The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-16


paFtmenr resulted in no end of loud talk
or the part Of Chief of Police Hoge, a
few plain statements from members OF the
committee. and nothing of moment being
accomplished. The chief came 10 the
meeting with the conviction evidently
firmly Embedded in mind that politics was
at the bottom OF the committees inten-
TONS and during the session made sew
eral attempts at ordtory in behalf of his
men getting a fair show" etc He was
told plainly that while there are some
capable men in the department, there are
also some who are VIGOROUSLY inefficient.
and that il is his. duty TO weed out and
replace the latter with better men. re-
CARELESS OF politics.
The head of the department demanded
facts and dates as to his incompetent
men. bu; was told this would come later;
that at present the committee was simply
attempting TO discuss the situation and
get his views as to what is needed and
what he intends doing TO prevent further
burglaries and hold-ups. The chiefs lam
guage finally led a member to cite an in
stance of a policeman being Intoxicated
and drinking on duty. hanging about a
saloon instead OF patroling his beat. The
chief was then asked what he would do
with this man should an Investigation
show the charge to be true He calmly
and PECULIARLY replied there were several
KIND, and had no sooner quit speaking
than Member Smith, Of the COMMITTEES
said
TN tell you what Mr.. Chief: If you ana
this TO be true and don't DISCHARGE that
man at once l will be one to do my hard
est to fire YOU"
This statement brought an anseres re-
ply from the chief to the effect that others
had failed to fire. him. although they had
made the same threat. The meeting was
gradually becoming Of a decidedly tl1rhu
rent nature when better counsel prevailed.
ana a rnilder tone was once more assumed
Chairman Bell told the chief openly that
ms ttfoge's) request for six new men would
not nave been opposed by the COMMITTEES
had Inc members felt assured that CONNIE
tent men would have been selected II was
me refusal OF the council to grant this re-
quest which led to all the trouble, accord
i"s 10 the chiefs ideas, and in a highly in
!! u.eu manner ne detailed how he had been
1uiheo down and allowed but two new
men although existing conditions demand
eo al least the half-dozen asked for
We want TO know that you will select
capable men before We 1ndorse any in
crease of the force. That's Ali thera is 70
rangue WIG e"tei Ma
but TINS ola not suit Hoge, who tauntiur-
~ said he did not have to get his me,
confirmed. and would run his department
h.A Glf
chief at aS
Nearly two hours were spent IN TALKING
III THIS strain, DIT one time calmly and
again ansfiIy, the chief insisting even in
ihe lace OF existing crime, that his deoart-
Hehl Is as good as any ever organized in
the city.
me gathering was finally adjourned
without anything definite being offered by
the cnier toward the Improvement of his
a fayr min I..-
MS opinions to Post-Intelligencer re-
porter III this wise:
don't care Dit whether they give me
more men or not. I'm running that de-
partment, and III see them in Ill before
IL lei them name my men under me.
am dong the best / am able with the
force at my command. and / want 10 say
We have done great work / am inaepenn-
ent OF the council and shall do just as l
please, aud L don't care who knows it."
Inc heaIsl ana police committee will
probably at once take up detailed ex-
animation into the condition of the de-
partment and investigate such reports of
lncompetency as have come to their
knowledge.
An incident of interest during the meet
ing resulted from a boast made by Chief
hoge that one OF his detectives had secur-
td a certain telegram at a telegraph Office
Whicn led 10 great results, ana which the
'A-hdSei u the once mad declined To pro-
dhee. III happened that Chairman Bell.
81 the committee. IS the manager OF the
telegraph office referred to, and he at
9nce told the chief that he was deiiber-
dte!y misstating facts when he said the
telegram in question had been secured by
any detective.
The telegrams you refer TO are at this
moment locked in my safe" said Bell
and whoever told you ne got either OF
them Told you a il. | know for | locked
them up myself, and | defy you or anyone
Else 10 get them"
Hose kept on Insisting he was right. but
AZ last switched of on something else.
When asked whether /, Is true he is not
"a speaking terms with the captain of
his department Chief Hoge denied this
statement. Ii came out, however. that
when he had something ic communicate
% Captain King he did so by letter. His
explanation was that he took this course
70 order 10 he sure he could not he ac-
rusod OF saying something he was inno-
cent of-'to get II In black and white"
was the way he pat il.
Under the present charter as amended
~ he last election, the chief has the
whip hand SO far as naming his men goes.
They do not have 20 bee confirmed by the
council and now that the civil service ell
eihie list is exhausted. he may select
Hhomever ne sees lit go honor with the
blue coat and brass buttons. The civil
service commission has only TO approve
his selection as emergency men. AS was
Yesterday printed in the Post-Intei-
ligencer. there are a number Of excellent
officers on the force. bet also enough poor
n7r0 - bring ceusue upon the entire de-
parimenL