Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-03-19

a. .~~n bs reporter for IHk HsKido
yesterday ard questioned ia fes@fds a.
the ieal0usies sad SHORTCOMINGS ~ the
torres auxin. his teen a of'ses. Mr.
Mrs .iia MT seem Inclined 10 tn.x freely
"a feg4si a. the matfsf
~chafx~s xere preferred against Ser
xeant Wsbb aioat rear sgu. telleie.
be sail -filr records II the depsEt
menf 9llI show the exact date
What sac the nat4reof the charged
askesi the fefsEter.
Well really, I don't remember. The
records % the department. will probably
show.
who preferred the charges
4 doD'f believe | know that either.
said Mr.. Moore after a moments hesiia'
fiea.
What Was done about the nstters"
~Weli. the board decided that Ser
<sant Webb had not exactly done his
duty.
Wa he di-,iplinosi,"
lie nay lave been reprih.anded. bat
l doat remember.
IF be hal tot done his duty Why was
he let n 80 easily asked the reporter.
Three OF four charges had been
made against him" said Mr. Moore.
-bat the time that had elapsed between
the date the acts were alleged 10 have
been committed and the date the
charges were preferred that the board
thought II was not worth While "a push
the matter any.
Don't you consider this little pc
culiar. Mr. More said the reporter.
Perhaps -. perhaps -. assented the
ex prcsident. Personally. ! have my
own opinion ~ Sergeant Webb az an
officer"
will you state your opinIon.
NO. don't think il would he good
policy. l don't believe in stirring these
things up. think the superintendent
IL police and the board IL commissioners
are the proper persons 10 regulate these
matters The present agitation II detri-
mental 20 the best interests OF the
department. in my opinion. Ii will
make II all the harder for the new super.
inslent and the board 10 restore and
maintain discipline"
But the public has right 10 know
II its police force is inefficient. has IL
not.' suggested the reporter.
Perhaps IL has" said Mr.. More. but
! think such matters should be left To
the board u commissioners. Because
prize tight was held in the heart Of the
city within few blocks Of headquarters.
il ia no indication that the police force
- inefficient Prize fights are kept
quiet and the department is no more
responsible than il a burglary had been
committed
But the fight was known 10 some
members u the force at least, and two
policemen were detailed To watch the
haymarkef." insisted the reporter.
Possibly" said Mr.. More. compla-
Gently. ~All | know about the matter l
have read in the newspapers, but ] 80
not think il good policy 10 attempt any
investigation. Let the board manage
the department
Haven't the taxpayers right 10
know whether they are paying for de
partment that is Inefficient"
Yes; but the board 81 police commits
soners and the superintendent look
after those things
Suppose one or two members OF the
board attempt To use the department
for their own political interests sug
gested the reporter.
We'll. ~ course. such thing has
been charged, but do not think II is 50
bad as il was year ago. The members
that attempted that sort OF thing have
seen wherein they were wrong and have
stopped. j do not think some members
Of The board have sustained Superin-
iendent Eastman "a they ought. and
consequently the discipline Of. the de
parfment has been weakened. But 10
attempt any public investigation will be
Ia make u that much harder for the
new superintendent. Let the board
handle such things"