Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-13
Afternoon Session.

Humphreys being absent.
A draft of an ordinance creating
Detective force to consist of a Chief
and two or more assistants, framed by
the City Attorney, was read. The
ordinance drawn by the City Attorney
did not provide that the force should
be under the supervision of the Police
Commissioners hence second was
introduced making such provision.
Mr.. Hitler moved that the ordinance
drawn by the City Attorney be
adopted.
Mr.. Cohn moved that the second be
adopted which was seconded by Mr..
Lowell.
President Humphreys stated that
the adoption of the first would defeat
entirely the purpose of the
recommendation of the Police Com
missioners. They were of the opinion
that necessity existed for such force,
and that the proper way to control it
was to place it under the supervision
of the commissioners.
City Attorney Daily wished to make
an explanation, stating that the
ordinance was drawn in accordance
with the charter, making the app lint
ment Of such officers the duty OF the
Council, as in the charter provided.
The Council could place the officers
under the Police Commissioners if
they saw fit.
Mr.. Cohn wished to inform tine
Council that. while having the
greatest respect for the City Attor-
ney's opinions, yet after reading the
ordinance drafted he had discovered
that it did not cover the desired
grounds, and had himself framed the
second one.
Mr.. Cohn's ordinance was lost, the
vote standing eight in favor to five
against.
Mr.. Lowell moved to amend the
ordinance drawn by Attorney Daily,
by giving the Police Commissioners
power to appoint.
Mr.. Cohn objected to the suspen-
sion of the rules, stating that he
would insist that the ordinance be
first printed, that the people might
known what the Council was doing.
The ordinance was lost. the vote
standing. against: Messrs, Chandler,
Cohn, Gibbs, Hanley; in favor OF
the passage Of same: Messrs. Bosby-
shell, Collins, Hitler, Lowell, Mathews,
Sinsabaugh and Teed.
A draft of a contract for the con-
struction of certain zanjas was read
and referred 10 the Zanja Committee.
An ordinance abandoning zanja No.
was read and adopted.
An ordinance abandoning a portion
of Earl street was approved.
Mr. Chandler said he wished to
bring up the matter Of appointing a
detective force again, stating that he
thought if there appeared to be de-
mand for such force, and if the Mayor
thought he could suppress crime and
save expense to the city he should
have trial, and that the most advis-
able thing to do was to empower him
to appoint detective to work under
his directions.
President Humphreys called Mr..
Lowell to the chair and said:
GENTLEMEN,-I want to and will
be understood in this matter. have
no evidence, nor do wish to charge
our present police force with irregular
tiles, but want to say that gambling
is now going on in our city at
furious rate. The Chinese ''tan
games" are now running full blast. The
players are occasionally arrested and
brought before Judge Austin, but it
has never acted in the least as
check. They are now willing to pay
$4S, 900 per year to be allowed to run
unmolested. That they are running
and that they make such offers 1 am
prepared to prove. Now what do we,
as Councilmen, propose to do. Ii
there is any way out of it would be
glad to be enlightened. l want to
make just one proposition. If we
cannot entirely suppress gambling,
then let us get every cent for the city
there is in it. By a detective force
alone, in my opinion, we
will be able to reach these
men. Again, all accusation and re-
Elections or the possibility of such will
be effectually removed from the police
force. l believe the Chief OF Police to
be an excellent officer, but it appears
he cannot reach this gambling ele-
ment. We can and must get after
these men and follow them until our
purpose is accomplished.
Mr.. Collins thought the proper
thing to do was to empower the Mayor
to employ three detectives, a chief at
a salary of $3.50 per month and two
assistants at 500 per month.
Mr.. Chandler moved that the
Mayor be allowed one detective to be
chosen by himself and that such de-
tective be allowed salary of $3.50.
Motion carried.
Mr.. Sinsabaugh moved that an
ordinance be ordered drawn creating
the office of Chief Detective as he
feared the action was illegal. Car
ried.
An ordinance abandoning an alley
in the Ellis tract was approved.
The re nort Of the Park Committee
was read and adopted.
The opinion of the City Attorney to
the effect that the Council could COM
pels all companies not now holding
franchises to place telegraph and tele.
phone wires underground was ordered
filed.
The Board of Health offered a com.
munication recommending that the
City Attorney be instructed to put in
an answer in the suit commenced
against the city by Mrs. Matte Nc
Loud, and proper defense be made
at the expense Of the city. Adopted.
On recommendation of the Police
Commissioners the rule requiring
residence OF two years in order for a
person to be eligible as police officer
was changed to one year.
The Finance Committee presented
report recommendingthat suit be at
once commenced against the various
railroad and gas companies to collect
certain licenses. Adopted.
A number of bills were presented.
audited and ordered paid.