The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-09
TAGGARTS POLICE FORCE
IT'S GRADUAL CONVERSION INTO a
GREAT POLITICAL ALLY.
Further Appointments Held Up Till
After Election to Make the
"B'yes" Fall in Line.

Shortly after Mayor Taggart was elected
there was a wholesale shakedown in the
police department Before he was in Office
a month twenty-nine men were dismissed
for alleged ineflciency. AS a matter of
fact they were men who had made them
selves obnoxious to the liquor element by
enforcing the laws during the last few
months of the preceding administration.
The work did not stop there 1t has gone
steadily on until now the complexion of the
police force has been almost entirely
changed. The changes have been so grad
ual that the public hardly realized they
were being made Since Oct. 29, 1895, when
the first effort to Taggartize the force was
made dismissals have been made every
two or three weeks. IN all hftyfour men
have been dismissed or permitted to resign
under charges. in some cases exceedingly
fimsy. Besides this there have been
number of voluntary designations, patrol
men finding it uncongenial to be connected
with a department laxly administered.
There have been a few deaths also.
Up to March 50, of this year, eighty-six
new men had been appointed. 1t goes with
out saying that men were appointed who
were known to be in accord with the ad-
ministration and who would wink at things
that the mayor and his board did not care
to have observed. Some of those dismissed
were men who could not conscientiously
violate their oath of office and who could
not be nodded to the will of their
perior, A red mark was placed against
the name of each man of this class and
they Were harassed, subjected TO rigid re-
strictiOns and called before the board on
the slightest preteXt. 1t Is well known
that Mayor Taggart will not have men on
his boards or filling his clerkships and
appOintive places who cannot be en-
tirely dominated by him. The po-
lice force has been increased considerably.
On the October pay roll in 1895, ten days of
which was covered by the former admins
tration and twenty days by Mayor Tag
CARTS, 135 names appeared. On that of last
month payable Aug. l, lao names appeared.
This indicates an increase OF eleven, but
does not include twelve or fifteen vacancies
that ought to be filled. No appointments
have been made since March 81. since Ihen
a number of patrolmen have been dis
missed. 1t is stated in excuse that the
board wants to keep down expenses as
much as possible until after the new sta
ton houses are built" This is translated
meaning until after the election" There
are on file in the boards office something
like 1000 applicants for places on the po-
lice and fire forces. Many of the applicants
have been impressed with the idea
that they would stand a Sood
new station houses are built, providing
Mayor 1aggart Is reelected" This sly sug-
gestion is made as a stimulus to setting
them to working TO bring about that re
suit. This is the true reason, 1t is Salu,
that vacancies are not filled and nothing
is done to increase the police ana ilre
forces, notwithstanding the fact that the
heads of those departments are insisting
that they are too shorthanded 10 give the
most efficient service. A man who IS an
applicant for place on the police force,
who has passed Il good medical eXamlna-
ton, who has the best of references and
is Of an unusual oegree Of intelligence, and
who besides was IN sore need of a place,
became Disguised when he enlightened
and secured a place that was less remunef-
alive.
Il don't see," he said what Taggart
means in putting us off for when he could
make appointments just as well as not.
His board has discharged men, and ought
to employ others in their places.
The changes in the fire force have been
almost as great as in the police, although
there have been but eight men dismissed
in addition to nine who were retired on the
pension list. The force has been largely
Increased, fifty-two men having been ap-
pointed to the regular service in lieu or the
seventeen who were retired. There nave
the sublist 1t is given out by the admins
tration that a good many appointments are
TO be made latter the new fire houses are
completed" AS in the case of the police
department, this means after the cleo
ton and providing Mayor Taggart IS
in both instances-to set applicants to Work
with the Taggart machine Even if Tag
CART were reelected only a small portion
Of the 1000 applicants could be rewarded
for helping bring about that result, as there
will not be enough new places to reward