Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-11-24
THE EVIDENCE ALL IN.

Close of Testimony at Chicago on Pin kerr
CHICAGO. Nov. 21-The Senatorial
investigation into the Homestead
trouble and the Pinkerton system came
to an end this morning. Both Sena-
tors Gallinger and PETER and Attorney
Dumont were on hand bright and early
In their room at the Grand Pacific and
were loaded with questions for the
few witnesses they wished to examine.
Chief of Police McClaughry was the
first one called. The questions put to
him were given with the idea OF find
ing whether or not it was necessary to
appeal to private corporation for aid
during labor troub les.
Have you any suggestions as to
the improvement of the police forces
in great cities?'' asked Senator Calm
ger of Major McClaughry.
Il will say that the prime thing
necessary is to take the police force
out of the field of politics and put it
under the civil service system. There
would result body of men efficient II
the protection ofpublic rights in which
capitalists and business men would
have confidence, so that the employ
ment of private watchmen would be
unnecessary"
Chief McClaughry was then asked to
define the relations between the police
force and the Pinkerton patrol, and he
did so without adding anything ma
terial to that given in evidence by wit
nesses last week.
eff business men would pay as much
toward the support of the regular po-
lice force as they pay for the Pinker-
ton watch service could not the police
force perform the same service as is
now done by the Pinkerton patrol?'
'Well, not exactly. The Pinxerton
watchmen are not necessarily active
men such as are required on the police
force, and in consequence are not paid
as well as the men of the municipal
force require to be paid"
When asked why the police forces
of cities and little communities were
not able to cope with strikes and SINH
lar disorders he said that the connec-
ton between the police force and pol
itical deals was so intimate that the eff
cheney of the police is usually not fully
realized. at is my opinion" he
continued that if individuals as well
as bodies of citizens, whether trades
unions or other corporations employ
ing large bodies of men, would apply
to police departments in case of trouble
and give the departments the same
support, pecuniary and otherwise, that
they give to outside agencies, these
troubles could be much more easily
and peacefully adjusted.''
United Sta ties Marshal Frank Hitch
cock said that he did not think it
advisable to employ private detective
agencies in the settlement of strikes
and thst experience had shown that
detectives rather aggravated than mod
Grated troubles. He said that he
had had experience as sheriff
in the strike of 1877 and
he knew the difficulties some
times met in attempting to raise a
posse comita tus, but he thought that
some law should be made which would
do away with the necessity, sometimes
felt, to employ private agencies. His
idea was that the proper law in the
premises would be one providing very
severe penalty for refusal to serve in
the posse comitatus.
Frank Burnham, one of the Pinker-
tons who went to Homestead, testified
thai he would not have gone if he had
known how hazardous the mission
would be. His testimony was imma-
terial except as to the point whether
or not the detectives were deputized.
He swore that he was sworn in, but |.
could not say where the oath was ad-
ministered.
After this testimony the committee
adjourned to meet in the Duquesne
hotel, Pitts5urg, Thursday to continue
the investigation.