The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-09-23
POOR POLICE PATROL
FREEHoLDERS CONSIDER IT'S
INADEQUACY
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE
For an Improved Systsm-Hotels and
Lodging Houses to Be Licensed.
The Chiefs Salary

The promised consideration of police
matters by the board of freeholders last
night brought out a larger audience than
usual. Among the interested visitors were
Police Commissioners Gibbon, Wyman
and Preuss and Chief Of Police Glass.
Messrs. Lee, O'Melveney, Croft, Cohn,
Morgan, Newmark, Davidson and Variel
responded to roll call, Mr.. Hazard coming
in later.
Mr.. Newmark moved that hereafter all
speeches in debate upon questions at is
sue be limited to three minutes, giving as
three hours at the meeting of the night be-
fore to change four salaries from the fig
ures reported by the committee. Mr.. New
mark, however. seized the golden oppor-
tunity and made quite lengthy speech In
support of his motion, which was carried.
The report of the committee relating to
the building committee was then read and
adopted with little change. 1t introduces
new feature in the appointment of an
electrical inspector, whose duty shall be
to attend to the enforcement Of the laws
providing for public lighting, the wiring OF
buildings. etc. A board of appeals is pro-
vided for, which shall have power to act
finally upon appeals from the decision of
the building superintendent In refusing per-
mits or orders, when compliance with them
would entail expense. This board is to con-
sist of the city engineer, the chief of the
fire department and an architect to be ap-
pointed by the mayor. This architect is to
be paid $40 for each case considered. but
the appellant practically pays the
freight" as the costs of filing the suit are
fixed at the same sum.
Judge Variel, chairman Of the judicial
committee. which had prepared the report
on the police department, stated that be-
fore the report was read he would like to
hear from Mr.. Gibbon and the other gen.
tlemen, who, as a committee OF the police
commission, were there at his request. The
committee was given the floor, Mr.. Glib
bon, as its chairman, being the chief
speaker
MIR. Gibbon said that the report about to
be presented by Mr.. Variel embodied near
ly all the suggestions of the commissions
committee, but that he merely wanted to
enlarge on some of the new features pro-
posed. The first point was the proportion
Of patrolmen to the population. Mr.. Glib
bon read figures showing that Chicago has
one patrolman to every 594 citizens. Bos-
ton one to 496, San Francisco one to 800,
while Los Angeles has but one to 1900.
This proportion, contended Mr.. Gibbon, Is
altogether inadequate to the needs of our
city.
A police alarm system, with at least one
box to every two policemen: was also
strongly urged
Ths chiefs salary, which was fixed
Thursday night at $4,000 per annum. was
condemned by Mr.. Gibbon as too small.
The contingent fund, out Of which the chief
has to pay telegraph and other emergency
expenses was put at $4,000 per annum.
Before adjournment Judge Variel gave
notice that he would move at the next
meeting to fix the salary at not less than
5000.
1t also provided that pawnbrokers junk
shop and secondhand store keepers shall
turn in to the police department daily
reports on blanks furnished by the depart
ment, describing all goods received and the
sellers or PLEDGES thereof. This system,
although somewhat cumbersome, would
furnish the officers with excellent material
for working on cases of stolen goods.
Another feature on which Mr. Gibbon
dwelt with particular emphasis was the
section imposing q license upon hotel and
lodging house keepers. The object of this
is simply to give the police department con-
troll of these places. so that when disreput-
able in character they can be closed by the
revocation of the license, which Is to be
made of merely nominal sum.
The section limiting saloons to proper
ton Of one to- every 1000 of the population
was also especially mentioned.
The civil service commission Is to have
authority In appointing members to the
force, but the police commission has the
power of dismissal.
After the commissioners and Chief Glass
had given their ideas, the report was read
through and, with few minor changes
adopted.
At this evenings meeting the subjects OF
bonds. parks and salaries will be taken up.