The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-24

When Mayor Cox called the council
to order last night there was knowing
expression on his face which seemed TO
says Wichita is on top yet.
1t is well known fact that when the
present board of police commissioners
came into power that the city council
repealed all the city ordinances under
which arrests could be made for a vio-
lation Of the prohibitory law. The city
council determined that if this city was
to be governed from Topeka that all
ordinances which were liable TO make
heavy costs for the tax payers to foot
should be repealed.
The police commissioners found it
uphill work in playing second fiddle to
the assistant attorney. Breaking down
joint doors and hauling hop ale TO police
headquarters to be turned over to the
sheriff may be a pleasing pastime bur
IL does not bring in much revenue and
in consequence the commissioners and
police force are getting short on cash
and no immediate show of getting any
pay from the city. The following com
munication will therefore explain itself:
Wichita, Kan, Sept. %. 1895
To the Honorable Mayor and Council of
the City of Wichita
conference.-the have been Indirectly
informed that your honorable body en-
terrain the opinion that the police force
of our city is larger and therefore more
expensive than it should be.
We fully share this opinion with you.
Since our connection with the depart
ment we have become convinced that
twelve or fifteen efficient policemen
under proper conditions-coulds success
fully perform the police business of the
city.
The change lately made in the ordin-
anceS of the city in realtion to Migrants,
loiterers, etc, has badly crippled the
police in dealing with the lawless char
acters that travel from city to city to
prey upon the public. Before the change
Of these circumstances, the police, who
are well acquainted with this class Of
petty criminals, Were able to COMPEL
them to leave the city: but since the
change they are compelled to watch
them and watt until they catch them
in the commission of some crime before
they can Interfere with them. We are
fully convinced, t ha [ if your honor
able body would enact suitable ordin-
ances, and provide for the payment of
the policemen, the force could immed-
iatel be reduced to twelve or fifteen
men without detriment to the service,
anu mus TciuCe Tie expense Vi tue ut-
partments400 or $500 per month.
Personally, we are very anxious to see
the expense of the department reduced
to the lowest piont consistent with keep
ing the force, as ii has been heretofore,
one of the best in the state.
The commissioners would be very
glad to meet a committee of your hon.
orable body and confer with regard to
the feasibility of accomplishing this
much needed reform. Very respectfully
yours,
DAVID SMYTH,
s. D. LIEURANCE. Chairman.
Secretary.
The communication was read by the
clerk and listened to with much appar-
ent interest by the members of the coun
Gil, after which it was referred to the
committe on police and prison. What
will be the result of this meeting can
not now be told but one member of the
city council expressed the belief that
some understanding would be reached
which would enable the police force to
be put on a basis commensurate with
the ability of the city 70 pay.
There was a somewhat exciting as