Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-21
IMPORTANT MATTERS
BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COM
MlTTEE ON POLICE.
A Breezy Communication from Chief AcNichol-A
Movement to Better Regulate DisOrderly
Houses to be Considered.

There were two matters OF more than
ordinary Importance brought to the at
tention of the Council Committee on Po-
lice, last evening.
One was a communication from Chief
McNicbol, complaining that his force
was not treated right by the Council
men, and asking the Committee to aid
him in improving discipline.
The other was movement to better
egulate disorderly houses and cause
them TO be more decOrous.
Six members of the committee
Messrs. Happy, chairman, Jefferson.
O'Kane, Zarnitz, Marsh and Warneke-
being present, Clerk Hanks laid the fol-
lowing communication from Chief Nc
Nichol before the Committee;
"To the Honorable Council Committee on
Police
"GENTLEMEN-I beg leave to call your
attention to a matter that has not only
tendency but actually has placed the police
department in a state OF decentralization.
The facts of the case are these;
There are certain members OF the Com
mittee who have. on several occasions,
talked about certain members Of the police
force, calling them sneaks and threatening
them by saying that if they ever came up
before them they would make it hot for
them.
"Now, think it i'll becomes gentlemen
TO formulate lot of rules and then go out
TO the public and blackguard the men for
trying to enforce them. Now, gentlemen,
what | want TO know is thlS:-If, by en-
forcing the laws of this Committee, they
have 5ecome obnoxious or detrimental TO
any interests in this city, then let the
Committee say what rules they want en-
forced, and what ones they do not, as am
YOUR most obedient servant, aud want to
act tremendously with you for the good OF
the department But, gentlemen, Will
not be vilifed any longer without the pup.
lie knowing how the matter stands, and
who formulated the present rules.
"In conclusion, would say this; II you
will give me the power l will make the
present police force credit to the city, L
would ask you 10 recommend TO Council TO
substitute the word discharge in place OF
suspension in the rules.
Il think the time has come when we
should understand one another.
Every respectfully,
.'RoBERT L. MCNICuOL,
"Clty Sergeant"
When the reading was concluded,
several members Of the committee re-
marked: That's news to me, and they
fell to discussing the paper. The tenor
OF the discussion seemed TO be summarized
in a remark by Chairman Happy, who
said the committee had always stood by
the Chief, except in the two instances
where he had discharged men instead
of suspending them. In the other cases,
the men had been reinStated at the re-
Quest of the Chief, and in the case OF
officer Watson he had been punished
according TO law.
Mr.. Jefferson was in favor OF the
change in the rules. He said IL was all
right to have the rules as at present
where there was bad Chief, but where
there was a Chief aXiOuS to do his whole
duty the rule regarding suspension pre-
vented proper discipline. The matter
was talked over for quite time, and
was then laid aside, without any action
whatever.
Mr.. jefferson then brought up anoth-
er matter which, he said, needed regulat-
ing. He said the Eoff street houses of
disorderly nature were built right out on
the street, and 1t was customary TO have
doors and windows open with men in
the houses, and all sorts OF drinking and
bad conduct In full view Of the public.
Sometimes there would be crowd OF
children in front of the doors, noting
what was going on inside. Such eXhi-
billions were demOralizing and Indecent,
and he thought the Committee ought to
do something in the premises. Several
others of the Committee thought the
some way, and the matter was recon-
mended referred TO the City Solicitor,
to ascertain what could be legally done
to put the houses under better control.
A communication from the Ancient
Order Of IHbernlans, praying for an
escort Of police on the occasion OF their
parade, June 18th, was granted.
A communication from the Chief
called attention TO the fact that GER
tain member of the force was off duty
more than twO-thirds OF the time. and
when on duty was drinking" and said
that there being but one extraman,
there was often no one TO put on a
vacant beat in case Of sickness among
the force, while there was not enough
work to justify the employment of two
extramen. He asked the Committee to
take what action their judgment
thought best. The matter was dis
cussed for time, and was laid over
until the next meeting.
Bills aggregating S195.9O for police
and S73.67 for city prison, were audited
and ordered paid.
The report OF the Superintendent OF
the prison showed 10 inmates April 1st,
"a received during the month, 10 dis
charged because of expiration OF time,
and II released, leaving 10 in prison
Nav 1st. The report was filed.