The age-herald., 1899-10-06
MAYOR DRENNEN
 TAKES FIRM STAND
He Refuses to Recognize the
 City Detectives.
HE BELIEVES IN SYSTEM
Each Department Must Have an Official He ead-Praises Work of Chief Aus tin and Police Commission
 New Phase of Question

Mayor Drennen has refused to recognize the city detectives who were appointed dur ing his absence and his action put a new phase upon the much mooted question.
 The mayors position is that the police commission is in charge of that depart ment of the city government, and through
 it's official head the chief of police, is
 giving excellent satisfaction to the people.
 The mayor holds that each department must be run separate and distinct from the others if efficiency is to be had, and that this can only be done when its affairs are directed through its recognized channels.
 When Detective Wiggins reported for duty yesterday morning he was handed
 letter setting forth the mayors views, of
 which the following is a copy:
 "Office of the Mayor, Birmingham, Ala,
 October 5, 1S99.-Mr S. Wiggins, City,
 Dear Sir: On September 9th Alderman
 Daily introduced a motion appointing you
 a special detective, and that you be under
 the supervision of the mayor and repor,
 to him daily.
 After fully Investigating this matter
 and reviewing the results which the chief
 of police and his efficient force have &C.,
 compllshed under the Jurisdiction of the
 police commission, I find there has been
 more arrests made and more convictions
 for violating the Sunday liquor law, and
 more arrests and convictions for gambling
 within the past five months than was ac-
 complshed by the former police commits
 sion and chief of police within the pre-
 vious two years, and with no assistance
 ;,,o Nv ,rI
 With these facts before I will have
 to decline to recognize you as special po-
 liceman under my supervision. Yours very
 truly, W. M. DRENNEN, Mayor" Different View ni u Nion
 It is the general opinion, in view of the
 mayors action, that the two offers will have to suspend operation. though friends of the ordinance claim that they will con tinue on duty and will be paid their sal aries.
 This ordinance provides for the appoint
 ment of two detectives with a salary of $70 per month It further provides that the
 two men shall report to the mayor for in
 structions. Now, MT. Drennen asserts that 1 he will give orders, and the question l arises as to where the detectives will re- 1 ceive instructions and in what manner | they will proceed.
 Without recognition from the head of | either department of the city government | the special officers will undoubtedly be at l a loss as to where and when to begin fer l reting out crime. It is said at the city hall l that neither of the departments have any l personal obecton to Sullivan and Wiggins, l but both are opposed to any interference
 with the regular operations of the police 1 department.
 1 The police commissioners are quite jubi- l lant over the mayors action and say that l he will be endorsed by 90 per cent of the l tax paying citizens of Birmingham. A 1 prominent member of the board said last
 night that MT. Drennen was exactly right 1 and that his action was a source of much l qualification to the commission. "The mayor has seen how the citizens of | Birmingham feel on this subject" contin- l ued the commissioner, land has acted &C.,
 cordingly. There has been an effort made l to thwart the efforts of the police in sup pressing gambling and similar vices, but it l has failed.
 l Makes Explanation l "In regard to how we paid Detective
 Holcombe and Colonel John for services | 1 make an explanation. The tax paying citi- l zens of the city are defraying the expenses. l They have aided in our effogts and we l have authority to check on any amount we | may need in our efforts to suppress crime. | Some of the citizens have formed them l selves into d committee and have elected l A treasurer who collects subscriptions, | This fund has been placed at the disposal 1 of the police commission and we have enough funds to pay for any extra work
 we wish done without the assistance of the board of aldermen
 1 Chief Austin says he was stopped by a man on the streets not three days ago and offeced money with which to continue his l crusade against crime
 Mayor Drennen is very ontspoken In his
 views upon the matter, and while he does not presume to pass upon the legal aspect | of the case, he says that fe feels that ne will be supported by great majority or the people.
 Just what the board of aldermen will now do in the matter is a subject of much spec ilation.