The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-16
TO CARE FOR WOMEN.
Police Commission Moves for Z
1atr0n at the Jail.
SWEENEY Resukgs JACKSON.
Informed Thot 10eEgeney Y1na IL Not
HI PsrQaisiss Pelieenan Sos
pooAo0 fer Or1nking.

At the regular monthly meeting OF the
police commissioners last evening the ap.
pointmsnt Of . police matron was the
principal subject Of discussion. Incident.
ally conflict Of opinion between Chief
Jackson and Acting Mayor Sweeney re-
lating to the pay Of the proposed matron
out Of the emergency fund caused the
latter to deliver quite . lecture, in
which he informed the chief that he had
NO business with that fund, which was for
the uss Of the mayor alone. At the con-
clusi0n Of the general debate motion was
passed asking the council to pass IN or
dinancs agreeing in its provisions with
the law passed by the state Legislature, and
fixing the salary Of the matron.
The matter was introduced to the meet
ing by . petition from Mrs. Homer H.
Hill, Mrs. G. N. Sheafe and others. declar-
ing that . Law had been passed BY the
Legislature instructing cities Of the first
class to appoint police matrons. that the
city Of Seattle needed one, and asking that
Mrs. Mary B. Reese. well known resi-
dent and property holder of the city, be
appointed.
Chairman Sweeney asked if there'was a
copy Of the law referred to in the clerks
hands. The clerk produced . typewriter
document and said he supposed it to be a
copy Of the law. There seemed to b some
doubt about where the copy came from
and Why il had been brought Mr..
Sweeney then informed the board tina: it
was proceeding on the hypothetical state
ment that the document under considers
ton Was . correct copy. After consider
able argument the clerk read the law a.
q. E~l1
sRcIIoN That there shall b annexed 70 the
police force Of each city Of this state having Z
population OF not Lees than 1000 one or more
police matrons, who. subject to the control OF
the chief Of police or other proper oficer, shall
have the immediate care Of al females under
arrest and while detained in the city prison,
until they arc finally discharged.
Sec Any person on the police force. or In
their ahseuce. any other psrson present must aid
and assist matson whom from necessity she
may require It
eeo For the purpose Of eKecting the main
object Of this oct no female under arrest shall
b confined in the same cell or apartment OF the
city Jail or prison - any male prisoner or any
man whatever.
Sec No person shall b appoinsd to the
once OF police matron unless suitable for the
position and recommended therefor in writing
BY not less than twenty women in good stand
ing and residents OF the city whore the appoint
ment 10 made.
Sec. & 4 police matron shall hold once for
period Of four years, or until resignation, r.
moval from the city or for cause; and for cause
she may b removed at any time BY written
order clearly stating the cause for her removal.
when another matron must b appointed 70 fill
the vacancy without unnecessary delay.
Sec q police matron must b paid such
compensation for her services - shall b fixed
BY the city council, and .: such time - may be
appointed for the payment Of policemen.
Section declares an emergency to exist.
Mr.. Cheasty thought the proper course
Was tor the council TO pass an ordinance in
regard to the police mstron.
Chairman Sweeney agreed with Mr..
Cheasty, and thought the correct manner
of disposing Of the matter was to send .
communication to tho council asking for
an ordinance. He concluded by referring
to the pay Of the proposed matron. Some
one mentioned $50, and Chief Jackson
spoke ~ though the salary could
be paid out of the emergency fund
in the hands of the mayor. He went on
to mention that Detective Roberts had put
in . bill for 81 and Detective Cave for IS in
connection with certain gambling cases
where they had to buy chips to get evil
dence. According to An understanding
with Mayor Ronald these bills were to be
sworn to and allowed out of the emer-
gency fund at his disposal.
This brought Acting Mayor Sweeney to
his feet at once. and he said that he dis
tinctly remembered that the auditing COM
mittee had disallowed tho bill Of Mr..
Roberts. The circumstances were not
known then, but nevertheless that emery
ency fund was in his hands. for his own
use and he did not propose to have the
police department NEEDLE with it It was
small and more . matter Of Office expense
than anything else. At the present it was
only 81.
Chief Jackson stated that he had had
instructions from Mayor Ronald in regard
to extra expense, and had acted in the be-
lief that the emergency fund has sufficient
to meet them.
Commissioner Relic got In . word and
came back to the main issue by saying he
did not think the board should proceed on
hearsay, and suggested that . certified
copy of the act be obtained.
Chairman Sweeney now finished his
speech by telling the chief that he under.
stood officers had no right to spend money
otherwise than their own salary and that
the claim of 50 Of Detective Roberts was