The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-29
SPIES ARE IN DEMAND |
MAYOR KIEFER, LIKE GEN. Bull
LER, WANTS MORE ACCU-
RATE CONFORMATION"
AFTER sCHWEITzEP's SWORD
There Are some arovetous Eyes
Cast Upon the PIace of Chief of
the Detectives, (which, 1t Is
Thought, VIII Be3Made Vacant
Goss' Oficial Head May BE Taken.
Too. IL - 49,


There 1s prevalent about the central po-
lice station general feeling that. some-
thing is about to happen. What 1t Is
can only be surmised, but it is significant
that even prominent officials are appa-
rently unusually anxious Mayor Kiefer's
long antagonism to the police force, 1t is
believed, is about to make itself pain
Iuily manifest. It*is known that the
mayor has of late been conducting
personal investigation concerning several
police scandals, and it is intimated that
he IS about 10 make the results of what
ne has learned the basis for some radi-
cal changes in the department Where
the ak will first fall, for it Ia guardedly
admitted that the mayor beyond doubt
contemplates removing some of the pres
emit high officials, Is a matter of specu-
lation, but 1t is generally conceded that
the detective department will come in
FOR trimming. All Of the incumbents
IN this department, except two, are
holding over from Mayor :Doran's term OF
ONCE, and Mayor Kiefer has never been
any too considerably inclined to these
officers, from the head of the DEPART
merit down to, the detailed patrolmen
working as detectives The mayor has
said he wants men on the police force
whom he can trust. He has clearly in
d1cated by his personally directed raids
signi1ed that he does not trust those
at present in charge. ks
This lack of confidence, however. does
not apply particularly, to the detective
department, as Chief Goss has always
been Kept in ignorance Of the mayors
police plans and therefore comes in I'm
der the head of those whom Mayor Kiefer
VIII not take into his confidence. That
1t is the heads ofs:the department chief
~ with whom the mayor is displeased
is undoubtedly true. When he was
elected, Mayor Kiefer would have liked
to have placed some of his personal
friends In the highest positions In the
department. Several names were prom
1nently mentioned-Lieut. Budy, Capt
Pottgieser and Lieut. Pethen for chief Of
police, and License Inspector McIntire,
Lieut. Boerner ard '.Jake" Stadtffeld for
chief of detectives. Chief Goss and Chief
Schweitzer however, succeeded In bring
Ing sufficient pressure to bear to retain
their positions thus far through Mayor
Kiefer's administration; but the mayor
has never formally appointed them to
their positions, anfact that has always
been regarded asf Of Some Significance
Frequently Mayor Kiefer has expressed
disgust at the way III which the police
department has been administered He
has had policemen spied upon and watch
ed, and has himself gone out to do police
duty, without advising either of the
chiefs Of his intentions or asking for as
s1stance. Such actions have only one
nearing, namely, that the mayor placed
little confidence in the heads Of the de-
partment. If this is the case, and the
opportunity should offer ITSELF. it is con.
ceded among the politicians that Mayor
Kiefer would seize upon the first oppor-
tunity to displace those who do not please
him. His recent appointments to the
detective department are believed to have
been with at least the part intention of
securing some ground for removals. Q
When the changes come. If come they
do, even those whom they will affect are
in a measure prepared for the worst
1t Is believed that the men who have
been so close to the mayor In his secret
police work will be placed in control
1t Is deemed quite probable that License
Inspector McIntire may become chief Of
detectives, a probability contemplated
with horror by experienced members of
the force, but, nevertheless, one for which
that two members of the detective de-
partment are credited with the declara-
ton that they would resign rather than
try to work under a man with so little
police experience as McIntire. In con-
nection with the removal of Chief Goss
the names of Lieut.. Budy, Capt. Pott-
gieser, Lieut.. Boerner and others are
again mentioned m butsit Is doubtful If
any Of these would accept the position
unless forced to do sos at this time. be-
cause of its acknowledged uncertainty,
from a Republican Standpoint. Those
who most warmly supported Mayor Kief-
err at the last election lifelong Repub-
hcans of his own ma tionality have been
turned against the mayor by his cratic
actions relative to the police force. and
with the bright prospects of a Demo-
cratic Landslide next spring none of the
older members OF the police department
care TO jeopardize- their chances of re-
naming indefinitely in their present po-
sitions for an Opportunity to pose as
head of the department for three months.
Through all of the discussions 1t appears
indisputable that Mayor Kiefer has at
last succeeded in completely disorganiz-
ing the police department, and rendering
the service so entirely Incompetent that
whatever he may have at last decided
to do will only make confusion worse
COMPOUNDED