Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-07-12

Address Calling Upon His Honor to Ex-
plain.
The regular meeting of the Board of
Police Commissioners was held last
Monday. After the usual routine bust
ness had been disposed of President
Lawson said there was matter he de-
desired to bring before the board. He
had reference to the message OF Mayor
Shortlidge, which was read to City
Council ON Thursday last, and in which
message the mayor referred to the Police
Commission and said it had been "at-
tended from the first by scandals, by
corruption, bypiolence ana by shame.
less abuse of power" The board takes
exception to this and desires, to know
whether the mayor refers to the old
commission or to the commission as
created under. the new act, which has
been free from scandals, and not marked
by violence, by corruption and by
shameless abuse of power"
In the message the mayor also says
The Police Commission cost the tax
payers $4,000 this year, and they have
exceeded this appropriation by nearly
$4,000" The Police Commissioners
look upon this as an unjust statement
and altogether incorrect after their con
tinued struggle for the past year to run
the department on very economical
basis. In the first place they asked City
Council for an appropriation of
73,648.37. They got only $73,36I.29
They then asked for an extraordinary
appropriation Of $4,000, which was
granted them. At the end of the fiscal
year they had a surplus of $2S6.0S. In
no way is it shown that they exceeded
their appropriation of $4,000 at any
time.
After the members of the board had
discussed the statements made by the
mayor, as regarded the Police Commits
sion, President Lawson offered n pre-
amble and resolution relating to the
matter, experimenting them with u
statement addressed to the mayor The
preamble and resolution, foilowed by
the communication to be forwarded to
Mayor Shortlidge is as follows:
WHEREAS, The mayor of this city, by
his communication to the Council dated
July I'd, 1894, has used certain phrases
which might be considered as reelection
upon the present police commission or on
some or all OF its members the portions of
said communication to which reference is
The creation of the Police Commission
has not only been gross violation of The
principle of local self-government, but it
has been attended from the first by scan
dals by corruption, by violence aud by
shameless abuse of power. IL should never
have been created. Neither in its inception
nor in its execution was the public interest
considered
And also the following:
The Police Commission, the latest
outrage perpetrated by the Legislature of
the State upon its helpless community.
cost the taxpayers S72,UO0 this year, and
they have exceeded this appropriation by
nearly $4,000. Compared with Reading,
Pa, Il city of about the same population
as Wilmington, we pay annually $4,000
more for the maintenance of peace than is
found necessary for our sister city. This
commission. was created for purely partisan
reasons. and the next Legislature ought to
wipe it out"
AND WHEREAS, it is the wish of this
board, collectively and Individually, to be
at pence and to work III harmony with
other city officials and departments there
fore be it resolved that the secretary of
this board be instructed to send u letter to
the mayor in the following words:
EVam g. Shortlidge, Esq, Mayorof Whining
ton--DEAR SIR In your communication
to the president and members of the City
NouhSiis uateu JulN ~, GeTlalu statements
were made by you and terms used which
might seem to reflect upon the members
OF this commission
In our relations with You as the chief
officer of this city we have endeavorea to
treat you with the utmost courtesy and
respect. III the phrases used by you in
your communication to Council do not
refer to the present Police Commission as
now constituted, we should be glad to
know it, that the pleasant relations which
we had supposed TO exist between your
self and this department might not be
changed.
If, on the other hand, you have seen fit
to make use of statements concerning this
board which are not justified by facts but
are false and untrue and tend to deprive
this commission or any of its members of
the respect, confidence and esteem of any
OF our citizens, we demand that you shall
produce proof sufficient to uphold your
statements and to that end we now express
TO you our entire Willingness to permit a
full and complete examination OF all our
books, papers and accounts, as well as to
assist in a thorough investigation of all
our acts as board and we how suggest,
II your attack was made upon the present
board, that you shall name to this board
four responsible and reputable men of the
city selected equally from the Democratic
and Republican parties to make a thorough
Vi liG Ut lulSlIy Vi amy
statements or charges made by you, reflect
ing on this commission.
We do not undertake to answer for or
defend the actions of any police commis.
sion before the present board was created,
but we repel, deny and declare false any
statement or imputation affecting our own
official actions or charging any of them to
have been improper i'll any respect. OF
no official act individually or collectively
are we ashamed. but in respect to all such
wecourt the fullest investigation.
If you see fit to dsavow your charges
respecting this present board that is the
end of the matter. If you desire it to be
understood that your charges relate to this
board, we demand that you shall name to
us a number of men from both parties by
whom you would be satisfied to have an
investigation made.
We will be pleased to select from among
those persons whom you will name to US,
or to agree with you upon four men to
make such suggested investigation.
Very respectfully,
[Signed] JOHN w. LAWSON,
PATRICK MONAGHAN,
WILLIAM NJ. PYLE.
The board voted unanimously on the
motion made by Mr.. Pyle for the
adoption of the resolution, and the
secretary was instructed to send copy
L f.