The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-18
POWERS0F THEPOLICE
Charter Trainers Discuss Arrest
Without Warrant Clause.
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHEF
Andrews Claim That Many Innocent
Persons Have Been Put In
the Sweat Box.

terdiay On TIE revision OF the FIRE and police
department bills, the amendments being.
as rule OF minor character, the dog
away with the commissioners Of both bodies
ard placing each department under the
charge Of chief who shall report 70 the
mayor having already been decided upon.
The members OF the commission are be-
ginning to look weary. They have held ex-
tended night sessions every evening this
week, and they VIII SIT today, although il
was understood az the start that the men,
bers would have the whole OF Saturday 10
attend 10 their private business.
Fire and Police.
There was little discussion as 10 the FIRE
department Bill. but the police department
bin was closely debated. clause BY clause.
Andrews moved 10 alter the provision OF
not more than one member OF the force 20
1909 OF population, 10 100 OF population.
which is about the strength Of the force at
present, and which Andrews thought vas
amply sufficient Stein moved that The
proviso be stricken out altogether leaving
the strength of the force a. the discretion
OF the city council, and T'rsmper said there
were now only about forty-three police
men for population Of o.. 90, and We ought
TO have about twenty more men lie did
not see why they should put such a restrie-
ton on the council. when no necessity for
- was apparent
Crane remarked that four years ago the
police force numbered ninety, and IL was a
significant fact that not more than six men
who were on the force then are among its
present members. Josln offered a strong
argument against the Andrews motion.
bringing forward the statistics Of other
cities To show that few In the country had
as small a police force as Seattle.
The amendment was lost, and also an at
tempt TO place the chief OF police more d.
~. Il r,e aeeN
city council than at present. Bausman
held that the police department was SUM-
Gently hampered by the civil service rules,
and already the chief was as much under
the control Of the mayor as was necessary,
and leave the chief shred Of responsible
ity 20 the people.
Andrews admitted that the police were
now under the control OF the mayor, but lie
wished it TO De more expressly provided IN
the charter.
Arrests without Warrant.
The powers OF the CHIEF OF police next ex-
cited debate, the charter providing that ne
should make arrests under warrant, and
without warrant as prescribed by orai-
nance Winsor attacked the latter clause
savagely, claiming that no such arbitrary
power Of arrest should be IN the hands OF
the chief OF police, and that, as the COM
mon law provided, no citizen should be
law No possible negatioa OF common law
rights should be permitted. Joslin said II
they took away the power OF the police in
this instance it would cripple the depart
ments usefulness. II a man was seen
breaking into house the policeman could
not arrest him until he had pulled a justice
out OF bed and obtained a warrant. Wlnsor
insisted that the council should prescribe
the power under which arrests might be
made without warrant.
Andrews declared that the council had
purposely neglected TO prescribe what peo-
pie should be arrested without warrant, so
as TO give the chief OF police as wide a
sweep as possible. In fact, the city ponce
office had often been used as sweat box,
and many innocent persons had suffered
arrest Joslin believed the police should
have ample powers, but individual rights
should be so guarded that the police would
make wrong arrests at their own peril IL
had been suggested to him that each ponce
officer should give bonds, then they could
be given full powers. and the citizens would
be protected against arrest without rea-
sonable cause
Bausnnan retorted 10 Andrews that there
had not been more than three wrong arrests
in as many years, and then pointed out 10
Winsor that they might Just as well sus-
pend the right OF habeas corpus for all tifle
as to pass a bill against arrest without war
rant. He suggested 10 insert ''and with
out warrant a. prescribed by common law
and the laws OF this state. Everybody knew
they could arrest a burglar under that law
without warrant Winsor admitted thar
might cover the point, and the discussion
dropped, on a suspension OF the rules
moved by Middleton 10 again bring IN a
motion 10 strike out the word "freeholde-"
IN the eligibility OF councilmen. It IS rather
strange. the strong fight being made Tor
the elimination OF this word. more parti3u-
larry as the charter the cominls-
sion was chosen 70 amend bears
on its front page the proud uile
OF "freeholders' charter" II was not
debated yesterday. but win probably be
again voted upon today. The last time II
Vas inserted by the close vote OF 5 70 Z.