The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-27
Opposition Is
In Sight.
PRESIDENT HALL
May Be a Candidate for AS
sistant Solicitor.

One of the important matters which
is on the program for this evenings
meeting Of city council is the report
of the committee on ordinances reIa-
tive to the order for an assistant city
solicitor.
The proposed ordinance underwent a
change at the hands Of the committee
on ordinances, which adds interest to it.
When originally drawn, il provided for
the appointment by The city solicitor,
OF an assistant. The committee. after
considering the order, reported back
to make the new office an elective one
instead of appointive. The report is
due to come before the meeting this
evening.
The alteration changes the ASPECT of
the order, and if the ordinance is en-
acted opens up another competition
In anticipation Of its adoption by city
council, friends of Frank Il. Hall. pres
ldent Of common council are talking
his name for the new berth. President
Hall is member of the committee on
ordinances, but was not among the
slgners of the report, so that whatever
may be said of the change in commit
tee, no blame can be laid at his door
If the new draft is adopted and the
once made an elective one, President
HAIRS friends are confident that he has
at least fighting chance for the po-
sition.
Previous to Mondays meeting of CITY
council, much was heard about the new
draft of police rules which were slated
TO come before the city council for ac-
tlon. No action was taken. however.
ing ne had had no time to read them.
everybody knows the rules are on the
card for the meeting this evening. but
the discussion has subsidized.
Lack of talk concerning them does
not mean, however, that the rules have
a creased pathway before them. AS
ar as can be ascertained, there has
peen no log-rolling to railroad the
rules through or defeat them but thev
VIII not be adopted without contest
mere is a strong likelihood of a stiff
nsht II ardent supporters of the rules
appear, for several members of both
branches are out against some of them
at least.
Members of the city council do not
matt at criticism; they ridicule some
rules one man with whom The Spy
man TAXED said he has not taken de-
clued stand either for or against the
rules. But there is one rule" he said
that | Will vote against That is the
one which gives a policeman the au-
thorlty to question every person he
meets on the street after II O'Clock AFT
night. Why, if one of them asked me
that question, 1 would tell him to go
70 and he mentioned a place
thah IS warmer than a. New England
winter. He further said the rule is
ridiculous, to say nothing of the au-
thoflty 1t gives policemen. He said
something else about the discretionary
powers of policemen. which The Spv
man does not wish to print, lest their
feelings be injured
Another member of the common
council, in commenting on the draft
said one rule compeIs a policeman to
get acquainted with every person on
MS beat, and another rule forbids him
speaking to a citizen unless asked for
information. How can a policeman get
acquainted with every person on his
beat if he is not allowed to speak?''
the councilman asked. The same man
called attention to another rule. when.
he says, reads that no officer while i'm
uniform shall receive anything in
saloon, cigar store or other places,
without paying for it. IT Wonder' he
sol1oquized, If that rule will give a
policeman license TO drink in uniform
II he pays for what he gets
one criticism winch has been made
by member of the city government
is that such a set of rules belittles the
police department. The alderman who
dropped the remark added that his
opinion Of the department has been
favorable, and he does not like to see
it's chief disparaging it,
The rules may have supporters, but
none of them have appeared on house
tops telling what the draft should be
adopted
1t is limited quietly in government cir
Giles that policemen themselves have
done some lobbying against the rules
However that may be, there is no rule
against lobbying.