Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-04
THE COUNCIL.
A Day Spent on the Police
Matter.
WEAK TESTIMONY SUBMITTED,
The Special Committee Did Not In
vestigate the Police Commits
siOners as Ordered.

reys, Councilmen Moriarty. Barrett,
Cohn, Hitler, Chandler, Collins, Bosby-
shell, Mathews and Hanley. Messrs.
Book, Sinsabaugh, Lowell and Teed
made their appearance at half past ten
O'Clock.
Mr.. Cohn called for the reading OF the
proposition of the Gable Railroad Com
pany in regard to the bridges. He stated
that he wished to explain why he voted
against the acceptance of the proposition.
He had done SO because the exclusive
use of the tracks was asked.
The street sweeping contract then
came up. Mr.. Cohn said that the
machine used now was not heavy
enough. He moved, however, that the
contract be made and that the Street
Superintendent be instructed that the
machine was not heavy enough.
General Baldwin said that the Council
should 60 slow in the matter. The con-
tractor needed heavy machine to go
in front Of this machine. The contract
and bond were then approved.
Mr.. Hanley called up the petition to
change the grade of Walnut and Hoff
streets. Referred to the City Surveyor.
An invitation to witness test of two
new fire engines to-day was accepted.
The Gas Committee recommended that
electric light masts be placed at several
points about the city.
Mr.. Cohn objected to the ordering of
new lights. on the ground that the city
did not know that it was even now get
ing what it paid for. A machine had
been ordered to test the lights, but when
it was found that it was for Los Angeles
the people of whom the machine was
ordered refused to send it.
The report of the committee was laid
over for a week.
THE POLICE MATTER.
Mr.. Chandler moved that the report
of the Special Committee of Investiga-
ton be read.
Assistant City Attorney Dunn then
read the report which was made at the
previous meeting of the Council and pub
lished in the HERALD.
Captain Barrett asked that the record
of the appointment Of the committee be
read from the minutes. He desired that
the object of the appointment be made
known.
Clerk Teed then read the minutes,
which stated that the committee was to
investigate the whole Police Commission.
The motion to appoint the committee
was amended to this effect.
Captain Barrett moved that the whole
matter be referred back to the committee
to report upon. In his opinion the Com
mittee had not done what it was appoint
ed to do.
Mr.. Lowell said the Council did not
need the charges investigated. 1t could
dismiss the Chief without the report of
the Committee if it so desired.
Mr.. Cohn said that Mr.. Lowell did not
60 at the matter the right and fair way.
To dismiss a man summarily on charges
which were Improperly presented was
wrong. The Committee should have
brought in the evidence taken before it.
The law provided that the punishment
should be by the Council, and he did
not see why the Committee had not pre-
sented its evidence. He moved that the
report be received and acted upon seri-
atm, and then such portions as were
not right could be stricken out.
Captain Barrett insisted that the Com
mittee should bring in report on the
whole Police Commission. and not on
the malice of one person report against
one member Of the Commission.
Mr.. Book said his amendment at the
appointment of the Committee was to in
vestigate only the Office of Chief OF
Police, and he had acted only on his own
motion.
He was informed that his amendment
had not carried.
lection about a motion made on the
~ ho hnp fIa tor
was appointed that such motion had
been carried.
Mr.. Chandler said the Committee was
not to condemn or try the Chief but to
report to the Council the evidence only.
The Committee was not to try the man,
but to get the evidence. He moved that
all that part Of the report be stricken out.
Mr.. Sinsabaugh rose to a point of
order. In his opinion the Committee
was appointed to examine the affairs of
the Chief of Police. This took time and
the Committee had given it. During
three years he had served the city he
had received only one lead pencil for his
services and he felt that he could not re.
port other than as he had in the re-
port. Everything was done in the inter-
est of the city and good government. 1t
showed him that the Council could de.
eide the matter without an attorney for
Chief Cuddy. He was willing to stand
on the evidence but he objected to hav-
ing attorneys in the case. He hoped that
the time of the Council would not be
taken up in listening to attorneys.
Mr.. Cohn said that with due respect
to Mr.. Sinsabaugh, who, claiming that
he was manly man, he thought that no
man ought to sit in judgment on case
in which he was the accuser. He would
have no right to sit in judgment on the
case if he had made the motion to in
vestigate the matter. No Judge would
hear q case in which he was interested.
The report had been signed by Messrs.
Book, Sinsabaugh and Teed, and Mr..
Book had made the motion to investigate
the case.
Mr.. Lowell did not think anything,
Mr. White, who appeared for Mr..
Cuddy, could say would change one vote
in the Council.
Capt. Barrett said he would like to
know why the members of the Commit
tee said on the street that they were en-
emies of Chief Cuddy and would do any
thing to get him out.
Mr.. Chandler said he would stay
week to give Mr.. Cuddy fair trial. He
was there to try him, not to vote on the
report of the Committee. He must have
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