The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-30
THE POLICE BOARD MUST GO.
Dir. C0ttrell States that the Commission
ers and Lang Will be Removed,
And Gives His Reasons for the Statement
Auditor Rice Denies the Report, but
INDUCES in Criticisms.

Ever since the Board of Police Commissioners
adopted its new policy of compelling the saloon
keepers to pay reasonable degree of respect to
the laws enacted for their government it has
been a fact well understood that the power by
which they were appointed, viz, the State Of
icers was greatly dissatisfied with the firm stand
taken, and it has been not infrequently rumored
that the ACCESSIBILITY of the removal of the entire
board had been quietly discussed, and was not
an improbable event The rumor was revived
yesterday, and on the authority of no less i'm
portant an individual than Commissioner Col
trell, was repeated in the hearing of a
number of gentlemen. The recent disagree
ment between Commissioners Murphy
and Cottrell, the act of Mayor
McBaster in adding terms of imprisonment in
Jail to the customary fine for violations Of the
liquor law, and the persistent opportunities of
the liquor dealers to the State authorities to
fulfill their oftrepeated pledges of lenient treat
ment, seem to have been the causes which
combined to induce the officers of the board to
again discuss the matter and to determine upon
radical measures 1t has been also given out
that the State officers as greatly opposed to
the policy of Superintendent Lang, in obeying
the instructions of the commissioners, as they
have been to the orders of the board itself, and
the recent determined stand of Mr. Cottrell,
their undoubted representative on the board, in
endeavoring to compass the removal of that
officer, fairly indicates their preferences. Mr..
CottrelPs failure in his efforts to
force the removal of the superintendent
was evidently a disappointment, but
the disaffection then created in the board
having been lost sight of, the revival of the
proposition to remove the entire board at this
time will be in the nature of surprise to the
public Learning that Mr.. Cottrell had made
the statement during the evening that the State
officers had determined to remove the board,
representative of the Journal called at his resi-
dence at IL o'clock last night That gentleman
had retired but after ascertaining the reason
for the reporters call, came to the door and adj
mitted him.
COMMISSIONER CoTTRELL's STATEMENT.
The reporter stated the object of his visit, and
asked what truth there was in the report
swell" said Mr. Cottrell, ''the report is true.
1t is my opinion that the present board
has virtually ceased to exist and will
never meet again. Inc matter mas
been canvassed by the State officers,
and the step has been agreed upon. Mr.. Muir
ply, Mr.. Morrison. and myself will all be replaced
by other new men, and Superintendent Lang
will doubtless be superseded along with the rest
of us. The State officers will make the removals
at the suggestion made to them few weeks
since, and will probably state as
their reasons for the move the
lack of harmony known to exist in
the board. Mr. Murphy and myself are at vari-
ance in our views, you understand. Mr.. Muir
ply and could never be congenial officers to
each other while together on the board It was
my great desire, as the public knows to have
Superintendent Lang removed, ana since that
could not be effected, frankly told the officers
of the State that either Lang or the whole board
of commissioners must be removed before good
work could be accomplished by the commissioners
The attitude Of the board to the liquor laws
will have nothing to do with the removals. The
State officers are going to do the best thing they
possibly could under the circumstances. They
desire simply to have q harmonious board of com
missioners, and plainly that the only way that
it can be done is to depose us ALL The move
meets with my approval, and will result we'll for
the CITY,"
WHAT AUDITOR RICE SAYS.
"a e..