The record-union., 1893-05-03
OFFICIAL COURFEOIES
Exchanged Yesterday Between the
Mayor and Chief of Police.
An Old and Dangerous Custom Re-
viyed-Fees for Making Out
Bonds to be Discontinued.

If yesterdays session of the Police
Commissioners was an indication OF what
is to follow at each monthly meeting of
the board, the sessions bid fair to be
decidedly gingerly. Enough has already
transpired since the late election to show
that there is an utter lack of harmony be-
tween the Mayor and Chief of Police, and
people are already taking sides with one
or the other, and police affairs continue,
as in the past, TO be the subject of street
gossip to the injury of the department.
Whenever unwise and unnecessary
discussions have existed among the
members of the Police Commission in
the past the decentralization of the force
resulted, some of the men relying upon
their pulls with one Commissioner or
another to keep them ''solid," even
though they chose to be insubordinate.
When the commission met yesterday
Mayor Steinman reported that the last
bill for hauling prisoners amounted to
SIG 90. He said this was too much, and
officers should take drunks to the Jail on
foot.
Chief Rodgers said it only demon
strated the necessity for the patrol
wagon. 1t was needed every day, and
the person in charge of it was an extra
officer, ready for special duty. The lay
ing off Of the wagon had crippled the
force.
Mayor Steinman remarked that he had
noticed the officers have to do more walk
ing now, but he had not heard of any of
them resigning.
Both Chief Rodgers and Judge Buckley
voted to request the Trustees to replace
the patrol wagon again on duty, the
Mayor voting no.
The next matter taken up was that of
changing the officers beats. Mayor Stein
man said he wanted to know if the same
men were kept on the different beats, or
whether there were frequent changes. He
had heard that Chief Rodgers had shown
1avoritism to certain officers in the mat
ter OF the assignment of details.
Chlet Rodgers denied that he had been
actuated by any motive other than that of
getting the best service when detailing
his men for duty. He was The Chief Of
Police and claimed the right to exercise
his judgment in such matters. He
said he would not be bulldozed-that the
Mayor had Jumped him. as soon as he
got into Office and was doing him dirt"
Mayor Steinman denied the latter
allegation, but remark ed that he was then
Jumping on the Chief, and would con-
tlnue to do so until the latter did his
duty.
Considerable of this kind of talk was
INDUCED in. and finally Judge Buckley
took hand. He said he had heard some
complaint OF favoritiSm; that the men on
the outside beats thought they should be
placed down town occasionally. He did
not care to interfere with the police de-
tail, however, as that, by courtesy, had
always been left 10 the Chief of Police.
Still, he thought it would be good thing
to change the men around each month.
Then Chief Rodgers suggested TO Mayor
Steinman that, instead OF talking about
police affairs on the streets and criticising
him (Rodgers), he thought it would be
better for the Mayor TO consult him per-
sonally.
This brought out the retort from the
Mayor that it was useless for him to talk
with Rodgers, as the latter would not
keep his word.
OF course Rodgers replied in the same
spirit, and compliments were exchanged
on this basis for some minutes before the
subject was allowed to drop, notwith-
standing the fact that several officers off
duty were present and mentally sizing
up the quarreling Commissioners.
Judge Buckley finally disposed of the
matter at issue by moving that its further
consideration be postponed until the
next meeting, which was carried.
The next subject discussed was the
claim of ex-Officer b. L. White to the
typewriter the machine itself, without
any lady operator attachment) in use in
the police office. Chief Rodgers claimed
that it belonged to the office, while White
held that it was his property.
Judge Buckley explained that the ma
chine had been purchased by money re-
ceived by Jailer White for making out
bonds at 81 each for persons applying
therefor.
Mayor Steinman condemned the prac-
tice of citizens being charged by police
officers for making out these bonds. He
thought the salary of 500 paid each Off
Ger and the $3.50 paid the Police Court
Clerk were enough for their services, and
that citizens who wanted bonds made out
should not be taxed therefor.
After some further discussion it was
decided to refer the matter to the City
Trustees, and the board unanimously
agreed that hereafter the custom of charg-
ing fees for bonds be discontinued.
The board then adjourned.