Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-07
THE OFFICES BEING FILLED.
The Council Selects Fire and
Police Commissioners.
The City Attorneys Opinion as to
the Control of the Chain Gang.
The Mske-Up OF the Two Most Impor-
tant Boards-Minor Ofdcials
Who We're Select
ed-NOtes.


Who Were Select
ed-Notes.
An adjourned meeting of the council
was held at 2 O'Clock yesterday after
noon. Eight members present.
Mr.. Munson moved to go into an elec'
ton for board of police commission
ers, Mr.. Innes moved to amend by
postponing until the return of the mem
ber from the Eighth ward (Mr. Gaffey.)
This motion was lost by strict party
vote of 5 to 8, whereupon the original
motion of Mr.. Munson was put and
carried.
The names, of John @. Tufts, 7. j.
Weldon, A. J. Bredish, w. F. Bosby-
shell, A. F. Mackay and M. P. Snyder
were placed in nomination. The first
four named were elected by a vote of 5
to 3, MessrH. Nickel, Innes and Pessell
voting for Mesers. Mackay and Snyder.
The chair then declared Messrs. Tufts,
Weldon, Bosbyshell and Bradish elected
as police commissioners for the ensuing
term.
FIRE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr.. Rhodes moved that the council do
now 20 into an election of fire commits
sioners. The names of George p. Nc
Lean, Jacob Kuhrts, W. j.. Broderick
and r. E. Wirsching we're then placed
in nomination, and each having ie-
ceived the entire eight votes of the
members present was declared to have
been duly elected.
SUPERINTENDENT OF CHAIN GANG.
On motion of Mr.. Rhodes, the council
next proceeded to an election for captain
of the chain gang. Mr.. Nickel moved
to postpone until Monday, January 10Th,
which motion was then lost. The name
of j. j. Houston was then submitted
and received votes, Mr.. Nickel voting
for George N. Lockwood. Excused from
voting, Messrs. Innes and Pessell.
sPRINKLING INSPECTOR.
Mr,Munson moved that the council elect
q superintendent of street sprinkling.
w. A. Caldwell was placed in nomina-
ton, and also E. j. Reese. Mr.. Cald-
we'll received Elk votes, and was declared
TO be duly elected.
6OME JANllOhp C1OohHs
Mr.. Strohm moved that the council do
now proceed to elect one chief janitor
and three assistants, two of whom shall
act at the city hall and one at the police
station. Cyrus J. Vena was elected
chief ianitor, with Isaac Hall and Fred
erick Marshall assistants at the city hall.
Scipio Thompson was chosen as janitor
at the police station.
HOSPITAL STEWARD.
for the city hospital.
Mr.. Nickel moved to amend by refer
ring the subject matter to the board of
health, which was then adopted.
ENGINEERS AND ELEVATOR BOYS.
Mr.. Strohm now proposed te elect two
engineers for the city hall, which was
carried. The names of F. E. Bland, Fl.
W. Smith and W. B. Sprague were
in nomination. F. E. Bland received
votes, w. B. Sprague andH. w. Smith
2. The chair then declared Smith and
Sprague to have been duly elected.
On motion of Mr.. Rhodes two elevator
boys were to be chosen, when Mr., Innes
moved that the present incumbants ED
Kinsey and Thomas z. Smith-be re-
tanned in their position.
The council then adjourned.
THE CHAIN GANG.
City Attorney Mcfarland yesterday
gave an opinion to the city council as to
whether the park commissioners have
exclusive control over the city prisoners
commonly known as the chain gang.
The Whitney act providing for police
courts and the city ordinances are cited
in relation to working prisoners in the
city. The ordinance says the prisoners
shall work under the direction of the
chain gang overseer and do such work
as the superintendent of streets may
designate. The act creating the board
of park commissioners provides that on
request of the board prisoners over 81
years of age sentenced to hard labor in
any OF the jails. prisons, houses of cor
rection, work-houses, ETC., of the city or
city and county, may be put to work in
board. The city attorney holds that
"may" should not be construed as
mandatory, and from the language
of the act it was not intended by
the legislature that the act creating the
park commissioners should supercede
the Whitney act. "And even if this
were true," says the city attorney, sit
will be observed that the Whitney act
provides: THAT persons convicted in the
police courts may be required by ordi-
nance to labor in the city, leaving it
discretionary as to whether the labor
should be required in the Jail or any
where within the limits OF the city, while
the language of the act creating the park
commissioners provides that Only pris-
oners who have been sentenced to hard
labor in the jails, prisons, etc., may be
required to work upon the parks and
grounds
"The first ordinance which have
cited requires the city prisoners to per-
form work on the public works or ways
of the city, and not in jail; and as it
also provides that this labor shall be
performed at such places as may be des-
ignated by the superintendent of streets,
! am of opinion that the chaingang, as
now constituted, should be controlled
and directed by the superintendent OF
Streets"
Seventy Five Commissions.