Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-04
The iGONY ENDED.
THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS APPOINT
FIFTEEN OFFICERS,
After Three Days of Caucusing-sIatt.
Karcher Enters Protest Against
Their Action.

Yesterday was a day of deep anxiety
to the large number of men who wanted
to be elected policemen and the still larger
number of friends of the aspirants. All
day long the mob thronged the police sta
ton, where the Commissioners were in
caucus, the street in front and the door
ways of the nearest saloons, awaiting the
result of the Police Commissioners con-
sultations. The latter met early in the
forenoon and remained in close conference
in Chief of Police Drew's Office until noon,
when recess was taken until clock
Pm.
At that hour the throng of policemen,
ward politicians and others reassembled
about the police station, and soon after
ward the Commissioners came together
again and renewed their arduous labor OF
trying to agree upon fifteen candidates for
policemen. All the afternoon the struggle
went on, and it was half-past o'clock
when the door of the Chiefs office opened
and the three Commissioners emerged
each looking ss if he had been undergoing
roasting process over bed of hot Goals.
When the members of the Board took
their seats in the Police Courtroom the
latter contained an audience that filled
every seat.
The Board being called to order, Mayor
Comstock announced that the meeting had
been called for the purpose of electing po-
lice officers. II will state,n he said, that
we've had pretty long sic ge of it, but have
hnally come to g conclusion"
COMMISSIONER BUCKLEY EXPLAINS.
Commissioner Buckley then said that be-
fore proceeding with the election he deemed
II no more than proper for him to say a
few words to the members of the present
police force, the new applicants for posi-
tons, and the friends of both. The Board,
be said, had experienced great deal of
difficulty in selecting fifteen men to consti-
tute the police force. One of the most
stubborn obstacles in the way of arriving at
an agreement was the reduction of the
force from twenty-five to fifteen men, The
members of the Board OF Commissioners
had met many times, and had finally,
within the last few minutes, agreed on a
ticket. Some of those agreed upon were
not the choice of the individual members
of the Board, but the list was caucus,
or compromise one. Each Commits
sioner had tried for several DAYS TO
keep his promises to friends and
candidates for appointment, but owing to
the heavy pressure brought to bear upon
them and the unavoidable necessity of
choosing but fifteen men, they had found
1t utterly impossible to keep those prom
ises. While the list of policemen agreed
upon was not, as he had before said, the
choice of the individual members of the
Board of Commissioners, as whole it was
the best that could be selected under the
circumstances. The struggle just ended
mad been the severest that ever took place
IN the history of police elections in this
city, and although he had been long in
politics, he had never in his experience en-
countered so hard battle. Some of the
friends of the Commissioners would, he
knew, be disappointed, but they had tried
to do their duty toward all, and had GER
talnly done the best they could. He felt
impelled to make these remarks because
the Commissioners had made promises
they were not able to fulfill.
Chairman Comstock then read the resig-
nation of officer Matt Coffey, who had
been elected Clerk of the Water Works
The resignation was accepted.
THE CHOSEN FIFTEEN
In order to save time, the unnecessary
formality of reading the names of the fifty
odd applicants for positions as policemen
was dispensed with, Chairman Comstock
naively remarking that he could see no use
in reading the petitions, with their lists OF
signatures, as the Board had already made
its selection
The Clerk then read the following names
OF candidates who had received three votes
Frank Shook, B. T. White R. S. Frszee,
William Lowell, Frank Rider, J. Campbell,
d. Higgins, L. Wagner, L. W. Farrell, E
Franks, II. Carroll, l. Simmons, Robert
Stafford, AL. Gibson and j. Wilson. III
were members of the old force, except Will
son, White, Wagner and Gibson.
MATT. KARcHER's BoMBsHELL.
Before the Chairman had formally de.
clared the result of the vote, Captain
Karcher arose and, addressing the Board
asked if he would be permitted to make q
few remarks, and on being told to proceed
he said:
"GatIemen Of the Police Commission. l
now, in behalf of the the officers of the
present force whose names do not appear
on the list announced as having been
elected by you, protest against your pro-
ceedings. One point l make is, that at
least two members of the Board, if not all,
are not qualified to sit as Police Commits
sioners and discharge the duties OF that
office. Section r. of the Act of the Legis-
lature of March 6, 1872, governing the
dlties OF the Police Commissioners of this
city, says that in addition to your oa.hs as
Mayor, Police Judge and Chief of Police.
you must each take an additional oath not
10 discriminate, on political grounds, in the
appointment of members of the police
force, Ju ige Buckley only few minutes
ago referred to the difficulties the Board
had labored under in selecting men, owing
to promises and other obligations that had
10 be met. The section referred TO SAYS
that politics must have nothing to do with
the Police Department. Under Sections 6
and of that law amending the charter, all
the work you have done goes for nothing
Before you can elect g police force you
must go 10 the County Clerks office and
take an oath not TO discriminate between
Republicans and Democrats"
Chairman Comstock-"There has been
no politics in this matter"
Captain Karcher-"Politics or no poll
tics. Neither you, Mr.. Comstock, nor you
Chief Drew, have taken oaths as Police
Commissioners. But that is not our only
protest. We claim that we were elected as
permanent police force, and hold that
you cannot legally dispense with our serv.
ices without preferring formal charges and
giving US fair trial. as the law provides ,
JUDGE BUCKLEY GETS ANGRY.
At this there was an outburst of an
plause among the audience, which brough,
Judge Buckley to his feet in an angry
mood.
~ don't propose" he said "to stand
here as member of this Commission anC
permit men to applaud such sentiments q:
these, addressed TO the Com mission. Cap.
tain karcher is right in making his re-
marks, as he has done so in gentlemanly
and respectful manner. but persons in the
audience must not indicate their feelings
in matter of this kind by indulging in
applause, and shall not permit it,
Captain karcher said he hoped the mem
bers of the Commission did not for mo.
ment think he had brought a crowd there
to applaud his remarks and on being as.
sured that he was not held responsible 70,
the untimely demonstration, he continued
There is one thing further. The mem.
bers of the present police force-those tha,
have been left out of the new deal-havC
asked me to say to the Board that the,
will continue to report for duty. /, fol-
one, intend to remain and do my daty a.
usual"
Chairman Comstock-"Mr. Church, th.
City Attorney, being present, ! would lik,
to hear from him i'll regard to the matter
of the oaths.n
Mr.. Church (who was acting as Clerk in
the absence of that ofiicial)-' Mr.. Clinton
White will read the law to the Board"
WHAT THE LAW SAYS.