The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-25
DOUBTFUL AND DESPERATE.
The Commissioners Still Trying to Find
a Way Out of the Lang Case.
In Doubt Whether to Remove Him or Resign
Themselves Decision of Some Kind
Promised This Afternoon.

in the vexatious and tiresome current OF talk
relative to Superintendent Lana's affair. was the
comment on the proceeding of the Commissioners
in partially reopening the testimony. The super
intendent's friends ran the gamut from every
expression little short of contempt to wild and
frantic execrations. Mayor Denny has within
the last few days shown a personal interest IN
the affair, presumably because some one has
said that he had great deal to do with
securing the appointment of Mr.. Schurmann to
the police board He regards this position OF
being the Republican commissioners friend and
apparent sponsor as subjecting him somewhat to
criticism Therefore, he uttered some strong
views relative to the Commissioners procuring
additional testimony. He said it was a grave
blunder, and calculated to shake the confidence
of the community in their personal integrity"
The Mayor afterwards remarked: IF the Com
missioners had removed him on the evidence
originally presented, nine-tenths of the people
would have thought it wrong verdict, but they
would have been forced to say that the proceed
ings had been regular, and that the judgment OF
the Commissioners had been an error of the
head and not of the heart. But If Mr.. Lang
is removed now, after this unheard-of and
farcial proceeding Of yesterday, the people OF
this community would have right to condemn
it, as an outrage on Mr.. Lang and the public.
cannot believe that the Commissioners will be
guilty of such wrong. 1t would not only dis
grace themselves, but would cast a blot upon the
fair name Of our city"
This is very like what was said By every one
of the gentlemen who support the servant OF the
board against the board itself. But Commits
sioner Murphy, as an Offset to this broad
side Of criticism, quietly remarked last
evening: "If these critics think We
proceeded without sound legal advice
they are greatly mistaken. We Internationally
omitted to ask Mr.. Lang during the investigation
iE regard to the conversation he had with MIR.
Schurmann, in the presence of myself. Mr..
Downing and the secretary of the board, Mr..
Snyder. If they think, also, that we sought to
have this testimony in the case in order to give
us q stronger support in finding cause to remove
Mr.. Lang, they are in error. We thought this
incident essential in completing the record. but,
before we decided to reopen the case, MeSsrs.
Byfeld and Smith, our attorneys, advised us that
it could be properly and legally done We acted
upon their advice"
Speculation as to what would be the outcome
of the long and wearisome deliberation is in no
way extravagant except possibly as far az the
concerned Yesterday, from some cause or
other, that idea developed into rumor and was
finally asserted as fact. 1t appeared to have
authority stamped on its face. and probably at
tanned currency from conversation something
like Journal reporter had with Mayor Denny
yesterday afternoon. AS a matter of course no
two or three men can come together without
asking each other will the Commissioners re-
move Langp A jocose reference by the reporter
fso% the the a ss ws ds' a sra ons
of its members to-day Schurmann
came down town at 8 O'Clock this
morning with the intention Of voting to
remove Lang. had talk with him, and must
confess that I put the matter to him very EN-,
phatically. He left assuring me that he would
vote to retain the Superintendent"
'But the other two can remove himT
''That is not the purpose. They want the re-
moval to be unanimous
sAfter all that has passed, then, and the as
act in accord, presume Messrs. Murphy and
Downing will resignp
"All three will resign"
'And the State officers will appoint men who
will be less scrupulous is doing Lang justicep
mo doubut of it. In that event / believe
board would be appointed who would not hest
tate to remove him."
This seemed to be the situation at 2 o'clock in
the afternoon, for Mr.. Elan, Mr.. Langs attor-
ney, half hour before said that he understood
decided to retain the Superintendent and step
down and out themselves. But in face of these
rumors, suggestions and beliefs the Commission
ers came together at o'clock, and, after re-
guessing the attendance Of Messrs. Byfeld and
Smith, sat in conference until o'clock. At that
hour they came out with no bountiful supply of
information. AS the public yearns for
facts rather than speculations and ru-
mors a reporter of the Journal delicately
suggested to Mr.. Murphy that he would
b no mic bod
decided to resign.
mo. sir" he emphaticaly replied. "That
has not been talked about. believe, in your
interview with Mr.. Downing some days ago,
you said that the Commissioners and Superin-
tendent not being in accord, the retention of Mr..
Lang would lead to the resignation of the Com
missioners; but outside Of that representation of
the matter the question of resigning has not
been referred to. We will be ready to give our
decision to the public after our meeting to-mor-
row afternoon"
While the reporter and Mr. Murphy were talk
ing, a gentleman who has broad views of affairs
came along and said to the latter, Il have views,
and would like to give them to you"
What are theyp inquired Mr. Murphy.
IF / was in your position / would dismiss
Lang without further hesitaney. The Commits
sioners are the executives of the police force, not
Lang, and when subordinate sets himself
against the acts of the board that appointed him
it is time for him to go. Lang may be a smarter
man tQau ILL tHFoo u LILO LOg6tu-
er, but when he questions his superior authority
you ought to dismiss him. You ought to have
done it long ago. and the longer you hesitate the
more ridiculous your position appears. may
have subordinates smarter than am, but when
one of them sets himself against my wishes as
to how work should be DONE then he and will
quit, and that very quickly, too"
! II am glad to hear you say that" warmly re-
piled Mr. Murphy.
The Commissioners feel somewhat aggrieved
that what was said to them on their visit to the
State officers has been misrepresented At the
suggestion of Mr.. Murphy, a reporter asked Gov
ernor Gray what was said by him On that occas
ion. That gentleman replied: what 1 said
was about this: You gentlemen are the Police
Commissioners of Indianapolis, and / do not
know that we have anything to do in managing
the force for you. You were simply APP
pointed by US, and after that our duty
ceased You are responsible for the feud-not
us. If you have sufficient cause to remove Mr.
Lang remove him. IF you think Won can't re-