National Republican., 1883-02-02
THE WONT "MOTE on
The Commissioners are in No Hurry to Name
the Extra Policemen
The Old Difficulty in the Board Has
Something to Do with the Delay
The President is Not Anxious to Act Until the New
Commissioner is Named,
And Then There Has Been No Appropri-
alton Made Yet.

The nice little family row among the district
commissioners 3howsno signs sofabatcment,and
it can only he settled by tho appointment OF
successor 10 Mai. Morgan, who only retains
his place nj this time for the reason that his
successor has not yet been selected. Up to
the time Of Maj Morgan's elevation to the
position of commissioner the police force had
been under the personal control OF the
president of the board, but rs he was sup
posed 10 know all about police matters
the control Of the force was put into his
hands by order of the board. When Gen.
West went upon the board, he was made
president and insisted on having the old order
of things restored. He proposed the rcsclnd
ing of the order referred TO, but Majs.
Lydeckcr aud Morgan outvotcd him, and the
latter retained his position of command
When he attempted to take the management
from Mai. Morgan, Cen West had reason for
believing the police department was saturGtcd
with corruption-lairly rCcking, i'll fact,
with moral filth and official nastincss, but
Mai IydCcScr was not prepared TO believe
the rcports which were brought TO his cars nj
that time, and, for fear of wounding his col
leagues tender scnsbilities, he voted TO con-
tinuc him in charge of the police. Maj. Ly-
decker IL might be we'll to explain parenthcti-
cally, for the information of those who may
bo in Ignorance of tho facts, is
the engineer member of the board
and he is so cngrossed in the
management of his own department that he
has little time, oven If he had the inclina-
tion, and he has not, to mix in where he
might not be wanted. He Is an easy going
sort of n man. always glad TO avoid trouble,
aud never known to seek quarrel. Gen.
West, on tn, other hand, is positive man,
one who makes up his mind how he would
like to have affairs move, and forthwith
SETS ABOUT THE WORK OF MOVING THEM.
He found on assuming the presidency of the
board that he was tho ornamental member.
That did not suit him, and he seized the
helm and tried to do little steering The
rest of the crew mutinicd. The boat had
been drifting along quietly and lazily with
the current and the party on board could not
realize tho need of u change in its course.
The mutneers were successful ut first, but
the lumbling of near thunder very soon
gave the nervous president an excuse
for stirring up another commotion. The
citizens committee brought the police rotten
ness to the attention of the board, and held 1t
under the commissioners noses until they
were compelled to stir themselves. Gen.
West was entrusted with the duty of investi-
eating the police, and that he did the bust
ness with thorOughness the public isprepared
to testify.
Mai. Morgan has been grumpy since the
management OF police ullalIS WIS lulNel lTOlll
him. He interposed no obstacle in the way
of the investigation, but throughout the de-
tcctivcs appeared to regard him as friend
who would be glad to help them if he could
Ever since the major suddenly abandoned his
attempts to suppress gambling in the district
plan he entered upon
WITH NEw-BRooM EARNEsTNEss
and fcrvor and pursued actively for II period
only to lose interest III it when success was
L.. ..Ns. .,.g
robbers, and other robbers have felt kindly
regard for him, and SO far rs appearances &c
he never did anything TO aienate their alice
tion for him. Whether the cheralierS dc indus
tyie won him with kindness or II club has not
transpired, and the majors friends claim We
hemently to this day that they did not win
him at all but however that may be it Ii
certain that since the ventilation of police
iniauities he has been virtually shOrn of his
power. 1t was voluntary surrender, too
for he interposed no objection when it wa:
proposed to give the president the conduct o.
the inquiry and of the police. Ho has beer
restive, nevertheless, and it is asserted tina
he is anxious to assist in the reorganization
of the force before his retirement. The bill
abolishing the detectives and increasing
the police force fifty men has beer
a law for two days, but neither Gen. Wcs
nor Mai. LydcCker have shown any specia
anxiety to dispense the patronage. 1t is ~
open secret that Gen. West is opposed to tax
ing any steps in this matter until Maj. Nor
gan's successor takes his seat, holding tha
the incoming rather than the outgoing com
missioner should have voice in shaping tn
next administration. He has nothing agains
Mai Morgan, and personally the two commits
soners are on good terms; but he does no
believe, on general principles in giving re
tiring officer II very large finger in the pi
which belongs TO other people.
THE WHOLE QUESTION
is in statu quo, and will probably remain il
that condition for the present. Indeed, ther
is no special occasion for fcverish haste il
this business, inasmuch as there has been II
appropriation made yet for the payment q
the additional policemen, and when congress
does add the necessary item to the pcndin
bill no money can be drawn from the trcasur
until next July. Between date, therefore
and the first of June thercis plenty of time I
act. The 300 applicants for police honors ca
contain themselves in patience.
There We're no details of patrolmen
TO ACT AS DETECTIVES
yesterday, as was generally expected wou
be the case, and it is not known when actio
in reference to this matter will take place
In the meantime the old detectives are on
in the cold, and there has been no ViOlon
shock in the moving of the ma
chinery of the district government %
that account, Two Ol tnCm may nave IN
opportunity Of again becoming connecte
with the police force, and if the grand jur
works diligently and successfully, one o
more may he compelled to rondcr the stat
some service for term greater or less, &C
cording to the mercy of the judge
Mr.. j. w. Thompson, the chairman of tn
citizens committee has been carefully ar
ranging the informatiOnr which he hlS re
Gently received, and will to-day appea
before the grand jury. Several missn
links in the testimony in reference TO tn
"fences," the proprctors of which held ro
of iron over both thieves and detectives, hay
been secured within the past two days an
will be presented to tho district attorney.
Speaking of these fences II gentleman sal
to a REPUBLICAN reporter that on going int
the saloon ofone Ofthem he happened to OseG th
safe opened, and that in it there wasa "bushel
of watches. As to another " fence" of whic
it is alleged the plans for many robberics hay
been all arranged and whore the divisions {
many haul is said TO have taken place. il
believed that piece Of evidedce has been Ol
tanned which will fastcn his criminality b,
yond question.
FEtlled by Falling Earth.