Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-24
MR.. SNYDER NOT BLUFFED.
He Stands Off the Whole Police
Commission.
Yesterdays Interesting Proceedings
at the Boards Meeting.
some Routine Business Transacted-The
Mayor Ready to Act as Investi-
gator-Mr. Snyder Not
Intimidated.


yesterday, Commissioners Snyder
Mackay, Hazard, Lewis and Shatto be-
ing present.
The minutes of the last meeting were
read and approved, and the clerk of the
board reported, under date of August
10th, in accordance with the instructions
of the board, that he had deposited
with the city treasurer the following
amounts, to be credited to the police re-
ward and charity fund: Reward paid
Officer J. G.. Goodman for arrest of N.
Davis, S.; reward paid to Chief Glass
and Officer Moffatt for arrest of Bryant
B. Crandall, each $3.50.
The report was ordered filed.
The chief of police again reported on
ithe petition of Theo. Timm, for permit
for q saloon license at 1913 San Fer
nando street, and on motion of Com
missioner Lewis the permit was
granted ; also reported on petition of
Denis Felix for transfer of permit for
license for saloon at l66 North Main
street, from Robert Kearney. The
transfer was granted, on motion of Com
missioner Mackay.
The affidavit and petition OF W. J.
Snyder, for saloon license at 455 South
Spring street, was read and reported to
chief of police.
The charges OF @. w. Walkem against
Officer Rinkenbach, were read.
Walkem charges that Officer Rinken-
bach made insulting remarks to him,
and that when Walkem demanded the
disclosure of his policeman's star, Rink
enbach seized Levi and ordered him
taken to the police station, which was
done. Walkem was later brought before
Justice Austin on charge of obstruct-
ing the side walk, and the case was dis
missed. Petitioner asks that Officer
Rinkenbach be discharged from the
force, inasmuch as there is no other
method of protecting the public against
caueeless and malicious arrest. The
charges were referred for investigation
to the committee to whom were referred
the charges Of H. w. Rietow against the
same officer.
The pay roll of the police department
for August, 1892, amounting to $685.. As,
was read and approved.
At this point the proceedings were
enlivened by the submission by Mayor
Hazard, of report of the city attorney,
relative to the power of the board to
summon witnesses and to take the testi-
mony under oath.
This was development of the pro-
ceedings of the board at its session of
August 9th. On that occasion Commis-
sioner Snyder fled resolution setting
forth that, ''rumors were current,
more or less directly charging that
certain members of the police force and
- 10
sion were in receipt of stated income
to be carried on in Chinatown and else
where"
The presentation of the resolution
caused good deal more than ripple of
excitement, and the several members of
the police commission made haste to
denv completely in, or knowledge of,
any such wickedness. They further de-
MED any knowledge that such rumors
were in circulation, and insisted that
Mr.. Snyder give the sources of his infor-
nation, in order that the matter might
be investigated. This Mr.. Snyder de-
clined to do, for various reasons that
seemed sufficient to him; whereupon
it was demanded by the mayor. and
other members of the commission, that
Mr.. Snyder be put upon his oath and
required to testify.
Mr.. Snyder then declined either to be
sworn or to testify, and having some
doubt of the authority of the board to
administer oaths, the city attorney was
asked for his opinion in relation thereto.
City Attorney Mcfarland filed writ
ten opinion yesterday, in which he
stated that the board of police commits
eioners had no power to compel the at
tendance Of witnesses, nor to take their
testimony under oath, but that the
mayor not only had such power, but
that it was his plain duty to investigate
all complaints against officers or en-
ployes OF the city.
According to the opinion of the city
attorney ''section Al of the city charter
makes it the duty of the mayor, among
other things, to receive and examine
into all complaints against officers or
employees for violation or neglect of
duty, and certify the same to council or
proper board. am emphatically of
the opinion that it is within the scope
of your power and duty to investigate
any complaints against officers or en-
ployes of the city for violation or neg
iect of duty, and certify your action to
the council or board before which the
matter should come, and for the pur-
pose of such investigation, to administer
oaths to witnesses before examining
them" ~.
Mayor Hazard expressed his readiness
to swear Mr.. Snyder and proceed with
the examination OF the charges that GER
tain police officers and members of the
police commission connived at the run
ming of fan-tan and other gambling
games, Chinese and white.
Mr.. Snyder replied that he had made
no charges, had no witnesses to produce,
and no testimony to give.
Mayor Hazard warmly repeated his
demand that Mr.. Snyder be sworn, and
Mr.. Snyder again declined with equal
warmth and determination, and contin-
ued so to decline, all unmoved by the
assertion Of his honor that the introduc'
ton of the resolution tended to beHmirch
the reputation OF members of the board
and therefore demanded prompt and
thorough investigation.
During the discussion Commissioner
Shatto moved that the motion to take
the star from Humane Officer Wright
be reconsidered, which motion was car
ried. The question then recurring upor
the original motion that Humane Officei
Wright be required to return the regular
officers star now in his possession, tn,
motion was lost, Commissioners Lewis
Mackay voting in the affirmative.
The board then adjourned, but tn,
members still continued the discussion
of the urOuriety of swearing Cono mis-