The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-04
ITS SCHEME DID NOT WORK
Board of Safety Lets Go of Its Effort 10
PartisanlZe the Merchant Force.
Men sworn In and Organized Regardless OF
the Sub Board"-MonthIy Department.
RepOrts-POlics and Clean Streets.

The "non-partisan" Board of Safety has
failed in it's sneaking and underhanded
effort to partisanize the Merchant police
force. The board held its regular monthly
meeting yesterday morning Commission
ers Hawkina Catterson and Sullivan were
sll present, as were the heads of the police
and fire forces and the building inspector.
The most important question which came
up for action was the settlement of the
controversy now existing between the
board and the Merchant police force of she
city. The board signalized itself by partly
smothering and partly straddiing the
issue. and ~postponing q decision which
will have TO be made some time. The
trouble originated some time ago, when the
Board of Safety tried to capture control
of the Merchsnts' force By appoint
ing o committee who's duty 1t should
be to act o n applications for POSI-
tons on the force and to decide all matters
not under the immediate jurisdiction OF
the captain. The committee selected oy
the board was carefully chosen as 10 It's
availability, bat when IL was announced
TO the members of the force they showed
their disapprovaI by petitioning the board
TO rescind ITS action. IN board souent 10
smother this protest by totally iRnorinR1t IL.
The force went ahead In their oio way 10
elect their captain and to put the force IN
shape for the ensuing year. Henry +.
Thomas was reelected TO that poeitlons
one which he has held for q number OF
years, and at once went about organizing
the force. appointing his committees ana
tbe board or committee appointed by the
Board of Safety.
It is necessary for the members of tho
Merchant police force TO get their police
- 49, lead ~ and m
previous years the entire force has always
been sworn in according TO q list handed In
by it's captain without any question. Ihe
committee appointed by the Board ofSafety
and Captain Thomas has also. Each COM
prises forty-two men,. and the names
are identical. Clerk Herrick. OF
the board. was instructed to notify
TO be at their hall on the evening
Of April 9. and that those recommended
In the lists would be sworn in. That was
what was given out after the meeting. but
the members Of the force were called down
to the Office and sworn IN last night.
At it's last meeting the board bad laid
over the protest against its interference.
promising to take action upon 10 yesterday:
bnt when yesterday came they left it
buried IN q pigeon hole.
The board lost it's hold on the force when
the men were sworn in. and IL is not likely
that 1t will seek to interfere further. The
force will be conducted as usual without
reference or Difference TO the committee ap-
pointed by the board.
Police TO Help Keep the Streets Clean.
superintendent Colbert. with . view to
cleansing the public t~horoughfsres. has
placed orders In the hands of patrolmen
with Instructions to enforce them. Tho
new order IL to the effect that scattering Of
paper on the streets and the sweeping Of
dirt and trash from business rooms on the
sidewalk 10 strictly prohibited and persons
found guilty of the ~offense open them-
selves TO prosecution. Special efforts arc
60 be made by the police and street COM
missioner to keep the streets clean tho
eoming summer.
Fireman Who Disappeared.
William Kinney, q c0lored pipemsn of
company No. Q. was ~summarily dismissed
from the force. He left the house several
days ago, and nothing has been heard of