Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-16
THE POLICE BOARD.
An Opinion on the Fruit
Peddler Matter.
CHARGES AGAINST AN OFFICER
A Proposition to Cut Down the
Force Discussed and Laid
Over for q Week.

Over for q Week.
The Board of Police Commissioners
met yesterday afternoon in the City HAIL.
Mayor Hazard in the chair, and Messrs.
Collins, Knox and Lewis present, the alb
sent member, Mr.. Dexter, being COM
pelled to remain at home on account OF
symptoms Of "la grippe" 1t was fully
half an hour after the regular hour be-
fore quorum was obtained.
A number of demands, amounting in
the aggregate to $267.73, were approved,
of which one was for $241 for clubs and
belts purchased for the force.
The application of II. Sweeney for a
transfer of the license now in the name
of B. Arembel, at No. 662 San Fernando
street, was granted.
The following communication from the
City Attorney was received and read:
GENTLEMEN-Replying to your communics-
ton of the 9Th instant. relative to the selling
OF fruit from wagons on the streets OF the city
of Los Angeles: From an examination OF the
ordinances bearing upon this subject. am of
the opinion that there is no ordinance now ex-
listing which prohibits the sale OF fruit from
wagons upon the public streets, provided the
person 10 selling has procured the proper
license for fruit peddlers, and has obtained the
permission of the owner of the adjacent prop.
erty and the consent of the person occupying
the street floor of the adjoining building pro
vided further that the street upon which his
wagon is standing Is over fifty. feet In
width and his vehicle is not within ten feet
from any street.crossing, nor at any ~
greater distance than two feet from the edge OF
the sidewalk, and provided he Is not standing
in front of the entrance or exit OF any theater
or place of public amusement or entertain.
ment. However, the streets are for the use OF
the travelling public. and no one has a right to
obstruct the street in any manner SO as to pre-
purposes $ @ and % wsesher @ II the he Keeping of wagos
standing in public street is an obstruction of
the same, will depend upon the particular facts
that particular point and the necessity for hav-
ing the whole street for the purposes of travel.
On motion of Mr.. Knox the communi-
cation was ordered to be placed on file
and the Chief of Police was directed tc
see that the requirements of the law in
such cases were complied with fully.
Mr.. Knox, of the special committee
appointed to investigate the matter of
the deficiency in the wagon number fund
asked for a weeks further time in which
to make a written report, as, owirg to
sickness in his family, be had been una
BILE to do so during the past week. His
request was granted.
In the matter of the investigation into
the petition of j. Rhodes, which was re-
fsrred to q special committee at the last
meeting, Mr.. Knox reported that Mrs.
Rhodes was the divorced wife of the
complainant, who was q drinking man,
and on the date in question she sent her
little girl over to the saloon to ask the
proprietor to send over some beer, as
she had frequently done before. Since
the decision of the Court in finding Both
guilty, be had put up sign forbidding
minors from entering his saloon under
any pretext, and as in the opinion OF the
committee there was no merit in the
charge preferred by Rhodes, he moved
that the same be dismissed. His
motion was carried unanimously.
Mr.. Collins, of the special committee
appointed to investigate the charges pre-
ferrsd against Officers Farmer and Ma
guire by Adam Clements, reported that
be had seen Clements and explained the
ordinances to him. As the officers had
been in charge of the animals fully half
an hour before Clements man claimed
them, and we're already on their way to
the pound with them, their owner was
convinced that they were in the right,
and did not therefore wish to press the
charges. On motion of MIR. Collins the
same were thereupon dismissed.
An affidavit sworn to by ex-O6icar E.
P. Phelan was read, preferring charges
against Detective Boequi for conduct
unbecoming in an officer. He stated
that on Monday, January 6, he met
Bosqui on Fort street, between Third
nd on r,to
M, and saluted him pleasantly but that
the officer made use of vile epithet in
return. On motion of Mr.. Knox the
matter was referred to committee Of
three for investigation, tie Chairman
appointing Messrs. Dexter, Knox and
Lewis as such committee.
A communication was received from
Marcus Hellman, the manager of the
Los Angeles Baseball and Athletic Asso-
citation, requesting the board to send
patrolman and mounted officer to the
grounds of the association on the occa.
sion of games, to protect it's interests and
property. After lengthy discussion. in
which Mr.. Collins expressed himself g;
unwilling to ask the Taxpayers to pay
for policemen to protect baseball players
the matter was, on motion of Mr.. Knox
referred to the Chief, with power to act
Mr.. Lewis said that the all importan
question to be considered by the city
government at the present time was tina
of retrenchment. Looking at that fact
while he was in favor Of helping the city
out as much as possible in tai
endeavor, he did not wish tt
do anything that would in any wa,
diminish the present efficient condition
of the police force. He therefore offered
the following resolution for the approva
Of the board:
WHEREAS, The Committee of Retrenchmen
is now in session using their best efforts Il
make the city's income meet its expenses TO
this year, now therefore be it
ResolUed, That we, the Board of Police Com
missioners recommend that the patrolmen'
salaries be reduced to $40 per month; and tina
we discharge five officers from the force, in tn
discretion of the Commissioners. making
saving to the city in our department of Sic, ,50
per year.
The matter was discussed at SOM
length, Mayor Hazard stating that h'
would vote for a reduction of the forc'
hr,t MT for a raduction of the salaries a