The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-16
THE LAWS TO BE ENFORCED.
Such Is the Promise Given to the Pub
lie by The City's Police officials.
Sergeant Travis Promoted to the Position of
Acting Superintendent of the Force-He
Will Try to Suppress Saloon Lawlessness.

Sergeant Alvin Travis was yesterday appoint
ed acting superintendent of police to eli the
vacancy occasionsd by the resignation of O'Don-
NELL The board met at 3 o'clock, with only two
of the Commissioners, Messrs. Murphy and
Schurmann, present Mr. Downing, the other
member, is in st. Louis, and did not deem the
election Of enough Importance to bring him
home. The first action of the Commissioners
was to appoint Charles Slaughter special
policeman. The resignation of Mr.. ODonnell,
which had been handed to Mr.. Murphy on Satur-
day, was then read and accepted. Mr.. Murphy
proposed the following resolution, which was
concurred in by Mr.. Schurman:
Resolved, That in accepting the resignation of
Captain ODonnell we regret the act that his
connection with u.s. having found him geutlemanly,
courteous and possessed of the strictest integrity,
and furthermore believe that he has ntiousy
done his duty to the best of his ability.
The election Of new superintendent was then
considered, and, under the circumstances, both
men deemed it advisable to fill the place tempo
rarily, with the understanding that If the ap-
pointee proved efficient he should have their sup
port in becoming the permanent chief. Mr..
Murphy made known his willingness to vote for
any acceptable Republican Mr. Schurmann would
name Mr.. Schurmann proposed Sergeant Travis.
and the two men cast their votes for him. The
appointment does not take from Mr.. Travis his
commission as sergeant. He is elected for no
specified time, but Ito serve during the pleasure
of the board"
Mr.. Murphy stated, when the board had COM
truth whatever in the assertion that he had been
a.
ocratic politicians He had exercised his own
free will. "Of course said he, I'VE know it is
only short time until the board will be Repub-
lican, and it was foolish for me to ask Demo
crat on the forcc to take the place. In fact
none Of them would have it. AS the Republic
ans will have the control Of the force shortly l
thought 1t no more than right to give the place
to Republican, and thinking thus, told Mr..
man he would name Colonel Ruckle could
have had the position if he would have accepted,
but he would not take IL. and when Mr.. Schur-
mann named Mr.. Travis / voted for him." /
In regard to enforcing the law Mr. Murphy
said: 1.-The board will stand where it has stood
all the time on that question. We want every
law rigidly enforced, and these will be our in
structions to the new superintendent There
has been much criticism of Mr. ODonnell, but
no man on earth could enforce the law with the
ing do not believe in crticising either the
men or the officers The men are between two
fres-are pinched from both Sides and it is folly
to ask or expect them to make arrests when they
know their action will not be sustained In court
The patrolmen are mostly poor men, VINO are de-
pendent upon the good will of the people for their
support and they will not, and cannot afford
to arrest the better class of the volators of the
law, and then 90 before the court and be slapped
in the face. have heard to-day that there is to
no o. rofo fha ~ al <ho% Wiz
latcrs of the law are going to be dealt with as
they should be. hope this is true, and want
to see the hightoned violators of the law receive
attention first want to see the Criminal Court
make few wOrk-house examples of some of these
brazen violators of high position, and then there
will be no more trouble"
Sergeant Travis did not know anything of his
appointment until he arrived at the police sta
ton at roll-call last evening. He at once as
sumed charge of the force. When the call of
l have to-day been appointed acting superin-
tendent l have as yet had talk with yshe
board, and have no orders to issue tonight.
When l have had consultation with them /
pointed patrolman w. Fl. II. Wheatley as acting
sergeant in place of himself. Mr.. O'Donnell was
present. and in response to calls from the force
expressed his thanks to the members of the
received from them, and concluded by saying
that he had done his duty the very best ne knew
how, and had only the kindiiest of feelings for
all the men.
To Journal reporter Mr.. Travis said: ''The
appointment took me entirely by surprise, and l
have had no time to consider what my course
shall be. I think have an excellent force of
men, and feel that have the confidence of
them all. do not know what the orders of the
board are going to be In regard to enforcing the
law. For myself, am in favor of enforcing it
to the letter. II snch are their orders, I shall
carry them out withou. ear or favor. Whether
have the support of the Criminal Court or not,
shall bring every man who violates the law
here and lock him up That is my duty. and I
propose to do il. I shall make no discrimina-
tions, and shall see to it that, so far as am
able, every man who violates law shall be
brought here, if he is turned out the next day.
Among the patrolmen the appointment gave
satisfaction and there was a general feeling
among them that no better, selection could have
been made