The Redwood gazette., 1895-01-17
BOTH SCORED.
The Final Scrap Over Police Pay in
The Ex-COunCil.

Inc EX.VOunCDs
At the final meeting of the old
council last week there was one very
important and interesting question up
for consideration. 1t was whether
Frank French was a policeman. or
whether he was plain, every day
citizen, just like the rest Of us. Cor
poration Attorney j. H. Bowers, in an
extended opinion, decided that French
was a policeman. 1t was the opinion
of the majority of the members of the
council that he was not, although the
majority very gracefully yielded to
the opinion of the corporation at
torney.
The question came up in this man.
ner. In November last Chief of Po
lice Crooks left the city, turning his
star over to Henry Baker to wear un-
til he returned Baker returned the
star to Mayor Bell. At that time
Mayor Bell wrote note to the coun-
ell to the effect that he had discharged
Crooks for the reason that he had left
the city without His Honor's permis-
sion and had turned his star and keys
over to private citizen. The next
day the Mayor wrote the council an
other note to the effect that he had
promoted Frank French to the posi-
ton of Chief of Police, vice VIM.
Crooks, discharged. A. third note fol-
lowed this to the effect that VIM. AL
len had been named by His Honor as
patrolman. All these notes were sub
mitted to the council at one time, al
though bearing different dates.
In order to make the appointment
of Chief of Police valid the Mayor
must have the consent of the council.
In order to appoint patrolman he
merely needs to commission his man,
and after the latter files bond for
the faithful performance of his duties
he is patrolnan. The council refused
to confirm the promotion of Frank
French to the position of Chief, but
Allen was patrolman by appoint
ment received.
City Recorder Gleason, now ex-city
recorder, was in quandry to know
whether the voucher for police officers
salary should be made out to French
or Allen, that of Chief being made
out to Crooks, as his successor had
not dulyl qualified. He was of the
opinion that the voucher should be
made out to Allen, because French
had been squeezed out of official ex-
istence by the promotion which was
rejected by the council. He asked for
advice from the other members of the
council, and three, if not all four, con-
Cured in his opinion. He addressed
note to City Attorney Bowers, and
at the last meeting Judge Bowers
gave it as his opinion that when the
council refused to confirm French as
Chief, and inasmuch as Mayor Bell
had not dismissed him from the SER
vice he was sti policeman, and Al
len was not.
When the opinion was reported it
was announced that VIM. Allen was
drawing salary as special policeman,
and on this tack Mayor Bell had scored
against the majority of the council, be-
cause they were not on to the fact
that special police officer could be
appointed and draw salary without
their knowledge. The announcement
brought out resolution from the ina
jority to the effect that hereafter no
orders shall be drawn for extra or
special policemen without the police
men first presenting bill to the coun-
Gil. This passed by vote of three to
one, Aid. Caswell voting in the mega
tive. This was the last interesting
scrap of the old council.
BURNT CORK ARTISTS.
Redwood Bows Show I'm fo Excel.