The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-13
New Rules Are Being Made for
the Force
AMENDMENTS TO OLD RULES
A Slight Hitch Over the Appointment of
Special Officer
East Los Angeles Citizens Asking That VoIat-
ors Of the Sunday Closing ordi-
nance Be Punished

| The Police Commissioners passed an
amendment to one of the rules govern
ing the police force yesterday to the eff
feet that no officer. either on or off duty.
shall play cards for money.
81 know at least one policeman who
will be hit hard said Commissioner
Pirtle, just as the motion had passed and
while the smile of satisfaction still re-
manned upon his face. Commissioner
Weber smiled back and said, $50 do l."
with his eyes.
The commission held one of its cele
brated executive sessions for an hour be-
fore the meeting and the amendment re-
garding card playing was one of the re-
suits. Another was the appointment of
Special Officer Richards to position on
the regular force to fill the vacancy caused
by the dismissal of Detective Bosqui. Of
ficer Bates will be made detective when
he has recovered from his present illness.
Still another result of the executive ses-
sion was an understanding with DR.. Bry
ant, the police surgeon, that he shall
present to the commission a report upon
the physical condition of each man on
the police force. The report is to be
examined by DIR. Bryant.
The commission established another
precedent yesterday. A petition was read
asking that the commission revoke the
licenses of C. W. Merry, COS Downey ave-
nue., and Plant & Bealz, G12 Downey ave-
nue., as these saloons are kept open on
Sundays in violation of the Sunday clos
ing ordinance.
The commission took no action upon
the petition, which is signed by about
forty of the residents of East Los Angeles
where the offending saloons are, but sim
ply turned it over to the Chief.
These allegations must be substanti-
ated," remarked Commissioner Pirtle,
'else we cannot take notice of them We
would soon be buried beneath cloud
missoners thought, and it was decided to
let the Chief ascertain if there is cause
for complaint. The former commission
did not recognize such things until the
parties accused had been arrested and
tried by the City Justices; then the
commission will order investigations and
act upon the reports of the Chief.
There was a slight disagreement yester
day between Commissioner Prtlc and the
Mayor. The Health Officer had asked
that his sanitary inspectors be made
the request in the case of DR.. Steddom,
the Health Officer, and Homer Earl, his
office deputy, but when it came to l.. p.
Crane the hitch came. Serious charges
against Crane have been made, it seems.
The Mayor had investigated the charges
and found them groundless, he said. Com
missioner Pirtle was positive that Crane
is entirely incompetent and irresponsible,
and that it was great mistake to appoint
him. His record in Chicago was very
bad, it was alleged. Mr.. Pirtle could not
see why the Police Commission should
duplicate mistake made by the Board of
Health. vote was taken. Commits
sioner Field refused to vote and Commits
soners Weber and Pirtle voted to refuse
the application of Mr. Crane to be APP
pointed a special. The Mayor voted in
favor of the appointment and then de-
clared the vote tie.
Mr.. Pirtle was unable to distinguish the
tie from his position, but generously per-
mitted the Mayor to declare the vote re-
considered and the matter laid over.
VIM. Wells, an employee of the Electric
Railway Company, was made special.
ctor-General Meyberg of the Fiesta
came before the commission to discuss
the question of an extra force of special
policemen for the week of the great cele-
bration. ]
Twenty thousand people will visit Los :,
Angeles during that time" he said.
with them will be ATTRACTED a horde of
petty thieves and pickpockets. The
present force will be in great demand and
large force of specials, he thought as
many as one hundred, will be required to
preserve order and be ready for any
emergencies.
The commission passed motion that
the Council be requested to authorize the
employment of as many specials as the
commission and the Chief of Police shall
deem necessary.
The petition of G. f. Young and others
for a branch police station to be located
on Boyle Heights, was referred to the
Chief, one of the members remarking that |
it might as well die that way as any |
other.
The Union Ice Company presented
bill for $13 for ice AS there had been
no ice used at the station during the |
month, the Chief thought there must be
something wrong with the bill, and it was |
referred to him for investigation. All |
other bills presented were allowed.
There was discussion over the matter
of the police relief fund. Police Surgeon
Bryant presented bill for SOL so from the
Sisters Hospital for the care of Officer
Leverich, who has been sick with erysipe-
las. This was the first demand ever made
on the relief and charity fund, and no one
knows just how to proceed to get the
money.
Another point in connection with
the fund was brought up by the Chief.
The ordinance creating the fund says that
all regular officers shall contribute ~ per
month, The special officers who draw q
salary have been obliged to contribute the
same as Others and the question raised
was whether the specials, whose salary is
very slight, and the matron who gets $50
q month and the Chief, who is not ben
eficiary, should contribute. In other
cities, such as San Francisco and Sacra-
mento, where the fund has been estab.
lished the salaries are raised, as for in
stance, San Francisco and Sacramento