St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-08
The FIRED PEELERS
Insist on Having a Hearing
Before Being Rubbed Off
the Roll,
While Mayor Wright Insists
That His Dictum Must Be
0beyed.
The Order OF Dismissal Is Sent
Back Without Recon-
mendation.
A Majority Of Both Bodies Of
. Council Will Stand by
Wright.


met yesterday, and after some discus
sion decided to report back to the as
sembly, without Recommendation, the
letter of Mayor Wright diScharging
Capt. Harft, Sergeant Dowlan and Pa
trolman COnroy.
Previous to the committee being
called to order, j. ID. 0'Brien. one OF the
attorneys for the discharged officers,
asked for pOstponement owing to the
unavoidable absence of j. W. Pinch.
who was associated in the case and
more familiar with the details.
Assemblyman Doran, chairman of the
committee, thought one lawyer was
enough, and as it turned out one was
enough, and little too much for the
feelings of the asSomblymen. Mr..
DOran on calling the meeting to order
declared he would stand or fall on his
action as now before the committee,
and it was for them to decide.
Assemblyman Pike moved the matter
be referred back without any recon-
mendation. He made this motion, he
said, because there was nothing before
fore the assembly. There had been no
opportunity for an investigation. If the
report made by the committee was to
concur in or approve Of the mayors ac-
ton, it would indicate an investigation
had been held.
4 Hearing Demanded.
Mr.. O'Brien said he represented the
discharged officials. and suggested if
there were to be any hearing, it should
be postponed until his associate in the
case, Mr.. Pinch, was present. The men
were prepared to meet any official
charges against them. The charter pro-
vided for the discharge OF police officers
10y the mayor at any time prior to six
months after their appointment. After
that the discharge must be the joint act
of the mayor and council. The council
members, he claimed, could not take
the conscience OF any one man for
right to the men that an investigation
be had. They were ready to meet
charges made, and did not wish to be
charged with not doing their duty, and
discharged with this stigma resting
upon them. Their character was as
much to them as was the character of
any of the gentlemen who constitute ed
the assembly.
Chairman DOran was called out of the
room at this point of the proceedings by
the mayors private secretary, and after
a short conversation returned. On tax
ing his seat, Mr.. Doran said he consid-
cred the mayor the best Judge in such
matters. The mayor having inyeStigat-
ed, acted, and stated he did not pro-
gOse 10 offer any reasons for his action.
There was no other course to pursue
than to approve of his findings.
Mr.. Van Slyke asked how the com-
mittee could send the matter back with
out recommendation. The matter had
been referred to the committee TO inveS-
tiIate. If there were to be no decision,
recommendation or hearing, he would
move as a substitute for Mr.. Pixies mo-
ton that the committee recommend the
mayors action be not coneurred in.
DOran Stands by Wright
Mr.. Doran said he would not consider
any proposition to disapprOve the action
of the mayor. 1t was misfortune, he
thought, that the mayor could not make
or unmake the police force. 1t was not
the part of the council to encourage in
subOrdinatiOn in the police force, and
in his opinion it was not right for the
committee to inquire into the mayors
actions.
Mr.. Van Slyke said the chief of police
had not even been notified or present al
the Investigation held by the mayor
At the least, he thought the head of the
department should have been present
or notified.
Mr.. Doran said there was nothing for
the committee to investigate. The
mayor had thrown himself back on the
statement made in his letter that the
men were discharged for the good of the
service. ANY action which would not
approve of the course ell by the
mayor would encourage insubordina-
ton. The police force was a military
organization, and the mayor should have
absolute command.
Mr.. OBrien said he would agree with
all the chairman Of the committee said.
but circumstances altered cases ma
teriallY, and this was one in point. The
charter imposed the duty of discharging
members of the police force on the coun-
Gil. The mayor had no right to dis
charge unless his action were concurred
III by the council. The members had no
right to discharge officers ont of courtesy
to any official. Two of the discharged
men had been on the force nearly
twenty years, and had families depend
ent upon them. So many years as patrol
men had practically untitled them for
other employment, and if they were to
be discharged there
Should BE Some Reason
assigned for such action. The state
ment had been made that they were
discharged for giving some improper
testimony before q license committee
Ii this were true it was easy for the
mayor to so state. If this were false,
and the mayors action cOncurred in by
the council, the public would believe
the charges so made were proven.
Through false idea OF courtesy to the
MAYOR, or some idea as 10 what power
the mayor ought TO have, but which the
law did not allow him, the officers were
to be stigmatiZed as perjurerS and dere-
lict in their duties. He appealed to the
committee to not allow such things to
be done, and suggested the mayor be
requested to furnish charges. There
was no excuse for the committee if they
acted without hearing the officers side
of the case. If the mayor had chosen
to ignore the charter, there was no
reason why the committee should do
the same. If the mayors ideas and the
charter did not jIOe, something would
have to give away, and in bis opinion
the mayor would be the one to weaken
1t was the same old story,
The Cow and the Engine.
The statement had been made that
the mayor had given the men chance
to resign. This they refused TO do, and
will always refuse. If the mayor did
not for political reasons want them on
the force, it is possible they might re-
sign. The mayor charges them with
perjury and being derelict in their
duty. and they refuse to resign until a
hearing is given them and they are
gwen a chance to diSprove the
charges. Because some mistake was
made by their superior officers was not
sufficient to cause their discharge, nor
any reason why they should be picked
OUT as the victims.
Mr.. Van Slyke moved that the mayor
be requested TO inform the assembly of
the charges which led to the officers
discharge. There was pause for sew
qral mOmqptS hut no Ona SRcOpdpd tho