the city charter which he hat
read. The Board WAS held responsible for the
condition Of the police force from head to foot
| and for the preservation Of good order in tht
city. He did not believe in placing men of goo6
character on the same level with infamous
tion should be made according to the nature
Of the offence. He did not think that some ot
the officers of the department performed theil
duties properly. Justice Walsh had complained
that he Was not treated with common courtesy
when he WAS called to the Union Street Station
to take bail. In larceny cases he could not
ascertain the amount which had been stolen. If
he asked the Station-keeper, he got no satisfac-
ton; if he asked the Sergeant, he was i'll
formed that be the sergeant) knew nothing
about the matter, and WAS referred to the Cap
tain who, at the time, might be at home and
asleep. This Was not the way in which such
important business should be transacted.
The Superintendent inquired if be was to be
blamed for that. Il he had been informed Of
the matter he would have regulated it.
One Of the Commissioners referred to the
general order which had been Issued without the
sanction OF the Board.
The Superintendent desired to know what gem
oral order had been so issued.
Commissioner Nokke handed him the one
printed above.
Commissioner Sheridan inquired what authors
t. the Superintendent had for making raid
upon the gamblers without first obtaining the
sanction Of the Board.
The Superintendent said he found his authori-
ty in page 13, chapter 25 Of the city ordinances,
which reads as follows:
ANY member Of the police force Of this city may
seize any instrument device, or thing used for the
purpose Of gaming, or BY, on with which money or
other articles Of value may be lost won aud a such
e or
q q sny person within any gambling hogss 5eSm
this city shall refuse to permit any member Of the
police to enter the same it shall be lawful for such
tho same to be entered BY force BY breang the doors
or otherwise, and to arrest with or without warrant
all suspicious persons found therein.
Commissioner Sheridan said the ordinance
conf1icted with the charter, and was accordingly
null and void.
Commissioner Hokke referred to the general
order again. He said it was peremptory, and
gsve honest people no chance.
The Superintendent considered that the order
contained nothing prohibiting special aid.
Commissioner klokke said The order Was con-
sidered hardship by all classes OF citizens.
The Superintendent said there Was no danger
Of its being hardship if the police we're In
structed properly. Schools had been organized
for that purpose.
Commissioner Klokke again claimed that the
order endangered the liberties Of the citizens,
that it Was wrong in spirit, and that it should
not have been issued without consultation with
the Board.
=. The Superintendent asked if he WAS before
the Board for censure. Il not, he demanded
that the gentleman (k1okke) should keep his
censure to himself.
Thus matters progressed until Commissioner
Kokke said that the members Of the Board,
being old citizens, knew what the people wanted
better than man who Tas a comparative
stranger.
The Superintendent asserted that that was q
cepaure and that it Was not the first time that the
gentleman (klokle) had impugned his integrity.
channel for quite while, the Superintendent
claiming that he could defend himself from their
attacks, and the Commissioners asserting that
he could not, without violating the charter.
Commissioner Klokke brought matters to a
crisis by the statement that the Superintendent
had never failed to consult with tie Board on
matters of no particular importance.
Superintendent Washburn then arose and
begged to be excused from participating in the
1ebate any further. No gentleman would have
made the remark which Commissioner KIokke /
,ad been guilty of.
He retired, banging the door behind him in an |
Ingry manner.
After briefly expressing its opinion Of the in
subordinate spirit exhibited by the superin-
endent, the Board passed the following pream-
lie and resolutions both of which were offered
y Commissioner Kokke:
WHEREAS, The General Superintendent of Police
aVing OF late arrogated to himself rights and powers
ested in tha Board Of Police BY virtue Of Sections l.
and IS, Chapter lo Of the City Charter, he having
resumed to asue general orders Inconsistent with the
contained in said sections and without
ultahon with the Board; be 1t
lesofred, That the General Superintendent is hereby
lstructed to submit all general orders which he may
GREATER desire to promulgate to the Board Of Police
u ts consideration and approval provided that noth-
1g herein contained shall be construed as an attempt
prevent or hinder the enforcement OF the laws |
rovides that every person arrested by the police
harged with the violation Of my city ordinance sha
entitled to give special bail for his appearance to
nswer such charge " be it I
RESOLVED, That the Superintendent be instructed to
'dsr al officers under bis command to offer every IA
large Of violating . city ordinance
procure ball, in keeping with the
tier and spirit Of the law cited and also that
7ery Justice Of the Peace who ay be called upon to
It in bail cases, shall be afforded every opportunity
i'd all requisite information to enable him to x the
mount Of bail.
Officer Mahoney, Of the Twelfth etStation,
1arged with inattention to duty, and officer Hal
art, charged with intoxication, were dis
1arged from the force
The Board then adjourned.
THE CITY IN BRIEF. |,