The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-07-10

The message OF Mayor Shortlidge tol
City Council last Thursday evening"
was brought up by the Board Of Police
Commissioners last evening especially
the clauae which related to the govern
ment Of that body. After being dis,
cussed the commissioners prepared
this communication which will be-
to the mayor. ..s-ss-s.sa
Whereas. the mayor OF this city, by
his communication 80 ths Council dat
ed July2. has used certain phrases
which might be considered as q refiec-
tlon upon the present Police Com mis- :,
sion or on some or all Its members,
the portions OF said communication
to which reference is hereby made be-
ing the following;
" erhe crea ting OF the Police Com
lation OF the principles of local self
government, but 1t has been attended
from the first by soandals. by corrup-
tion, by violence and by q shameless
labase OF power. II should never have
been created. Neither In its Inception,
nor In its execution, was the public's
interest considered. The Police Com
mission. the latest outrage perpetra-
ted by the Legislature of the state
, upon Its HELPLESS community. cost the
taxpayers S72 600 this year, and they
have exceeded this appropriation by
nearly $4,000. Com pared with Read
Ing. Pa, city OF about the same
|. population as Wilmington, we pay
annually $4,000 more for the ma Into.
nance OF peace than is found neces.
sary by our sister city. This commits.
/ sion was created for purely partisan
reasons and the next Legislature ought
to wipe 1t out
And whereas. It Is the wish Of this
board collectively and Individually t.
be at peace and to work in harmony
with the other city officials and do
partments; therefore DO 1t resolved
, that the secretary of this board be In
etructed to send letter to the mayol
i'll the following words:
"Eyap g. Shortlldge. Esq. Mayol
OF Wilmington.
DEAR Str: In your com municatior
i to the president and members OF the
o City Council, dated July 9, certain
4. statements wero made by you ant
terms used which might seem to re
y fleet upon the members of this com
n mission. In QUIZ relations with YOU
a as the chief officer of this city we
have endeavored to treat you with the
. utmost courtesy and respect.
q 'If the phrases used by you In you
q communication to Conncil do not re-.
"A for to the present Police Com mission
= rs now constituted, we SHOULD be glat
to know 1t, that the pleasant relation
d which we had supposed to exist lie
|. tween yourself and this department
might not be changed. II on tn,
other hand you have seen fit to max,
use OF statements concerning this
board which arc not Justified by facts
's but are false and untrue and tend tc
IT deprive this commission or any OF IL
:, members of the respect. confidence
2 and esteem of any of our citizens, w
u demand that you shall produce proc
l. sufficient to uphold yonr statements
and to that end we now express to yoi
our entire willingness to permit ful
and complete examination Of all gu
books. papers and accounts. as we'll a
to assist in thorough investigation
OF all our acts as board, and we no,
IN suggest, II your attack was made up
on the present board that yol
shall name to this board four respons
Bile and reputable mon OF the city, s,
lected equally from the Democrat
@, and Republican parties to make
o. thorough investigation of the truth c
, falslty U any statements or charge
made by you, rejecting on this coz
10 mission. We do not undertake to al
10 swer for or defend the action of an
Police ommission before the preser
board was created, but we repel, den
aud declare false any statement {
c. imputation affecting our official q,
at tlons or charging any of them to hay
"a been improper in any respect. OF n
y official act, individually or COLLECTIVE
~ ly are we ashamed. but In respect
I'd all such We court tho fullest invest
If CATION.
-, - III you see fit to disavow you
charges respecting this present boart
q that Is the end of the matter. II yo
ss desire to be understood that you
y charges relate to this board, we d.
mand that you shall name to US
q number OF men from both parties. b
It whom you would be satisfied to ha,
an Investigation made.
I'VE will be pleased to select frol
e among thuse persons whom you wi
AZ name to US, or agree with you upu
10 four men to make such q suggeste
10 Investigation"