The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-24
THE POLICE COMMISSION.
All the Gentlemen Selected Accept
the Preferred Trust.
They Announce Their Determination to Ig-
more Politics and Create a Good Force
How the Men VIII Be Appointed.


After an hours consultation in the office OF
Mr.. Malott at the Indiana National Bank, yester-
day morning, a letter, notable for Its business.
like %brevity, was addressed to the Secretary OF
State, stating that ave are in receipt of your
communication dated March 81, 1888, notifying
us OF our appointment as police commissioners
of this city. We accept" It was signed by John
W.. Murphy, v. Il. Malott and John P. Frenzel.
The letter says none too much, and yet says
enough. During the afternoon the State Off
GERS met at the Governors office, and the letter
of acceptance was received. The names of the
three gentlemen were written on slips Of paper
and drawn by Governor Porter for the terms
Of three, two and one years, respectively. Mr..
Malott's name happened to be the first drawn,
which gave him the term of three years. Mr..
Frenzel came second, for the two years, and Mr..
Murphy last, for the short term, one year.
After the letters of acceptance had been sent
to the Secretary of State the commissioners held
a short consultation and decided not to meet for
the formal organization of the board until next
Monday, when the president will be elected and
a clerk chosen. In the meantime, Mr.. Frenzel
has written to Cincinnati. Toledo, Washington,
Baltimore, New York, st. Louis, Philadelphia,
Boston and Chicago. asking for copies of the po-
lice rules and regulations of each of the
cities, with a view to adopting the best features
for the government of the force here,
The meeting Monday will be devoted chiefly to
the consideration of the metropolitan law, and
the Encouragement will be called into con-
s%ultatIon to give Interpretation to all question
able points which may arise. No other appoint
ments will be made than those required for the
formal organization of the Board.
MANNER or MAKTNG ApporNrNrNTc
The commissioners were interviewed, yester-
day afternoon, by a Journal reporter, and each
emphatically stated that the appointments would
not be influenced by any political considerations
Personal applications to commissioners will be
given no attention in the board meetings. All
candidates for position, from patrolmen to super
intendent, to obtain any consideration what
ever, will be required to make a written applica-
ton, accompanied by testimonials. which must
be sealed and addressed to the Board of Police
commissioners These applications, however,
will not be received until after the organization
OF the board next Monday. The first appoint
ment which the board will make, ontside of it's
own members, will, of course, be the clerk, and
there is some speculation as to who will be
chosen. Among those who have been proposed
as candidates for the position are Colonel John
W.. Dodd, Joseph Brown, James T. Bowling,
Hilary S. Clay aud Frank Hamilton,
The members of the board give assurances
that the police force will be chosen
only from among the best men, and
SOLELY uDOn COuulJ1OnS OF QuallucatlOn. In the
course of an interview with MI, Malott, yester-
day afternoon, he stated to q Journal reporter:
Il feel by any political obliga-
tons, and in tine selection of the members of the
force shall act upon the same rules which
would govern me in business matters. The en-
deavor shall be to make the force the best posi-
bic, but fear that the people will expect too
much IN the beginning. The system cannot be
brought up to the desired standard Immediately,
but IL Will require time, and more time, TOO,
than the people will be satisfied to give, fear.
There will probably have to be some wedding of
the force. and it is only by a test of the men that
the best officres can be found"
Mr.. Frenzel and Mr.. Murphy expressed them
selves quite as emphatically as Mr.. Malott. Mr..
Frenzel desires candidates to Understand that
he Will give no attention to personal applica-
tions for positions, but that due consideration
Will De given all applications made in the way
prescribed.
HOW H COMMISSIONERS ARE REGARDED.
The acceptance of the commissioners was
commented upon yesterday with general favor
among citizens and business men, but a great
deal of dissatisfaction is being expressed by the
Democratic politicians who worked most as
siduously to secure the passage of the bill. The
State officers have taken the law
at its literal meaning and complied
with 1t entirely too strictly to please
the men with whom the measure originated.
The political "bummer' element of the Demo-
cratic party Is disRusted and disappointed, and
are about confirmed in the conclusion that "poli-
tics is not a sure business" The acceptance Of
the commissioners, however, has given the pub
lie confidence in the new system, and it gives
promise of a popularity which the origin Of the
measure did not insure. There is now not likely
to be any determined opposition to the force.
The city attorney, who was instructed to take
any action necessary to prevent the new force
assuming Epoltce control of the city,
states that he will do nothing, as he
cannot see that there is anything to be
gained. He has. therefore, instructed the chief
OF police to surrender possession Of the police
property when the commissioners make the
formal demand upon him.
A POSSIBLE f
Other vexatious questions, however, are likely
to arise which will give no little trouble. The
metropolitan police bill provides that as soon as
the board of commissioners is organized the old
board and the force shall no longer have a legal
existence, and this provision is likely to cause
considerable embarrassment. When the COM
missioners organize it will be fully a month be-
fore the new force can be put in shape, and dur
ing that time there is absolutely no provision
for police protection, The old officers will have
no legal right to make an arrest, and even if
they should continue to discharge their duties,
there is no provision for paying them.
The Royalton Murder and the Sleuths.
A correspondent of the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette writes:
Mystery still hangs over the now celebrated
Foreman double murder, with the detectives
apparently no nearer the perpetrators than on
the day the murder was discovered, and the
chief of police said to the Commercial Gazette
correspondent to-day that he had concluded that