The morning news., 1888-05-31
GREEN GETS THE PLUM.
THE CITY COUNCIL ELECTS HIM
CHIEF OF POLICE


mous-Alderman Duncan Resigns,
But the Council Declines to Accept
His Resignation-AnE Effort to Secure
It's Withdrawal-Dr. Duncan Tells
Why He Went Out.
The City Council last night elected Lieut..
John Green Chief of Police to succeed the
late Gen Robert H. Anderson There was
a good deal of interest in the election, and
the Council chamber was filed with specta-
tors.
The proceedings up to the election had
very little of interest to the crowd th at
was waiting. 1t was after 10 o'clock
when the election came on. There
were four candidates for the office The
clerk read the applications of Gen. Lafayette
McLaws, Col, r. J. Davant, Clement
Saussy and Acting Chief John Green. The
names of the suretles were read with each
application. Lieut.. Green's sureties were
Capt. Henry Blum and Capt. John Feeley
There was a buzz among the spectators
while the applications were being read.
TAKING THE BALLOT.
A ballot was taken, but before it was an
nounced the Mayor stated that it would be
a unanimous vote, the result of a caucus, in
which it was agreed TO make the election of
the candidate receiving a majority of the
votes unanimous. The vote was then called,
and Lieut.. Green was elected.
There was some attempt at ap-
plause by the spectators, which was
quickly suppressed by Marshall Wade,
and the crowd thinned out in a few
minutes so that there were not more than
half dozen spectators left. Lieut.. Green's
friends were evidently in the majority for
after the crowd got into the street it gave
vent to a cheer for the successful candidate
Lieut.. Green has been connected with the
police force since the fall Of 1865, when he
was appointed a sergeant of police. After the
death Of Lieut.. Howard in 1882 he was pro
NOTED to a lieutenantcy, which position he
filed acceptsbly until 1888; when he was
again promoted, being elected Assistant
Chief Of Police. Since the death of Cen.
Anderson he has been discharging the duties
of Chief and Assistant Chief, the demands
of the two offices taking nineteen out Of the
twenty-four hours of each day for the past
three months.
THE NEW CHIEF.
Lieut.. Green served with signal bravery
during the war. He went out as a private
in the ranks of the Irish Jasper Greens, and
was afterward elected Lieutenant of the
company. His rigid devotion to duty dur
ing his military career had much to do with
his appointment to official position on the
police force at the close of the war, and his
record on the force has been one OF contin-
nous and faithful service ever since. His
friends have held all along that great in
Justice would have been done him last night
If this last promotion had not been ac-
corded him.
The office of Assistant Chief will be filed
for the present by Chief Green, while the
Council is considering the advsability of
abolishing the Office There is a movement
in this direction, and it is not improbable
that the office will be done away with and
the duties placed upon the Chief. TAe Office
of Chief pays 50, 600 from the city and 5000
from the Ocean Steamship Company.
ALDERMAN DUNCAN RESIGNS
When the Clerk read Alderman Duncan's
resignation there was a good deal of sur.
prise. The Alderman was not present, and
there was no reason assigned In his resigna-
tion for his withdrawal from the board. It
was simply notification of his retirement
from il.
Alderman Haines moved that the resigna.
ton be received, and he offered the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved. That this Council hears with regret
of the proposed resignation of Alderman Dun
can a man whose ability and whose fidelity in
the dlSCharge or duty command the respect and
confidence of this body.
Resolued. That a committee Of five members
of this body be appointed to walt upon Alder
man Duncan and request the withdrawal of his
resignation.
The resolutions were unanimously
adopted, and tue Mayor appointed the COM
mittee as follows: Aldermen Haines.
Thomas, McDonough, Myers and Reid
Upon motion of Alderman Haines, the
Mayor was made er-o6ioio chairman Of the
committee.
DIR. DUNCAN TALKS.
While DIR. Duncans resignation was no
surprise to his immediate and confidential
friends it will be to the general public. A
MORNING NEWS reporter called on DIR.
Duncan last night, and to an inquiry as 10
what had led to the resignation, Dr. Duncan
replied that il was wholly the result of his
inability to discharge the duties of an AL
derman and do Justice to his professional
duties. He has been contemplating this
step for the past two months. He was
member of the Sanitary Board, which holds
its sessions at 70 30 O'Clock, and it was i'm
possible for hIm to attend its meetings
without an absolute neglect of his pro
fessional duties. and he could not afford to
neglect the latter There was then no
alternative to his mind but to resign tine
Office of Alderman, which he has done
''Then the Chief of Police race had
nothing to do with your resignation" he
was asked.
Nothing at all / suppose they have
elected Lieut.. Green from the canvass of
the situation by the MORNING News. Well,
Lieut. Greon is good man. A very good
man. Oh, no, the Chief of Police matter
had nothing to do with my resignation"
RESIGNED TO ATTEND TO HIS PRACTICE.
"Ror any conflict in the boardY"
mo, sir. There have been no Disagree
ments or discourtesles 10 lead me to resign
am glad you have asked me those ques-
tions. | want yoI to say that neither the
Chief Of Police election, nor any Disagree
msnts whatever, have led ms to take the
course did, but that | could have the
time TO pay that attention TO
my professional duties which they
require. have had my opinion as to some
matters, IL Is true, which were not shared
by the Council, but believe in the majority
rule, and am in no bad huuor because
others could not see as | did. For instance.
differed with Council on the time cues
ton, and have all along thought, and still
think, that Council should have consulted
the wishes and Judgment of the community
more generally. I thought an older and
more experienced man should lave been
elected health officer, such a man as DR..
Elliott, for instance, but because | enter
tsined these views, and the majority did
not, had nothing to do with my resigna-
tion.n
1t was II o'clock when the reporter found
the doctor Attending TO a largely accumi-