The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-12
THE POLICE INQUIRY.
Senate Committee Probing into
Chicago's Department.
CHIEF AND SECRETARY SUMMONED.

Chairman Berry Compelled To Call Down
President Kraus and Attorney Bliss, who
Have "a Legal Battle on Hand--Alieged
That the Police Investigation Is Only an
Excuse for Assailing the Civil Service
Commission and Repeating the Law.
Chicago, Jan. 12-Chief OF Police Kip
ley and Secretary Campbell. shortly be-
fore noon were summoned TO appear be-
fore the senate investigating committee,
which is probing into the methods of
Chicago's police force and the civil
service commission. The committee was
half an hour late in starting its inquis-
itorial mill. The proceedings began by
a protest on the part Of President
Kraus against the part taken by Attor-
ney Bliss, who, ii is charged, is acting
as a sort of attorney for the commit
tee. Chairman Berry hotly denied
that Mr.. Bliss was at all connected with
the committee. and said no more privi-
leges had been accorded him than TO
other citizen.
Berry Grows Emphatic.
President Kraus then wanted TO know
called into private conference with the
committee. AT this question Mr.. Berry
grew more emphatic. and said the COM
mittee reserved the right to call i'm any
citizen and should ii need any member 70
the commission ii would call him. Here
Mr.. Bliss rose to say that he was pres
ent not to aid the committee, but TO
make his words good concerning GER
4ot. IL. L., Il.
club in this city against the commits
sion.
Mr. Kraus has challenged me to
prove these charges, and i propose TO
do it,"
Chairman Berry. seeing trouble ahead.
stopped Mr. Bliss, and said: Il under
stand one prominent gentleman here
has sued another prominent gentleman,
who is also here I do not propose that
that suit shall be tried here"
Attack on Civil Service.
The committee then proceeded with it's
regular work in hand. Theodore Sain-
don, q clerk i'm the city hall. being the
first witness called 1t seems now to
be the general impression among the
politicians that the one object of the
senatorial police investigating commit
tee in coming 10 Chicago is TO make an
attack or civil service rather than to
probe into the workings of the Chicago
police force The motive behind this. it
is asserted is TO furnish an excuse for
repeating the civil service law, which
! is contemplated before the legislature
J finally adjourns. Senator Ben Mitchell
when asked his views concerning the
| commission and its objects, unhesitat-
ingly replied that ii was the civil serv-
| ice commission and not the police de-
partmcnt il was after He also gave *
as his opinion that the legislature had
decided to repeal the law.
Concurrcd in the View.
Senator O'Brien concurred in this
view, and II is said that the drift of the
committees examination of Secretary
Glenn plainly indicated that some such
scheme was in the wind. This official
was on the stand during the afternoon
session and was questioned in detail as
to the workings of the commission, and
especially as 10 the examination Of ap-
rlicants for places on the police force
] and the manner in which they are
placed on the force. Among other
things the committee learned that the
| commission has examined 1900 appli-
cants for police positions, 1.130 of which
were for original entrance and 527 were
Of those who had formerly held posi-
tions on the police force.
$50 Got Places.
Mr.. Glenn stated also that $50 men
! had been appointed TO the force by the
commission, and that there were now
1000 hold-overs who had since been Civ
en- d perfunctory examination i'm order
to get them under the protection of the
civil service law. Asked why eX-
amnations had not been held
for police captains and lieuten-
ants, Secretary Glenn explained that
the right of the commission TO do SO
had been in controversy until the re-
cent decision OF the supreme court, but
| that since that decision the commission
had called examinations for these
| grades.
NJcKeuua's Nomination Hangs Fire.