Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-21
THE POL|CE COMMISSION
Increases Sergeant Donelson's
 Pay and Relieves Him
OF MUCH ROUTINE WORK
Chief McDonaId'S Report-The Wardens oi the Prison Strike Streak of Luck
 Window Blind Discussion.

A meeting of the police commission was held last night at o'clock in the office of Garrett & Underwood. over the First National bank. Those present were . Chairman Stevens and Messrs. E. Lesser, M. c. Reynolds and W. c. Garrett.
 The minutes of the meetings of March g, 10, 15 22, and 30 were read and ap-, proved. | The matter of increasing the salaries of the wardens was brought up but passed until later on, on account of the absence of MT Lane.
 The petition of Officer J. H. Mullin for pay for time lost on account of injuries received while in the discharge of his duties, was allowed, as was, also. one from Officer R. H. Patton. D. Chairman Stevens action upon the mo- tion of MT. Lesser, was concurred in, in relieving Sergeant Donelson from the ne- cessity of reporting from all of the boxes at specified hours. He is to report in the future, from the boxes on which ever beat he happens to be in order that his { wherea bouts will be known at headquar- ters Chairman Stevens stated that this was done in justice to Sergeant Donelson and to relieve him of the burden of pay ing needless visits to the boxes in the outlying districts.
 The following communication from Drs Barclay, presented by MT. Lesser, caused quite an animated deDate.
 Birmingham, Ala, April 13, 1897. To the Honorable, the Board of Police Commis sioners, City:
 Gentlemen--Having been appealed to by many of the best citizens of the city,. among whom are a number of our lead- {, ing physicians, to take official cogniZance of a matter which is claimed to be im-s proper and wrong, viz: The fixing and maintaining of immovable blinds on the3 front windows of the many houses of ill- Co In 1n aft ftt- I hoo fa hot tnxr n had the matter under consideration and investigation, and I beg to state that I am convinced that no person or class of individuals would be in ny way injured, by the removal of said blinds; while from a sanitary point of view, and upon the ground of humanity the unfortunate in-, mates of such houses would derive great benefit. These blinds exclude the light as well as the free circulation of air, both of which are necessary to the mainten- ance of good health, and especially is this the case with the inmates of these particular houses for the reason that they are necessarily in doors almost the whole time, day and night, as it is of course improper for this class of people to be permitted to parade the streets at will whereby they would derive the ben- efits of pure air portion of the time.
 As to the many assertions which we hear that these blinds serve as an ad- vertisement of these places, and therefore +, tend to and invite immortality, or the, other assertion that the enforced closing of the front doors, and hence the alley entrance to these places rendering 1t in- convenient or impossible for the police force to maintain the proper order there in. have nothing to say since you should be the better judges of these matters. I think however, upon the grounds of good sanitation, and perhaps humanity your honorable body might cause the re- -ts moval of these blinds without the fear of adverse criticism by those who are prop | erly informed on the subject l might add that indecent conduct may be seen at most any time by persons passing who look up and down the alleys, which would not occur with street openings
 J. w. BARCLAY,
 County Health Officer.
 MT Lesser defended the opening of the window blinds on the grounds as set for ward in the communication of Dr. Ban clay.
 MT Garrett seconded the motion of Mir. Lesser to open them, but stated he did so only in order to gef 1t before the commission for discussion. It was passed v until later in the meeting. -~ The following quarterly report of Chief Mcdonald was read and accepted: s- .4,4 Birmingham, Ala, April l, 1897. To the Honora ble eBoard of Police Com missioners. Birrning ham, Ala: 4 Gen'l l.men:-I have the honor to submit z herewith quarterly repo1l. of the police department fer the months of January, February and March, 1897: To Amount of Fines Assessed--Janu- ~ uary. $1.S95; February, $21S5.50; March, $2372. Total, $6, ,452. 50. iai To Amourf of Fees Assessed--January. s1O6.O5; February s27O.55; March, $2S6.5O. Total, s663.50 Total amount aso.Ssed in fines and u fees $7,1l5.60.
 ,,; To Amount of Fines Collected--Jan- -$S17. To:al s1S429o. ,- gro Amount of Fees Colleo.ed-Ja nuary, sl0 February $25; March, $32.5o. Total, s57.50
 To Back Fines and Fees Collected .anuary. $32 February, $30.50; March, S76.50 Total s139
 Reunited by Mayor J anuary s1325O; Fsbruary, s1s1; March, s207. Total, S530. 50.
 Reunited by Judge of Count-January, s7l.7O; February, S69; March, s73. Total, a $213.70.
 V Nscapsd-January. $247; February, ss2; March, $156 50 Total S46550
 Served and Being Served-January, ' $tiF7.7O; February, $1.5S160; March, $1,- S415O. Total S4.600.S0
 sre Total S5.S1050. .tl Total Cash Receip-s--Junuary. s372.15; February, $552o5; March, s916 Total, Stolan Property Recovered-January, $247 30: February, $s42; March, s2ss. To-
 Street Tax Collected, January. s1, ,26s;
 
 $G.637
 Poll Tax Colleoted--Jnnuary. $50; February. $66l.50: March, $1, ,097. 50. To- ! ttaL s2.162 50.
 Arrested for Burglary and Grand Lar ll cenyA-Jsnuary. 42: February, 34; March, 32. Total, 113.
 Bour,1 Over January. g; F bruary, o 1T; March. IA Total, 53 Hard Labor Assessed-January, S6; Feb-rlry, 0; March. 772. Total S5s. ti Rem lftesi-Isnuary, 2; February, 0; March 30. To al, g.
 e9prd--Tanpary. 12 February. Q: MllrcA. 8. Total. 20
 TurryaI Cr,- to fhe Sheriff Before Trial / TvJa nuary, 5 February, 8; March, 4 To- tai. 10.
 ~s- Arrests: 's.. White Males-Januarv. 15S. February, 195: March POI. Total 654
 Cciored Malss-January POI: February. 255: N'rr%a'. ETC. Total. 7S2 10
 White emalss-January 5; February. 16: March. 9. Total, 30 =