Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-09-05
CITY COHSTABLES.
THE ANTIGAMBLING FARCE OF THE
SOLID TWO"
Mayor Comstock Expresses Himself
Vigorously, but the Other Trus-
tees Override Him.


Mayor Comstock called the Board to
order, and amid gestures and an you all
know what it is about expression on his
countenance, gazed about the room at the
spectators who had dropped in and hung
on the railing to see 1.-The show" Digging
down into the recesses of his pocket he
brought out small writing tablet and pro.
ceeded to read as follows:
1T is my purpose to consider carefully
every measure brought up. and feel it my
duty TO consult citizens and learn their
different views. 1t is necessary for the
protection of the city to have some special
officers. If under the control of the Chief
and Police Commissioners believe they
will work with the regular officers and be
by the Police Commissioners several DAYS
ago can hardly be improved upon under
the circumstances.
II recommend that the Board of Police
Commissioners be authorized to appoint
thirteen special officers to serve two weeks,
and be paid at the same rate as the regular
officers. In the matter of special Consta-
bles, l declare it out of order, as it is not
under the city's jurisdiction. If it should
be in the jurisdiction of the Board to OBJ
tain the appointment of Deputy Constables,
I should oppose it for the reason that these
officers would have to be paid out of the
county treasury. 1t would be unlawful to
take the farmers money to pay officers
serving the CITY,"
Trustee Mclaughlin took off his specs
and addressing the Mayor, said:
What do you declare out of order ?"
That resolution OF yours" replied the
Mayor. 1--WE haven't anything to do with
Constables. They are county officers. and
policemen and they train under two differ
ent heads"
Mr.. Mclaughlin then turned 10 the City
Attorney and asked: HAS the city any
power to appoint Constables?"
Mr.. Hart emphatically declared no. The
city might, however, do all the appointing
of specials it pleased, but their compensa-
ton could not lawfully be taken from the
funds in the City Treasury.
Mayor Comstock-I think the Police
Commissioners should attend to police af-
fairs. don't want to have anything to do
with appointing Constables.
McLaughlin-Yo on said you were for my
resolution on Monday. What do you want
to change for now? We've passed the
resolution already.
The latter statement by the Street Com
missioner surprised the Mayor, and he de-
clared it was not so. The resolution had
not been passed.
Wolf-Yes, it has. You said it was a
good thing last Monday, but you wanted to
make few changes in the names. The
thing passed unanimously.
The Mayor still persisted that his COL
leagues were wrong. They pulled these
little schemes upon him at the eleventh
hour, and may be while excited he had
misrepresented himself at the previous
meeting.
Grove L. Johnson happened in the room
and Mr.. Mclaughlin asked of him an an
swer to the question, Has this Board
power to appoint officers?"
Mr.. Johnson held that undoubtedly they
had. They had right to request the
Sheriff, Constables or Police Commission
ers to appoint assistants and they had the
power to paw any man who did work for
them in any capacity. There was no ques-
ton about it.
Mr.. johnson requested it understood
that he was not present to make an adj
dress, but he had heard that there was
to be little fun and he wanted to see it.
City Attorney Hart begged to differ with
Mr.. Johnson in his views. The law
plainly said that special officers should re-
ceive no compensation from the city.
Mr.. johnson said that it was proper and
Just and legal for the city to pay men who
were employed to protect its interests. II
gambling was a detriment, and the city
saw fit to suppress it. the Trustees certainly
had the power to hire men and pay them
for their work in crushing out the evil.
Continuing the speaker said: Gam.
bling can be suppressed in this city, and
this man who sits down beside me point.
ing to Chief of Police Drew can stop il
by simply raising his hand. The gam
blers have control of the town, as every,
body knows, and they will continue to
rule as long as the police remain inactive.
City Attorney Hart came to the rescue Of
Chief Drew and said he believed that off.
cial was disposed to stop gambling, and he
himself, would certainly see that every
case brought into Court was properly prose
cuted. In regard 10 the point in argument
it was his opinion that the Board were do
ing wrong in trying to directly assume
control of the Police Department and ap
point officers. They could not intreDct
upon the jurisdiction of the Board of Pc
| lice Commissioners and ought not to inter
fere in matters which belonged to that de
partment The resolution introduced BY
Mr.. Mclaughlin certainly cast discredit or
| the municipal officers, and even justice
Baker had told him that he did not lik,
| the tone of it.
The Mayor move that the Police Com
missioners have power to appoint thirteen
officers. That other resolution | declare on
of order.
Trustee Mclaughlin looked at the Mayo
| for a moment and then asked, with grea
elaboration, Are you afraid that the ap
pointing of these Constables will stop tn
| gamblers
The Mayor swallowed his breath, ant
| when he could make answer he was all il
| a furry. 81 am opposed to gambling,
| said he, land never gambled as much a
a peanut in my life l don't like the look
| of those big wheels and roulette tables. i
makes poverty, and the money thus speu
goes to the saloons. We merchants ant
furniture men don't get anything. Tn
people all know how l stand, and I'm no
afraid to have vote taken right here Il
see which of US is the most opposed t.
gambling. Let the spectators here vot
and raise up their hands and we'll sool
find out. You should not interfere, MI
Mclaughlin, in police matters"
After delivering himself of this response
which was so Unexpectedly provoked b,
Mr.. Mclaughlin, the Mayor made motion
to reconsider the whole vote of the Board
if it did pass the resolution.
There was no second to the motion.
Trustee Mclaughlin moved to amen,
the resolution so that parties arrested coul
be prosecuted in any City Justices CourI
and not alone Bakers.
The motion was carried by the votes @
Mclaughlin and Wolf, the Mayor votin
no.
How many special policemen do yo
WANT" asked Mayor Comstock OF Chic
Drew.
The latter replied that be would like t
have fifteen; but he wanted none at all If b
was not certain that they were going to b
paid.
The Mayor then moved that the Trustee
authorize the Police Commissioners to az
point fifteen men for special duty durin
the fair.
Mr.. Wolf moved to amend the origins
motion by making the number ten.
The amendment was then carried by tn
votes of the solid two" The Mayor aftel
ward changed his vote TO aye.
Trustee Mclaughlin then made coupl
of changes in his resolution, so that th
names of the five Deputy Constables stood
w. W. Ellis, Hugh Mccormick, I'D kripI
William Whitmore and Charles Mccarthy
He asked that the Mayor take cognizanc
!. of the change, but the latter said he ha
nothing to say in the matter and after
| ,yar,;s nict al nm his hat and left the room