The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-22
WHO Is TO BLAME?
Alderman Sweeney Says Chief
Jackson Is Incompetent.
OFFICERS SAID TO HAVE A PULL.
Demsnd for Flftsen OmcePs and De-
tecttvo Force-The Chiefs Exeuso
-Ssill More Bsrgiariss.

Last night complaints Of the inefhciency
Of the police force and the incompetency
Of the chief were openly expressed by
members OF the city council; AMI the
charges were not repelied by Chief jack
sons attempt to put the blame on saloons
frequented by the poorer classes. A SEN
sation was created by President Sweeney.
who declared not only that Chief Jackson
was untitled for his position, but made
very disparaging comparisons between
him snd his predecessor.
The carnival Of crime has awakened
such q storm about the ears Of the head of
the reform administration that yesterday
afternoon he: met the police commits
sioners and the police committee of the
two houses of the city council. in executive
session, for the purpose of considering
what should be done to check the burgla-
ries and larcenies which have become so
prevalent. The result Of the meeting was
announced to the council last night in the
following communication from the mayor:
After meeting with the board of police COM
missioners and the police committees from the
respective houses of your honorable body. am
requested 20 communicate to you certain recon-
mcndations by the police department touching
the present condition OF affairs in the city
under the immediate control and direction OF
such department.
The present police force Ii inadequate, by in.
suficiency OF numbers, to afford proper or sui
Acient protection to the outlying districts. The
shortest beat of q patrolmau In the business
portion of the city IL thirteen blocks The
morning patrol consists of only nine men, but
with small increase for the afternoon, and but
twenty -one men on the night patrol. It 10 i'm.
possible for this limited number OF oincers-no
matter how efficient, how brave, how vigilant
they may bs-to properly patrol or police the
large area Of this city. We recommend tempor-
ary increase in the force of at least fifteen pa
trolmen, and that the commission be author
ICED 70 appoint an inspector OF police, who shall
also be known ~ the chief detective In charge
of such officers ~ may be detailed for detective
duty; and that such inspector be allowed sal.
airy OF one hundred aud twenty-five vl.5) dol
lars per month
In this line, IL 10 our opinion that there are
TOO many saloons in this city which are the
sorta for rough and . low element This ele-
ment commits the frequent burglaries in the
city. aud never fails TO ind a convenient place
Of disposng of their ill-gottsn gains. The Ii
censes of all such saloons must be revoked. In
the district formerly known ~ Blackchapel
there arc no less than eight saloons. Along
Jackson street there are . number of saloons
that are the resort Of such characters. The sa-
loon on the southeast corner of Jackson and
he
10 the especial rendezvous for such characters -
above described. One of the police officers
informed me that one night very recently
no counted IA people in this saloon
between the hours of IL and IL o'clock at night
This Is their lounging place, where they eat and
sleep. Itshould be broken up The only way
We see to effectuate this at present Is to revoke
the licenses. We inform you that the police
force can furnish the council information con.
cerniug number of such saloons In this city
which are the lettering places and resorts Of
disfeputable Migrants ana tdlsrs, and whose
licenses ought to b revoked. The revocation OF
such licenses will work NO injury to this city.
The revenue which the city derives by the pay.
ment OF their license n inadequate to meet the
expenses entailed upon the city as q result of
crimes directly and indirectly traceable to such
piacsa
allow us 10 appoint An inspector OF police, with
= salary OF SIPS q month. We recommend the
passage OF an ordinance creating an inspector
OF police subordinate to the chief, who shall
Likewise BY virtue Of his ofico be chief OF de-
tectivss. at SIPS . month, and also the passage
Of an ordinance allowing the commission. until
the further order of tho council. to appoint
fifteen Isl additional patrolmen at . salary OF
eighty $50 dollars per month.
The letter was read in each house. The
delegates passed the bill increasing the
ordinance providing for the creation of a
detective force to committee. A much
more exciting result was produced in the
board of aldermen. Chief Jackson urged
the passage Of the bills. He admitted the
increase in crime. but attributed 1t
TO the large influx Of laborers from the
Great Northern railroad. The city Of Sc
attic, he said. had smaller number of po-
l,.~ e~A ~
in the Union. 1t was necessary to have
the increase in the force asked for
Alderman Ingram objected to the in
crease Of policemen. The robberies were
taking place in the outlying districts, and
IL would take double the number of men to
cover the territory. He thought what
they needed was some detectives.
Chief Jackson replied that the arrange
ment Of the men was the business of the
commissioners and the chief he hoped the
council would not restrict him to de-
tectives.
surely have known there would be an in
fiux of men from the Great Northern, and
might have warned the council IN time.
II was easy enough to put fifteen men on,
but not so easy to put them of. The
finances of the town are not in the most
fiourishing condition, and this increase
meant large additional outlay.
Alderman Miller said it was necessary to
have additional police: the mayor ad the
power TO put on more men in 3 case of
emergency.
President Sweeney said the mayor had
selected Chief Jackson, but the council
never considered him a competent man.
He had done better than was expected.
but his experience was not such ~ posi-
ton of the kind required. Mr.. Sweeney
suggested that if there were too many I'M
desirable characters in town . box car
might be hired and they be sent TO a
warmer climate. If the council wanted to
increase the force they had the right to
know If the force was TO be better Per
sonal pull and friendship have dictated
the selection of police officers, and the
force is not up TO the standard" he said.
They wanted chief Of police who knew
something Of the character of criminals.
For his part, he declared that he did not
consider the chief efficient The force
had grown careless, jolly good fellows
lounging along the street. Dr. Sweeney
washed his hands OF all responsibility for
the police force as constituted. The time
had come to do something. and the aues-
tion was what to do. He advised that the
ordinance be referred To committee The
proposed cost would be one-third more. The
increase would bring the force up TO boom
times. What the city needed Was chief
who knew = criminal when he saw him.
They had had experience with man who
knew how TO catch thieves. Mr.. Jackson
.k~a rart f.ran INIT he had NOT fhs