The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-17

The board of fire and police COM
missioners met in executive session
last night and considered the evidence
in the hearing of Chief Devine. AS
the law provides that the verdict shall
not be made public until it has reached
the mayor, the result cannot be def
nitely announced. The findings Of the
board will be prepared today and
transmitted to the mayor some time
during the afternoon.
The executive session lasted about
an hour When the newspaper men
were admitted Commissioner Cohn
stated that a verdict had been agreed
upon, but it would not be made known
until about , o'clock this afternoon,
that being the time it is expected to
reach the citys chief executive.
While all the members of the board
refused in the most positive terms to
talk or give any intimation as to the
findings The Herald may not be far
off when it announces that the charges
have been partly sustained. If this
be the correct position, it is more than
likely that the board has recommended
a suspension for a period without pay.
1t is very doubtful if the findings
were such as TO warrant a discharge.
If such had been the case the board
would hardly have taken an adjourn
ment for two weeks. which it did.
Should the charges have been sus-
tanned and an absolute discharge fol-
low, the board would undoubtedly
have made provisions for an early
meeting in order to consider the ques-
ton of a successor or other matters
that would naturally confront it in
case of a change in the head of the
department.
i l., \ tof n
vine himself had no news last night as
to the result. His face wore a some
what downcast expression after the
executive session was ended, but
whether this had anything to do with
the result can only be surmised. To
reporters he denied having even an
intimafion of what the board had
agreed upon. but seemed hopeful that
the verdict could be nothing else Than
favorable.
Prior to the executive session an
open meeting was held and the fol-
lowing business transacted:
The committee on rules recommend
ed the following amendments to the
rules:
There shall be standing committee
for the fire and police departments,
consisting of one member for each, to
ne appointed by the chairman of the
board.
Each committee shall frequently in
spect its department and report from
time to tirna The condition thereof.
There shall be also standing COM
mittee of one member to be appointed
by the chairman of the board upon
contracts and supplies for both depart
ments. The committee shall inspect all
contracts and examine all bills and ac-
counts for both departments and re-
port to the board with recommended
tons when necessary"
The rule caused considera BILE discus
sion. Mr. Jennings did not see the ne
cessity for such a rule. All members
of the board, he thought, were, in fact,
a committee of the whole to see that
the departments and everything ii con-
nection herewith is properly conduc-
tsd.
Mr.. Noble stated that the rule did
not intend to prohibit any member of
the board to inspect either department
as frequently as desirable. 1t was sim
ply to facilitate matters, when, for
example. supplies and contracts were
to be passed upon.
The rule carried three to one. Mr..
Jennings voting negatively.
Upon recommendation of the same
committee the following amendment 10
the rules was adopted:
All discussions or criticisms of Off
GERS or members of the force of the
Official acts of superior officers. includ-
ing all officials of the city government,
at the fire department headquarters
ard engine houses are strictly prohib-
tied.
The chief. assistant chief and lieu
tenants will give special attention 10
the enforcement of this rule
This rule is similar in all respects
TO the one recently passed governing
the police department
On recommendation of Chief Pratt
Patrolman Parry was granted a leave
of absence 10 accompany the tabernacle
choir to California on condition that he
employ a special in his place during
his absence.
The communication did not state
when the vacation is to take place.
nor of how long duration. Sut states
the choir will leave April 10.
The report of the fire and police COM
mittee of the city council relative to
the manner in which the police court
records are kept, and ali that portion
recommending the reinstatement of w.
w. Macintosh as desk sergeant was
read.
Chairman Varian did not see how
the board had anything to do with the
record Of the police court. and hence
that portion of the report could not be
considered.
In the case of Mr. Macintosh the
board could not take any action. The
discharge was made by ordinance of
the council and the only way to ap-
point another desk sergeant would be
for the council to pass another ordi-
nance increasing the force
It is understood that the city attor
ney has drafted an ordinance providing
for an additional desk sergeant, to be |
introduced at tonight's meeting of the |
council.
Chief Pratt submitted two claims. |
one for $15.25 and another for s29-S0.
The items were mostly for kilograms. |
bringing prisoners from other towns.
ex ,ressage on boxes for evidence IN |
The Wamholt case, etc AS the different /
items we've not considered specifi /