Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-08-24

because of their fidelity, but because they
were favorites of the powers that be.
-, Some time ago brought TO the atten,
tion of the Democratic members of the
board that the chief secretary had been
drunk on several occasions, so as to unfit
him for duty. but they took no action. He
has 1 a pull in Democratic circles.
ihey retain men on the force. and some
IN the higher positions, who can scarcely
speak much less write and spell, the En-
sllsh language, but in most cases they
have following that is needed to build up
ana maintain the Democratic machine.
several months ago they reduced Martin
Idoran, an efficient officer, from a position
as inspector of detectives. TO make place
Tor one of their henchmen and this only
for political reasons.
Sergeant Casey has a brother who is
rihgieader OF gang of young toughs in
the West bottoms. 1t is charged that he
has used his official position to protect his
brother, and this without let or hindrance
on the part of the chief of police, to such
an extent that a complaint against Officer
Casey has been filed with the board by
private citizen.
Commissioner Johnson has placed his
brother in the department as one of the
detectives, and l believe his father-in-law
is turnkey at police headquarters-all for
the good of the service.
AS detective, they retain man who
several years ago was mixed up in shoot
ing scrape. to his discredit. They retain as
patrolman man who some time ago was
charged with attempting to criminally as
sault little girl. They retain two police
citizen in fearful and shameful manner
because he held beliefs contrary to theirs.
They retain another policeman whose
chief recommendation was an extensively
insulting act of insubordnation during the
latter part of Chief Speers' admnistra-
ton. They retain another patroiman
whose chief recommendation is that, he
sat passively in a saloon and permitted an
alteration to proceed to such an extent
that one of the participants shot and
killed the other in cold blood. They retain
the Priests of Pallas parade, last October.
was knocked down by a gentleman whose
lady companion he had insulted on the
street. Others are being retained whose
most notable characteristic is their devo-
tion to the bottle, as we'll While on duty
as off. cut, ,uu.,. .,,s
perded T. ]. Murphy one of the most
faithful and conscientious officers on the
force. simply upon complaint OF woman
of i'll repute;, The evidence at the trial Pc ts,
fore the police board entirely eXonerated
Murphy and showed that he was only dis
charging his duty. His suspension con-
tirued until about two weeks ago, when ne
was reinstated. The terms of his REIN
statement have not been determined upon
by the Democratic members of the board,
but probably he will suffer the loss of his
salary while off duty in order that Chief
Irwin may be upheld.
I'm the resolution discharging these six
teen men the Democratic commissioners
sustain their action on the ground that
they are not proper persons to discharge
the duties of police officers.
The reason they give is lie. and they
Neither can they sustain their action
upon the ground that the appropriation
is inadequate: Last year the department
was given Sl5S. .5G0-sS500 more than this
year. The total paid force of the de-
partment is $50 men. If each were made
to sustain a reduction of $50 year it
of sS.50O If the chief. the inspector of de-
tectives and others of the better paid Off
GERS We're reduced in proportion to the eN-
cess of their salaries over those of the
patrolmen. which would be no more than
proper and right then the reduction of the
salaries of patrolmen would have been
scarcely more than nominal.
''Fyke truly said at the meeting yester-
day that the police force was inadequate
in point of numbers for proper protec-
ton of life and property, and thereupon,
duce the force and discharges sixteen Of
the best men.
criminal showing an utter disregard and
contempt for the rights of citizens. and was
designed. as 1 stated before. simply to
build up that part of the Democratic ma
chine whose chief promoters are Bill Stone
and Boss Gambler Findley.
''Fyke and johnson owe nothing TO the
peSp as hey i they # s
bidding they heed and not the wishes of
the people. and their action of Yesterday
was simply in furtherance of that policy.
The statement of Fyke and johnson
that the men discharged have been devot-
ing their time to secret political meetings
is absolutely untrue, and as cowardly as
untrue as an attempt to shirk the re-
sponsibility for their action. If this were
true, why were they not brought by the
chief before the board for neglect of duty?
And if it We're true, why has action not
been taken upon the members of the force
who hold beliefs contrary to those of the
men discharged. and who have been active
in the support of those beliefs? Again. I
say it is cowardly attempt to evade re-
sponsibility and a despicable act of political
trickery and chicanery. They have shown
themselves to be pothouse politicians.
'Fyke is reported to have said that
am fool il thought he and Johnson were
going to discharge their friends. I admit
that l sufficiently fool to believe that
they would show proper respect for the
positions they held. and tha. they would
not utterly disregard the good and welfare
of the community in their attempt to fur
ther the course of the Stone-Findley ma
chine"