Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-03-26
THE POLICE BOARD.
Chief Burns Takes Charge of the
Force.

Force.
The Board of Police Commissioners
met yesterday afternoon at the Mayors
office. Those who expected to see a
repetition of the lively performances of
last Saturday were disappointed, as the
meeting was as orderly as a session of
the Supreme Court. 1t is not impossible
that the reason for this lay in the fact
that very little business was done.
The meeting was Ca lied for 2 o'clock.
Just about that time Mayor Hazard
drew out his watch and remarked to the
two hundred and thirteenth applicant
for a position on the force who had
buzzed at his ear in the course of the
day: "See here, my friend, won't you
take pity on me? give you nay word l
have not eaten a bite of food all day
long. l am nearly dead" Then he
went off to the California club to recu-
perate, and did not reappear ON the
scene until nearly 3. In the
mean time twenty-seven more appli-
cants came in to see him,
but they were each and all shown the
door by Officer Lenox, who is the watch
dog of the Mayors office.
Mr.. Hervey Lindley was the first of
the Commissioners to arrive and he
| shook hands very warmly with Frank
Burns, the new Chief, and congratulated
him on his election. This was regarded
by those present as an olive branch off,
cially rendered, a sort of rainbow indi-
cation of the harmony which was to
beam henceforth. Major Furrey was
late and had to be telephoned for. When
all the Commissioners were present,
Mayor Hazard called the meeting to
order.
II was decided in a hasty and unani-
nous fashion, indicative of previous dis
cussion, that the matter of the appoint
ments to the force should be postponed
for the present. Then the new Chief in
troduced Frank E. Biles, good-looking
young man of about 25, who, he said,
he wished to have as his clerk, if the
| Commissioners would be kind enough to
appoint him. Mr.. Lindley lost no time
in making the necessary motion, and
Mr.. Biles was confirmed to serve as
clerk.
| Mr.. Burns then asked that he be en-
powered to appoint some one whose
name should not be made public, to go
about secretly, and determine the state
OF affairs in the city, and make a report
to him.
"This is to be sort of secret police
service ?" asked Mr.. Knox.
"Yes," said the Chief. "We must
know what is going on before we take
action"
The request was granted.
''I understand" said the Chief, "that
under the new arrangement am entirely
subject to your orders-a ministerial Of
ficer, in fact. 1t is therefore necessary
that you should inform me when | am to
| take possession of the office"
| 1t was moved and carried that he be
instructed to take charge Immediately.
Terrence Cooney, the acting Chief, was
sent for by telephone, and when he ap-
peared before the Commission he was
| informed of the decision which had been
| given. He shook hands with Mr.. Burns
and informed him that his office was
ready for his occupancy.
| 1t was ordered that the rules for the
conduct OF police matters now in force
should be continued until superseded by
new code. 1t was also decided that a
| special committee of three should con-
| fer with the Mayor and the Chief in pre-
pairing a new series OF rules. Messrs.
Knox, Furrey and Bilderrain were ap-
pointed.
At this point the Secretary demanded
of the commission whether they proposed
to have the minutes of the last meeting
read. This would have included the
re-reading of the very lively protest en-
tered upon the records by Mr.. Lindley
and Knox.
"H'm," said the Mayor. "Do we want
to hear those minutes?"
There was a moment of silence and
then Mr.. Lindley, in a very unconcerned
tone of voice, suggested that those min
utes might just as we'll remain unread.
They were not read.
The matter of the appointment of a
police surgeon by the Council was then
brought up. Mr.. Lindley said he did
not understand what business the Coun-
Gil had in appointing an employe OF the