Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-21
THEY TRY A SNEAK
The Police and Fire Commits
sioners Steal Away
FROM A TRIO or REPORTERS
Who Refuse 10 Leave the Room When
Ordered to Do So-After Some Dis
eussson the Board Adiourns.


had settled themselves comfortably
into good easy chairs IN the room of
the board Of police and fire commits
sioners yesterday afternoon. The
party waited anxiously for Commits
sioner Whitney. At i've minutes past 3
he entered the room aud took his
usual seat 1T the table. Commissioner
Hatch called his attention to the fact
that the ). p. Bennett Fuel 4 leo COM
pany had put one OF its advertising
penknives AZ the place Of each naem-
Der Of the board. Leitelt quAveringly
asked what that meant. Superiutend-
ent Eastman and Fire Marshal Lemon
were pacing the secretary's room. Out
IN the hall . group OF At least twenty
five persons, ANXIOUS to see what would
be done with the reporters who had
been ordered to attend the meeting,
exchanged significant looks and waited
for developments.
Tho board was called to order and
Commissioner LoettHert moved that
the reporters be excused. This motion
was cheerfuily seconded by CommIs-
siouer Whitney. The president called
for the yeas and nays, but could not
decide the result. On motion OF Conn.,
missioner Hatch . formal ballot was
taken. Secretary MscReynolds then
stated Commissioner Loettgert's mo-
ton, Resolved, That the reporters be
excused until the executive session of
the board is concluded"
The commissioners answered a. fol-
lows: Loettgert yes, Hatch no, Bender
no, Whitney yes. The president was
then called on to vote. After much
effort ne voted mo-" This caused u
seneation. but in an instant Whitney
had caught Leitclt's eye and was frown-
ing at HIM ominously. Loettgert, who
was sitting ne It to the president, poked
him vigorously In the ribs. The presi-
dent cav that he had put his foot
into it.
President Leitelt Mtsupderstood.
Commissioner Whitney asked that the
the resolution be read again. By this
time, through the vigorous pokings OF
Loettgert and the winks of Whitney the
president had tumbled to himself and
said that he had misunderstood the
resolution of Mr.. Loettgert. Commits
sioner Hatch asked that the matter he
explained to him, which Commissioner
Loettgert did in studied and laborious
terms. The president then said that
he understood and desired to vote
"yea." The secretary declared the re-
suit and Commissioner Loettgert reit-
Grated his statement - to the unadvis-
ability OF having the reporters and pub.
lie admitted TO the executive sessions
of the board. Commissioner Bender
said that be thought all matters OF dis.
cipline should properly come before
the committe on men and discipline,
and need not be considered by the
board. He said that the committee
could dispose of all petty offenses
without the aid of the board ana that
in no case was the executive session of
the board necessary moro than once q
month. Commissioner Loettg ert re-
piled that it wat not alone the matter
OF disciplining men which should not
be made public. "The superintendent -
he said, frequently has to report to the
board on the detective service Of the
police department and 1t would be
very undesirable TO have the public
know Of the nature of these reports"
Never Knew Him to Report.
Bender-Yes, it the superinte ndent
ever did report anything Of that kind
TO this board. or knew anything about
such thinge that excuse might 60 down.
but during my connection with this
board I have never known him to
make any ouch report.
Hatch-(Sotto voce. HE doesn't
know enough TO do anything, but
draw his salary.
Beuder-He never reports anything
but routine matters. He has never
given ne any information relating 70
the detection Of crime.
Leitelt-Weil, gentlemen, have
voted to exclude the reporters during
the executive session.
Then there followed Nlence that
could be felt. Commissioners Whitney
eat in his chair playing with the Fuel
and Ice compauy's souvenir knife,
plainly getting madden with every
breath. President Leitelt fidgeted in
his chair and looked a. though he half
understood what was going on. The
representatives Of the morning papers
kept on grinding out copy.
And nobody spoke.
They Finally Adjourn.
At the end of fifteen minutes Com
missioner Loettgcrt said with an effort
ut cheerfulness: "Well boys, we would
be glad TO see you after the executive
session 10 over il you want 10 come in."
Nobody answered. The members
looked ut their knives. Finally
President Leitelt eaid:
well, be you goin' p
The three reporters answered stimuli
taneously, "No sir.
Beuder-I think the gentlemen of
the press will do better to abide by the
vote OF the board. believe they rep
reese mt public opinion and are right in
their action, bat they should wait be-
fore they take further action.
Loettgert-I don't want TO argue
with these men any longer.
President Leitelt--well, what shall
we do?
Here Loettgert gave the president
another vigorous poking in the tender
portions Of his anatomy and whls-
pered, "Tell the secretary tp inform
them OF the decision OF the board. Tell
them TO &c, out" But tho president
was silent.
Commissioner Whitney then took out
biz watch and said "ff this board ism,
going 10 transact any business I'm 60.
ing TO leave"
Bendsf-weIi, We have got business
IN transact. I have some important
bills 10 submit.
withey--wby don't you do ig
Bender had nothing 20 say and
Whitney made motion that the board
adjourn. THIS Vas carried by . vote
of 10 Z. The board had occupied Just
fortytwo minutes IN meeting and al
iouFniur