Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-19
THE POLICE MIDDLE.
J. F. Burns Still Occupies the
Chiefs Chair.
COMMENTS ON THE SITUATION
Commissioner Knox Gives the
Reasons for His Actions
in the Matter.

The action of the Police Commission
Triplet in dismissing Chief Burns with
out apparent cause created considerable
unfavorable comment yesterday. 1t
might have been expected that there
would be a few people who would ap-
prove the action of the Triplet, but a
close search revealed the fact that il
there was one of this mind he kept him.
self hidden from the public and did not
open his mouth on the streets. Every
where and on every side, both Republi-
cans and Democrats, were heard speak
ing of the Triplet in plimentary
terms, and about half-past four O'Clock,
on the corner of First and Spring streets,
some very strong language was used
toward the Commissioners. The only
people who seemed to approve the ac-
ton of the Triplet were the Coun-
cilmen who kept silence on the
subject, but it was observed
that some of the Councilmen had whis-
pered conferences with members of the
Tfiplet, and it was rumoured that the
action was taken with the full consent OF
the majority of the Council, and that
the Triplet had made itself solid with
this majority before it acted
The full record OF blunders made by
the Triplet during the brief period of it's
existence in official life was discussed.
The discharging of excellent officers, the
appointment Of poor ones, the removal oi
all the officers from Boyle Heights, the
summary dismissal of all the Spanish.
Americans on the force, were all talked
over at length, and the great inactivity
of the Council in the matter was con.
sidered as evidence tending to show that
the Triplet is at liberty to do Just as i,
pleases, 80 long as it does not form ar
alliance with Mayor Hazard.
Among other statements made
were some to the effect that
the removal of Chief Burns had beer
caused in the interest OF gamblers, anC
bets were offered on the proposition tina
in short time the games will be in full
blast. The gamblers themselves haC
nothing to say on the subject, preferrinl
to wait for future developments.
The situation at the Police Station die
not change during the day. Chief Burns
held the fort, declining to give up under
the circumstances. Detective Glass
busted himself early in the day in pro-
curing sureties to his bond, which he
filed with the City Clerk.
Under the new charter, the Chief o.
Police must qualify by "taking the oath
of office and filing his official bond.
The charter further requires that "the
bonds of all officers, after approval by
the City Attorney as to form, shall be
approved by the Mayor and the Council
and after such approval, shall bt
filed with and remain in the
keeping of the City Auditor. .
In consequence OF these provisions
Mr.. Glass will have to wait until the
Council and Mayor approve his bond
The proposition as to what should bt
done in case Mayor Hazard will no
approve the bond, was discussed yester
day, and it was stated that the only
thing that could be done would be to take
the matter into court. Another PROPOSE
tion was made, and that was to the effec
that the acts of the Police Commission
have not been legal since Mr.. Bilderrair
resigned, for the reason that the charter
provides that "the Mayer and four citi
zens, to be appointed by the Council
shall constitute the Board o
Police Commissioners of the city," The
claim was made that the requirements o
the charter have not been met by the
filling of the vacancy, and therefore tbs
acts of the Commission have been illegal
Yesterday afternoon at 2 O'Clock the
Triplet changed its place of meeting, anC
in the future will transact its business il
the committeeman at the rear of the
City Clerks office, probably withou
either the Mayor or the Mayors Clerk
The members OF the Triplet were or
time promptly yesterday afternoon, anG
Captain Knox, as Secretary, called the
meeting to order, after demanding o
Clerk Robinson the papers relating to the
board.
Mr.. Lindley moved that Mr.. Dexter bt
elected temporary chairman. Carried.
Mr.. Dexter then called the meeting
again to order, and Mr.. Lindley movec
that the Triplet take recess until this
afternoon at 2 O'Clock, to meet in the
committeeman at the back of the City
Clerks Office. Carried, and the meeting
adjourned.
After the meeting the right of the
TripleU to displace Clerk Robinson was
discussed, but the authority could not be
found. Ordinance No. 3, New Series,
adopted by the Council on April lst
provides that the Mayors Clerk, ''in ad
dition to his duties as clerk of the Mayor
shall act as clerk of the Board of Police
Commissioners" etc. No one could see
how the authority for his discharge
rested in the Police Commissioners
Clerk Robinson said that he would make
no objection, however, as he had plenty
of work to do outside of the Police Com
mission.
The public generally also failed to find
how the Triplet found authority to dis
continue the office of Captain of Police
when the same ordinance provides that
the "Police Department shall consist in
addition to the Chief of Police of the fol-
lowing persons: One Captain of Police, 3"
etc. The opinion prevailed that the
Triplet was irving very hard to not only
break up the Police Department, but to
override the charter and the ordinances
adopted by the Council.
Secretary Higgins of the Chamber OF
Commerce said that he had not applied
for the position of Deputy Chief, and that
he would not accept it. Such work was
not in his line, and he had no intention
of having a successor in his present pos
ition. He had not even been notified OF
his election, and said he did not know
what the game of the Triplet was.
Mayor Hazard said that the Tripiet had
acted like children from the start. II
had discharged men at one meeting and
replaced them at the next, and never
seemed to know what it was about. The
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