Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-02
Chairman Speer, of the Police Com
mittee, Delivers a Roast to the
Allegheny Department.
ADVISED TO EMPLOY WOODEN MEN,
One of Murpby's officers in Any Other City
Would Be Arrested as Sus.
plcious Character.
WANTS $4,000 MORE FOR THIS YEAR.
Trcat cfao Fecpls All Right, Because They Do Not
Havs Anything to Do.

The Allegheny Police Committee met last
night, and it was the liveliest municipal
session ever held in City Hall.
Chairman William Speer wore all his
fighting clothes. and he raked the police
department from end to end. A part of,the
performance was an animated dialogue be-
tween the Chairman of the committee and
Chief OF Police Murphy, which was highly
dramatic from the start to the finish. The
roast given TO Allegheny's finest was awful
in the extreme. 1t was even stated that an
Allegheny officer in any other city would
be arrested as 4 suspicious character.
AT the opening of the meeting all was
serene A~number of minor bills we're pre-
sented and approved. Then the Mayors
report for the last month was presented.
There had been 314 arrests and the receipts
were s., ,993 20. With scarce a murmur
this was approved. But the tug of war fol-
lowed when the estimate for the year for the
police department was presented. The
amount deemed necessary for the year was
S12o,O36 25.
Put His Feet Down Real Hard.
This was $40, 600 more than last year, and
son of the increase and he endeavored to
scratch out several items by setting his feet
down real hard. The claim made by the
department was that 81 new officers and
another patrol wagon had been added to the
service during the year. Nevertheless the
Chairman kicked and kicked vigorously.
The fight was hard one but the police de-
partment won, however, and the Chairman
had only the satisfaction of telling what he
thought of the Allegheny police force, both
in general and particular.
Thefestimate presented was itemized. The
amount paid to each officer was marked
down. While it was being read the Chair
man pulled at his whiskers until the clerk
reached the part referring to patrol service
operators. Here the clerk was ordered to
stop, and turning to Chief Murphy he in
quired:
SIS that old man who testified before the
investigation that he did not know anything
about the working of the system on the
force?"
Chief Murphy, who was present, said: 81
don't know
Mr.. Speer-Well we depend on you, and
you should know.
Attends to His Own Affairs Alone.
Chief Murphy-That's not my business,
and Lam not attending to Chief Jones busi-
ness.
Mr%Speer-Neither am I, but I want to
know if he is employed?
Chief Murphy-Well, I don't know.
Mr~Speer-I think it's wrong to approve
this estimate. There are several things that
the committee, however, and / am perfectly
willing to give them all they want, but think
they are asking for too much.
Chief Murphy-You must understand that
our force has been increased 81 men and one
patrol wagon this year, besides the wires of the
patrol Service are rotten. and need repairing,
Mr.. Speer-Don't you think the whole bust
ness rotten, from A to atom?
Mr.. Murphy-1 don't think it is 1t might
have been that way once but now the force is
good one and the city is one of the most order
ly in the country.
Mr.. Speer-That is because the citizens are
orderF. What you want is to get lot of
wooden men and stand them on the corners L
think the police force is worse than ever before.
II the men who are now on the force were to go
into other cities they would be arrested as sus-
picious characters. My opinion is that the
force is worse than it ever was will saw that
the Chief and front Office men are all right;
they have nothing to do and they do 1t right up
to the handle.
On motion of Mr. Wolfe the estimate was ap-
proved and sent to the Finance Committee.
During all this roast, Chief Murphy sat at the
end of the table. and as Mr.. Speer continued
his abuse of the force. never said word, but
his assumed all the colors of the rainbow.
At the conclusion of the meeting the Chief
passed Mr.. Speer and quietly snubbed him by
refusing TO speak to him, when addressed by
Mr.. Speer.