The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-10
A CHANGE WILL BE MADE.
Probability that Superintendent Lang
Will Be Deposed To-Day.
Commissioner Murphy Yields to the Demands
OF the Gang, and Consents to Lang's
Removal to Save Himself,

Pending the recent municipal campaign there
was lull in scheming and maneuvering to
effect change in the police DO ard. and through
that the deposing of superintendent, to satisfy
the demand of the very liberal Democrats It
| was not that Sim Coy had forgotten this
as one of his cares of state, or
| that he rested his reform efforts
solely In the possibility of Cottrelrs election.
Sim is one who never forgets. Many of the
Democratic persuasion. as we'll as many Re-
pu3licans, frequently decry Sims influence, and
call him bugbear made by newspapers. He is
one of extraordinary energy and persever-
ance. He may lack fertility of re-
source, but when he once adopts a
plan it is not his fault if it fails of accomplish
ment. The last election was hardly over before
he took up again his plan to reform the police
At first it contemplated the removal of Mr.
Murphy, and the restoration of Mr.. Cottrell to
place on the board, but subsequent occurrences
made change in the plot necessary. This
change looked to the retention of Mr. Murphy.
On condition that he would vote for superintend
ent Lang's removal
About the Fourth of July when the Police Com
missioners made their signal failure in endeavor-
ing to enforce the closing of saloons on that DAY,
there appeared, for the first time, an authorita-
tively-su7ported idea that Mr. Murphy did not
look upon Superintendent Lang as the best man
for that position To friend, it is said,
he explained his position somewhat explicitly in
saying he was ready to vote for Lang's removal
II any one acceptable to him was suggested for
the place. 1t is understood, further. that he ex-
planned that in the election of Lang he was not
an enthusiast He thought nothing better could
ia known
then what he did few weeks
later he would not have voted for him. In
word, Mr.. Murphy has been biding his time,
while Commissioner Morrison, the Republican
mem Der, alone remained the stanch supporter of
Lang Mr. Downing came into the board, and
it seems that outside of the wire working
of the Coy faction, he soon shaped
purpose to have change in the superlntend-
to the State officers, and as often occurs,
the two different plottngs very early came to-
gether and centered on the retention of Murphy,
with the proviso mentioned above
To-day it is understood the fullness of all this
labor will be accomplished at a special meeting
of the Police Commissioners Lang to be
moved by the votes of Messrs Murphy and
Downing, and to he succeeded, through the same
means, by Eugene A. Cooper. particur friend
of Mr.. Downing. In the course of the past two
days this understanding was reached
by conference between Mr.. Muir
ply State Treasurer Cooper and Secre-
tary of State Myers. 1t appears that he
reasserted to those officials his dissatisfaction
with Lang and his willingness to vote for any
one that had not been heretofore suggested. He
was told that Eugene A. Cooper had been sug
eested by Mr.. Downing. Mr.. Murphy said he
did not know him, but he inclined to
favorable consideration of the proposition.
Thus the matter stands, and, in all
likelihood, before another day goes by Eugene
A. Cooper will be superintendent of police at
salary Of $40 less per month than he is receiving
now. as superintendent of the works. He
at time yardmaster of the j., nj. 81 I.
road Sim Coy called on the probable superin-
tendent last night and it is learned that he will
accept
While all this is going on, the force is uneasy
as to future changes among them. The most
dissatisfaction, however, is expressed over the
fact that an outsider is to be chosen, when the
choice should be made Dy right of promotion.
SAD one OF the policemen, last
outsider taken, as it checks completely the
line of promotion. Every good officer on the
force has been doing his best to make a record
that would be taken into account when rewards
were to be given. l do not mean money re-
wards, for that, under the law, we can't have.
All we can do is to work faith
fully in the hope of better paw and
position. Had any of the captains been
taken ALI would have been we'll, for sergeant
and a patrolman could each have taken a step
upward
If the commissioners are determined to re-
move Lang they can find a Democratic captain
at hand who is always ready-a man of good
Judgment, address and intelligence. 1t is Cap
| tain Colbert. But, after ALL Sim Coy has won
another victory over his party.