, 1873-07-20

Braco1hl sqnabDies that Ahro markod tho police
tronbloH Mr. Mark Sheridan appears to havc
boon tho primo moyor In tho controversy, as llo
Is apt to bo. Tho immediate occasion of the
quadrllatoral dispute, In which Sheridan, his
two follow-mombers Of tho Doard, and
supt. Washburn woro mnlnly engaged, wias
tho suspension Of police ofncor by
Commissioner Bhoriaan. Tho only color Of
authority which Sheridan had for this individual
action was tho practice Of tho old Doard, in
whoso day 1t was not usual for moro than ono
commlssonor to DO on duty at a ttmo. It was
thon customary for my one of tho CommiBRion-
crs to act for tho whole Donrd and tomporarily
suspend policeman. Tho now Board has novor
recognized this practice, however, which ia in
violation Of the law requiring that suspensions
ahall bo mado only upon written charges Ac-
cordingly, whom thesusponsion Of Officer Trainor
was reported to surt. Washbutn, tho Int
tor immediately restored the suspended
policeman. Thta led to tho explosion which fol-
lowed in tho Board. Whom supt. WASH
burn communicated what ho had done, Mr.
Sheridan said that Ills conduct Was III
solent and ungontlomanly. Thoroupon supt.
Waahburn is represented to havo roachod for an
inkstand with tho ovidont purpose Of throwing
1t at Mr. sheridan'a head; but ho Heomod to-
think bottor Of it, and returned tho inkstaud to
its customary place and legitimate function.
Still, Mr. Washburn Ia reported to have flung
opithoss, which aro quito AZ Disgrace
full though not so dangerous as tho
linging of IN inkstanl. A1r, Sheridan accused
the Superintendent Of not attending to his du-
tics more than half tho timo, and AIr. Wasllburn
then replied, as ho is reported, that Mr. shori-
dan waH q liar !" TINT his name twas Wasll-
burn" and that Mr. Sheridan " could find him
whonoyor no ploaHed !" and, flnaly, that AIr.
Sheridan WAS o dirty dog" llr. Sheridan's u.s.
aocates in tho Board seemed to concur In A1r:
Waslburn's sentiments, though they did not re-
peat his exact language There was ao,ne more
heated diaouBsion in which oaths wero freely it,
torBporsod, and then llr. Sheridan atalked of
in pursuit Of the Mayor, closely followed by
Waahbrrn, Mason, Wright, and tho reporters.
Mr. shoridan demanded tho Immediate suspcn-
informed him TINT this could not talto place un-
loss chargoa wero proferre1 in writing, tho OK
cisod Commissioner assumed that tho Mayor was
down On him, that tho press was down Oh him.
and that everybody WAS down on him. Sheridan
mndo loose assertions which the Mayor cut short
by saying TINT, II Mr. Sheridan came there to in
suit him, ho Desired to hnyo no further conYeraa-
tion with him. Tho result Of tho days proceedings
waB that hlr. Sheridan wrote out charge against
tho Superintendent. embodying the language
which Mr.. Washburn had used, and demanding
his suspension from Office. To mako confusion
worse confoundod, the announcement was made
thRt A1r. Mason, tho President OF tho Board, had
placed hfa rcsignation'in the hands Of the Mayor
last Tuesday. It is only just to-, Mr. Mason,
however, to say that this action was not prompt
cd by the unhappy condition Of police atrairs,
but for family aud business roasons.
Enough has been stated OF tho incidents
Of Fridays session to convince everybody
that 1t was q disgrace to tho city.
sheridan'a place on tho Board has given him
tho opportunity to ombarrnss tho administration |
of the Police Department, though ho has not |
had tho power to run it for tho bonoi1t of luis |
personal fayorites. His election prior to the
adoption Of tho now Constitution Of tho Stato
placed him beyond tho removing power Of tho
Mayor, under tho net OF tho Legislature known |
rs tho Mayors Bill. Tho Constitution provides |
that all peraons holding Office at tho tno it won't
into effect "shall continue In tho ex-
crciso Of tho dut1os thereof, according
to their respective commissions OF appointments,
unless by this Constitution 1t is otherwise
directed" Mr. Sheridan can DO doposed by I'M
peachmont before tho Courts but, conscious |
that tho trouble, deny, and litigation incident to
this course would probably dotor tho Mayor
from adopting 1t, oxccpt in great emergency,
hr. Sheridan has constituted himself tho Stun
blng-block In ali ofrorta to regulate tho police
affairs Of the city in such manner as to secure
harmonious and efficient service.
Tho history Of Mark sherilan'a of1lcalmischiot-
making docs hot, however, justify or excuuo tho
conduct OF supt Washburn on Friday last. Tho |
language lo used was unbecoming at Ill timos,
but especially Objectionable ut session OF the |
Board, mud as addressed to member Of |
the Board. Mr.. Sheridan was probably |
yory exaspcrating, but supt. Washburn |
did not increase tho public confidence |
in hia qualifications for Chief Of Police by yield
ing to tho evident purpose Of exciting him, and
by conducting himself in q manner calculated |
to bring about personal conflict botwoou q
Commissioner md himsolf. ue should not layo
contributed anything to the disgrace Of tho slt-
uation. 1t WIS disgracoful enough without Ills |
cooperation. Tho opprobrium thus cast upon |
tho police administration Of tho city Ia not tho
worst foaturo Of tho continuous broil III tho |
Board Of Police Commissioners. Tho otfect
upon tho police forco III thoroughly temoralizing.
Tho working members do not fail to divide |
tlDuBelYeA into rlrtiHnn facttnna In srir}, tEau