The herald., 1898-09-14
CHIEF GLASS DICTATES
TO THE POLICE COMMISSION AND
IT oBEYa
IA CHIEF WITH A BAD temper
Scares the Board Out Of Its Intended
Action Before It Realizes What
It L Doing

\ Rule IS 81 when a prisoner Is 4
4 brought to the police station and 4
the officer in charge Is salts
+ fed there Is sufficient cause to 4
y hold him. he shall make the proper 4
\ entry on the blotter, search the pris-
y oner, taking charge Of any money or =
%valuabies found on his person, together :
+ with any weapons or dangerous In
\ struments, giving him receipt for 4
y all property taken, carefully marking +
y such property with the prisoners =
\ name and date, the property 10 be 4
y held for evidence TO be marked so. and Z
y the latter turned over 10 the secre-
4 tary."
The above quoted rule Of the rules and
re gulations for the government and direc-
ton Of the police department Of the city Of
Los Angeles was read by Commissioner
Preuss at yesterdays regular session OF
the police board. After the reading, Mr..
Preuss commented on how specific were Its
directions and requirements, and closed by
making a motion as follows:
"In view of the fact that the newspapers
have told us of the frequent violation Of
this rule by the employment Of system
which has come to be known as the small
booking of prisoners brought 10 the sta
ton, I move you that the attention Of the
chief be called to the rule and strict OBJ
servance Of it hereafter required"
A look Of displeasure Immediately passed
over Chief Glass countenance. His anger
caused him to lose whatever tact he may
ordinarily possess, and he paced Impatient
down at times with an emphasis which
| hra ~ hol ha ntt no
dation.
1.-THE charge is unfair" he expostua.ed."
and should be investigated before any such
action is taken The board had better find
out whether the rule has really been vio-
lated. am willing to be investigated, and
think It would be rank injustice to take
such action on mere newspaper talk. have
had experience with the newspapers; I
know how they are. don't want them to
make an investigation Of me. They would
hang a man If you'd give them the chance.
and don't wan; them to blacken and tar
nish my character. as they would like to
do You can have an investigation as a
board and will have an attorney to defend
me-"
The chiefs mind was working faster than
his tongue, hence the ideas he desired TO
eucidate appear somewha. disconnected in
his speech. The outbreak came somewhat
In the nature Of a surprise to the board, as
he intention Of the motion was not so Sc
we're as to stir up such hornets
nest. Commissioner Wyman, In the
cause of harmony and good-fellow-
ship. finally moved to amend Mr..
Preuss' motion by making a thor
ough investigation" Chief Glass saw in
this unmodified suggestion. a vision OF re-
porters' testimony, undesirable publicity
and a fair and square show for all con-
cerned. He broke out again.
IT object to an open investigation. You
have no right to investigate me IN public
unless direct charge is made against me. :"
The board was considerably taken aback
by the chiefs dictatorial presumption, but
again In the interests Of peace and har-
mony they assured him that they would In
vestigate the matter quietly before any
public action was taken. On being asked
liz he would accept the amendment, Mr..
Preuss remarked that he apparently could
not do otherwise"
The amended motion prevailed, and the
investigation will be made on Friday az
ternoon at o'clock. Mayor Snyder and
Messrs. Preuss and Wyman were the only
members Of the commission presen; yes
terday, but at the investigation an effort
will be made 10 secure full attendance.
Members Of the board freely expressed
themselves after the session was adjourned.
It seemed subject for general regre:
that Mr. Preuss' motion did not go through.
In short, Chief Glass unexpected explo-
sion rather dazed the commission, and the
absurdi,y Of the objections he entered
against a very ordinary proceeding did no;
dawn upon them until he had relieved
them Of his hypnotic presence. The Preuss
motion was a decidedly mild method Of
correcting an evil which has been proved
TO exist, and II the investigation now pro-
voked results in a more radical action, the
chief has his own poor judgment 20 thank
for it. Such was the consensus Of opinion
In the discussion which took place after
adjournment.