, 1873-01-29

csps The Chief also decided that to render the
force efficient, they should carry some badge Of
authority which should be Of service in time Of
need: The eighteen-inch club was sub
@Esh stitetsd vi for 18th the time-honeEed
station, being too heavy to be carried in the
pocket With any degree Of comfort. To carry
It,. the Chief prescribed d belt, which, besides
being useful, has the additional advantage OF
aaress'ng ar;ssg the uniform, and giving handsome,
Board doubtless conferred among themselves,
and endoaTored to oppose these fearful innova-
tons ! but, finding no flaw in the Superinten-
dents plans, they admitted the force Of his
suggestions, and adopted the uniform with the
suggested that each policeman should purchase
his club, thereby insuring his taking greater care
OF the weapon, and to this tho Board was
compelled to give its assent. The rumor was
spread among the men, already ripe for any
amount Of fault-fnding with their new Chief,
that Mr.. Washhurn
Had "AcTED WITHOUT AUTHORITY"
IN giving this order, and petition Was presented
in the Common Council by an Alderman praying
for relief from this oppression. The mea were
actually in state of incipiont mutiny on this
subject, and that such a spirit should be toler-
ated and allowed to spread is fair indication Of
the demagogism which characte1izes the whole
police system in this city. Let the Commission
ers, the Captains, and the officers say
rhs r.ssa thSy seb: 5 Ssna %asl'u5a n hs
people people OF The eity, throug6 the Mayor, At the The
head OF the Police Department. There were
three Captains and q horde Of hungry sergesnts
who would not have been surprised at being
promoted to the position vacated by Mr. Ken
cradle interloper. The Board recognized him as
such, and set the example in opposing him. The
Captains and the hungry horde OF SeTgeants un-
derstoci their cue, and the threat Of the gam
bler Mike Mcdonald that he would run WASH
by the men, who were sworn to obedience to the
new Chief. Here was pleasant state OF things.
The Bonrd OF Police
DEMoRALIzIS9 TIE DEPAETMEyT
for the purpose OF securing the Superintendency
for Captain. Each Commissioner was in
was determined that his political henchmau
should have the place. The public knows the
regult. The Board threw the blame for the utter
decentralization Of the force upon the superin-
tendent. The carnival Of crime was attributed
to his miHmanagement, and he WAS the scapo-
goat OF their int1igues and incapscity.
The Board has fought Mr. Washburn in this
underhRud way for some months, and found that
he had o7aded every trap sprung by them upon
him. He was too honest and too active to be
the verge Of giving up the fight, for tho
right minded man, and the Board OF Police, BY
their anxiety to expal the Superintendent, had
exhibited themselves in their true light. But
n1r. Washburn, in tho simple discharge Of his
duty, gave them an opportunity to display their
rancor, and they have made the most of it. The
details are familiar to the public, for
TEE "TwELvE-uouR ORDER
has become topic Of general discussion.
Police constitute remarkable compendium Of
useful and useless requirements, with . history
as remarkable IS themselves. They were drawn
up by Jake Rehm, when that gentleman Was
Chief OF Police, and when T. B. Brown, A. D.
Ellsworth, and Frod. Gund were Police Commits
sionere. Their value may be estimated BY the
public in proportion to the estimate made OF
them by
nh. r. B. EEowS,
whose signature is to be found attached to them,
defending client in court, subsequent to his
retirement from Office, the book Of rules waa
presented in evidence, and Mr. Brown refused
t as rs they Mefs
9. a. iii one aad shonld bo considered as es-
tahi;eh;no IL. true character OF the orders.
~ II these rules provides for q system Of
travelling on beat, regulates the hours during
which policemen must travel, and the method Of
relieving them. They were designed not to bear
we're the "gooa old timoe," when tho
Police Department was, Just rs it is now, q
political asylum for ambitious local wire-pullers.
The system has worded fairly well, hat with tho
territory to be covered by thom, it it is iuade
quate to present needs. Mr. Waahburn, hoping
10 secure d greater efficiency Of the force BY
putting more men On bent during the hours OF
; in the evening and in the morning, when
every human being possessed OF intelligence
aboro that OF the unclvilzed clam, knows that
crime is more prevalent than 1t any period in tho
twenty-four hours, dared to chnnge the rules.
BE, therefore, matured plan which hss for
,hree years
GIVEN UNQUALIFIED SUBTRACTION
n st. Louis, and issued N order to the various
Captains and Sergeants to put it into effect Mr.
ITashburn maintains that this order was submit
cd to the Board weeks before it WAS issued, and
aid aside by thom- The Board deny this state
nent, and declare that it will be disproTed on
rial.
Then, indeed, there Was constornation. II the |
3oard had been ignored before, they were utterly
efed nov. They would not give the plan 9 fair
rial, nor even discuss it's merits. Half dozen |
secret sessions Tere held to denpunce in m !
Measured terms the insolence Of tho Chief, but |
lot one to understand hia plans. Commissioner
scno dared to give sort Of silent assent to the |
'hiefs proposition to give it new trial, End the
onsequerce was sound rating from his col
eagues overheard by the reporters. The Mayor,
he Captains, the Chief, the Board. and the Scr
cants, mot in consultation. The Mayor thought !
ho plan ought to have trial The Cap
AIMS seid it WAS all nonsense. The Board
greed with them, and ordered the superlnten-
ent to rescind the order, and carry out the rules
nd regulations OF the Department. as printed. |
his order waa issued On Saturday. The Super
'tendent prepared an order in obedience but
ailed to issue 1t.
THEY FAD H1M THERE"
; Commissioner Sheridan had previously said.
his was too good an opportunity to bo thrown
way. The decisive step must be taken ct once, |
efore he had time to issue the order.
Another opportunity VAS given to the Com
issioner, and A1r. Sheridan pushed Mr..
lokke'a hand into the fire for the coveted
lestnut. At the meeting Of tho Board on Mon-
y afternoon, Mr.. Waahburn presented COM
unication requesting the Board to confirm his
'pointment Of & clerk. It was not formal, and
Was told to draw it up in q proper manner.
ais vas intimated in q manner which, while
iiy polite, stung the unfortunate and perHe-
ted Superintendent and he foolislly lost his
mper, and said, 'sGentlemen,
IN NOT DOG,
d you may just as we'll understand 1t first as
It,"
Terrible insult to the honorable Boardl The |
'mmiBsioner who had, in open session OF the
'ard, called his colleague a "d-d old despot
I