The herald., 1897-05-05
THE POLICE
SHAKE-UP
It Is All the Talk in Mu-
nicipal Circles
RuMoRs OF MORE CHANGES
COMMISSIONER wYMAN MAY
RESIGN
RUMoRs OF MORE CHANGES
General Eorman Takes His Removal
Very Observation-Disclosures
and Gossip

Rut little else other than the sum-
mary removal of General Charles For
man as member of the board OF po-
lice commissioners by the council was
talked of about the city hall yesterday
The consensus of opinion was that Cen
eral Forman had made CONSCIENTIOUS
and efficient official, and while his ac-
lions at times may have appeared ar
bitrary, his motives were goco. ana ne
was actuated by an honest desire to
increase the efficiency of the force. AS
to the manner of his removed there
was but one opinion. and that was that
II was an outrage, especially as the
flimsy charge against him that he W"'
a stockholder in a street car line, was
absolutely without the slightest 1ouh-
dat;on in fact. General Forman neither
owning stock or being director III any
such company.
AS fer General Forman himself. he
takes the matter very philosophlcally
He says that he did not seek the once
hut once having accepted it, he tried
TO do his duty, and If the council saw
fit to remove him for doing what he
thought was right, and which even those
opposed to him have to concede was III
the interest Of eleVating the standard
of the department, he could certain!
stand it if the councilnlen could, ana
he was willing to leave his case IN the
hands Of his fellow citizens. Personally
he could honestly say he was GLAD to
get out Of the whole business. as. under
the circumstances, his position was not
a pleasant one, and he thought that he
could retire to private life with the re-
spect and confidence of the taxpayers
and property owners.
Early in the forenoon it was rumored
that Commissioner Wyman. who has
always acted with General Forman or
the board. would tender his resignation
before the next meeting of the council.
1t was stated about the hall that that
gentleman had been marked for slaugh-
ter. and while none of the councilmen
who voted for the removal of General
Forman would admit that such was the
case. the statement was very generally
believed. The failure of Mr.. Wyman
to appear at the meeting of the board,
was taken as confirming, at least to
a certain extent, the rumor of the in
tended resignation.
The councilmen who took part in the
coup d'etat. with the single exception
Of Mr.. Hutchson were not inclined TO
discuss the matter. The member from
the Eighth ward. however, who led the
movement was very outspoken in his
views He stated plainly that he
IT. i,,f, Af No M
lice department demand q the immedi
ate removal of General Forman, and
lie had acted accordingly. He had no
apologies to make for his action in the
matter Now that a start had been
made, Mr.. Hutchison SAID that other
changes would follow. There were men
on the force who should be removed
for cause, and he thought they would
be as soon as they could be reached.
The first who would be likely to go
are Sergeant Smith and Detective
Goodman. There was also much dis
satisfaction with Sergeant Jeffries and
Clerk Bean. These would probably be
attended to first. and then an effort
would be made to weed out a number
of others Mr.. Hutchison intimated
that he had been giving much attention
to the police department, and had for
titled himself with considerable valua-
bic information. AS to how far the pro-
posed reorganization would go. Mr..
Hutchison declined to say, but he in
timated that it might even extend to
the head of the department in the event
Of certain contingencies.
Alread the fight for the place Tado
vacant by General Forman's removal
is on in full blast, and there are half
dozen or more candidates out working
for the position. 1t is generally con-
ceded as stated Yesterday that Coun-
Gilman Blanchard is the most potent
factor in naming the man, and if this
is the case the influence of Coroner
Campbell and George Arnold will cut
big figure. 1t was stated that eX-
Councilman Samuel Rees of the Ninth
ward was not beyond the range of pos
slbilities. as his appointment would
heal certain breaches in the Boyle
Heights machine. Mr.. Rees was elect
ed to the council as a Republican, but
at the last election affiliated with the
Populists and was the union candidate
for his old position Ex-Police Commits
sioner Long of the Fourth ward, who
was also the Democratic candidate for
councilman at the last election, is in
the field, as is also Charley Baker of tho
Fifth ward. 1t is also stated that the
Eighth ward has a candidate. and
Councilman Grider has man ready ir
case of deadlock-which is not likely
1t is believed that matters will be in
such shape today that it will be possible
to get a line on the successful candidate.
1t is the general opinion, however on
all sides that the commission, as it will
be constituted, will simply carry out
the wishes of the council. and that the
policy will be dictated directly by that
body. Those in a position to know say
that this being the case, a more liberal"
policy will be the order of things, so
FAR as the administration Of police mat
ters is concerned.