The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-03
MAYOR AGAN'S CRUSADE
He Yields the Pruning
Knife Of Reform with
Telling Effect.
POLICE FORCE FIRST ATTACKED.
BY a Masterstroke Reorganized
and He Himself Will Here
after Supervise Law
and Order.

Monday by a vigorous course OF action.
By one master stroke. he. Lass night, Ell
fected a reorganization of the Police De-
| partment, and took INTO himself the en-
tire supervision of law and order. A
| Chief of Detective was created, and every
evening he will report to the Mayor the
result of his investigation Of policy shops
and other sources of evil.
Long before eight o'clock, the neigh
borhood of the City Hall was crowded
| with citizens, curious to see what would
| transpire at the special meeting of the
Police Commissioners. When at eight
| O'Clock the meeting WAS called to order
in the Council Chamber the lobby was
TANNED as it never was before, the most
| Interested spectators being several mem
| bers of the Common Council Mayor
| Pagan took his seat in the Presidents
| chair without any Formally. his
face wore a Determined EXPRESSION
| and a conscious knowledge OF victory,
| Patrick Smith, the new comm ssio ner
took his seat next to Mr.. Coyle, aud sit
| ting back In his chair, he too seemed con-
! tented. Commissioner UtZ looked pale,
| having only arisen q few days g from
| his sick bed. Commissioner Coyle eoKed
ready for fight, and though he and Com
A IL la
| minority. nevertheless they appeared as
| unconcerned as the Others. +,
The first business was the reading OF
| the minutes, and Clerk McDermott was
| allowed to read them through. Before a
motion to amend ana adopt could be pat,
| Commissioner Coyie rose to his feet and
| fired q little shot at the Mayor
TX .It is Gus tomary at the meetings OF the
| Police Commissioners" he. said, "to pro-
| coed in a legal manner. This is a specia
meeting, anu I believe the call for 1t
| should be read" 1t was read. 1t pro-
| vided for the transaction of any and all
| business that might come before the
board. The minutes we're then amended
| aud adopted.
By adopting the minutes. it was
| thought that Mayor Pagan and his sup
| poruers had decided to allow the increases
| Of Salaries to Chief Donovan and Captain
Hayes, aud there was q look OF disap-
| pointment on the countenances OF the
| auditors. But time proved otherwise.
POLITICIAN POLICEMEN.
The first numDer on the programme
was the following resolution, introduced
by Commissioner Utz:-
Whereas, Membership of political organize
tions, by officers of the police force, is prejudi-
cial ana contrary to the discipline OF the depart
ment, be it
Resolved, That on and after May Is, 1891, such
membership by a police officer will be an oHense
against the efhciency Of this department.,
| punishment therefor, after conviction, will be by
dismissal from the department.
Mr.. Coyie moved the adoption OF the
| resolution. Mr.. Hayden asked Mr.. Utz
for an explanation. Mr.. Utz reEiied that
| he thought policemen had no right TO bs-
long to political organizations. They
| should be Independent and lad no time
TO devote to politics. The resolution was
adopted by the following 'vote:-
Ayes-President Fagan and Commissioners
| Smith aud UtZ.
observation-disclosures Coyle and Hayden.
Loud applause greeted the
ment Of the vote.
CHIEF OF DETECTIVES.
The second bombshell was the follow
| ing resolution by MIR. UtZ:-
Whereas, it is a matter of record that policy
\ shops are still in operation in this city; and
Whereas, 1t is currently reported they receive
| protection at the hands Of our Police Depart
Whereas, The failure of the Grand Jury TO
| indict the arrested policy dealers is no excuse
\ for our Police Department to tolerate the con,
| tinuance OF that nefarious business, for il they
did their duty by keeping these shops closed
| there would be no necessity for the action Of the
| Grand Jury; therefore, be it
Resolved, That Sergeant John Fa inning be and
is hereby created Chief OF Dete ctives, whose
| duty it shall be to report on the evening of each
| day to the President Of this board the result of
| his inv estigations conce rning the operation of
| the policy game. or other illegal pursuits, which
| shall receive unremituing attention under his
| direction, this appointment to take effect imme-
| diately.
When the roll was called. the names of
| Coyle and, Hayden were called first.
| they voted for the resolution. Smiths
q ame was called quickly afterwards, and.
| having heard Coyle and Hayden vote
| yes, b. took it for granted he should vote
| the con trary way, nj SO he answered
| no, but a nod from Pagan made him real
| lie his mistake SO he quickly changed TO
4 - - &l- -4caIr7ffnr, rryno nm q n N nrTG
adopted.
SALARY JOBS.
The third resolution, in view of the
| action of the board In adopting the min
utes, was a regular eye opener. 1t was
introduced BY Mr.. Utz. and read as fol-
lows
Resolved, That the resolution passed at the
| last stated meeting Of this Board, April "a, 1898,
whereby the salary of Chief Donovan was raised
from 1000 to 1850 per annuln, and that of
Captain Hayes from 81 500 to ST., 800 per annum,
| be and the same is hereby rescinded.
Mr.. Coyle was Instantly on his feet, and
| wanted to know If hat resolution was in
| accordance with law. The resolution or
dering the salary increases went into eff
| feet May / for the year, and he thought
the resembling of it now would not stand
a test in court. But 1t was adopted by a
vote OF three TO two.
THAT SUB STATION.
Commissioner Smith here took q hand
in the dance, ana cut a neat uguro Dy In
Producing the following resolution
Whereas, Present needs not demanding the
occupancy for police purposes of the sub-station
at Twelfth and Willow avenue: therefore be it
Resolved, That the sub-station be chosen, and
the force detailed thereto be and they are here
by ordered to report at Police Headquarters;
and be it further
Resolved, That the said building be and the
same is hereby turned over to the Board OF
Council to make ouch use thereof as they deem
proper.
The resolution was adopted by the vote
Of three to two.
The sub station was erected under act
of 'the Legislature for police purposes.
Bonds were issued for its construction. 1t
WAS opened January / last, and has been
occupied by four sergeapts. who each
| worked foul hours per day. doing only
| desk work. All the ~loticers reported at
headquarters, as usual, but all arrests
| made above Sixth street were supposed to
be first brought there, sand from thence
bheys were taken to headquarters in the
van BY the closing of this station there
are four sergeants too many and u reduce
| tion to the ranks is inevitable.
GETTING SQUARE WITH GAS.
The next resolution also was proposed
| bv Mf..Smith. 1t read thus:-
Resolved, That on and after this date the pro-
| ceedings and all official business OF this board
be printed and advertised in The Observer only.
Mr.. Coyle moved to amend ny giving 1t
to toe EUening NcWs. The amendment
was lost. The original resolution was
| then adopted By the three to two vote.
Tne passage of every resolution had
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