The Portland daily press., 1894-12-12
THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
Mayor Baxter Speaks Pertinently Of
the Police.
OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED BY
CITY FATHERS.

The Police Commission Found Fault With
BY Aldermen McGowan and Peters-No
Chairs in the Aisles-Hill for Coasting-
Five O'Clock Bell for Workmen-or-
ders and Petitions.
III the course of the meeting of the city
government last evening, Mayor Baxter
spoke rs follows in connection with the ap-
pointment of new members os the police
force:
There seems TO be a Misrepresentation with
regard to the duty of the Mayor In making
appointments to the police force. Men are
urged by their friends fer appointment as
though he could appoint whom he pleased.
The law is explicit on this subject, and Is as
follows:
"Chap. 4S6, section 4.-An appointments
hereafter for anyof1ce or position described
in section !. which section refer to the ap-
pointment of police officers shall be made
by the Mayor with the approval of the
aldermen, by selec tion from list of not
more than three persone from said Success
full candidates who have been certified by
the examining board as having attained the
highest rank" When an appointment is
made and con frmed by the aldermen the ap-
pointee holds office until he attains she age
of sixty-nve years, and can only be removed
for cause.
In accordance with the law just read, l
have made requisision upon the examin-
ing board and have received the, following:
BOARD of Police Examiners, Portland,
December 3,lS94:
"Dear Sir-At your request I hand you
of - b-A
men who have the highest rating on our
books, Newell A. Thompson, Leander E.
Woodsom and Charles H. Lemont.
Higned) GEORGE TREPE THEN
Secretary"
Therefore ask you to confirm the appoint
ment of these men. have received a NUM-
ber Of anonymous letters containing insinu-
ations against the.character of several of
the policemen. but nothing which can
possibly be investigated. One or two of
these letters must have been written by
men of intelligence, yet I cannot under
stand for what purpose they address letters
to me without giving definite information
which would serve to incriminate1 the men
against whom they write.
still believe that We have an excellent
police force whole, and 1 do not believe
that it should be condem on acc cunt of
the faults of few. The character of these
men, the guardians of public order, is too
precious to them, and to orr citizens to be
lightly brought into qeustion, but If there
are any wrong doers on the force it should
be purged of them; and trust that any
citizen who has definite knowledge of
wrong doing on the part OF anybody con-
nected with the police department viii
come forward in a manly way and give the
police committe the benefit of that knowl-
edge. think l understand the temper of
the committee, and of this board well
enough to say that know that they will
promptly vote to remove any man who is
shown to be guilty of protecting crime or
neglecting his duty in enforcing the laws.
l call, then upon all citizens who know of
wrong doing by anybody in the department,
to give me such knowledge over their own
signatures; and / assure them that it shall
be promptly acted upon.
understand that people sometimes make
presents to policemen for special service.
This'should never be done. Doubtless in these
cases the policemen is only doing his duty,
and not entitled to reward; but if any per-
son feels under obligation to reward the
policeman OF his beat for " hat he regards
as special service. would suggest that in
stead of feeling the man the money should
be handed to the treasurer of the Police
Relief Association, with the name of the
officer in whose behalf the contribution is
made.
The police committee will be in session
Thursday and Friday at twelve O'Clock to
receive any complaints against the police
which may be made.
FAULT FOUND WITH THE POLICE COM
MISSION.
Alderman MCGOWAN asked for the rating
of the three men. Mayor Baxter replied,
e's5." Then Alderman MCGOWAN said that
there was a young man present, named
Martin 9. Flaherty. who had rating of SO.
Mr. Flaherty spoke for himself and said that
he was examined October Sd. 1898. He re-
ceived rating of SO. He was told by Mr..
Trefethen of the police commission that his
name had been handed in last July TO the
Mayor, but the Mayor had not received it.
He had seen Mr.. Trefethen this week and
had been told that the three names had
been handed in.
Alderman McGowan said that it looked as
if there had been serious mistake by the
police commission and ths. they had not
sent in theIthree men with the highest
rating.
Alderman Peters read from his note Book
that he had seen in the city clerks book
the name of Michael Fell. with rating of
s5, also the name of Melvin E. Thompson
with rating of rs.
Mayor Baxter explained that that rating