The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-19
PORTLAND WITHOUT POLICE.
CONDITIONS THAT WILL CONFRONT
THAT CITY NEXT MONTH.
Circuit Court Renders . Decision
Necessitatinx the Discontinuance
of the Police Department-Lack OF
APPROXIMATIONS In Direct Cause.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer.
PORTLAND, Or, Oct 1S.-The state
circuit court today decided that the city
council cannot increase an appropriation
allowed by the municipal charter. which
means that Portland will be without a
police force for at least the next two
months Such is the declaration Of two
of the three members of the board OF
police commissioners, and Of Mayor
Rowe
The city charter allows this depart
ment OF the municipal court 1Z mills tax
on all assessable property. sufficient
amount at the time the charter was
passed by the legislature. but short time
ago the assessor of Multnomah county
reduced Portland's valuation 10000.
or about 40 per cent. and despite ali the
economy that was practiced. the police
department has already used up this
quota, and according to today's decision
OF the court .,can obtain no more from
the general fund
The police board has decided to lock up
the station house on November /, and to
discharge the entire force, from the chief
down to the patrolmen. The board will
not permit the men to continue their
duties with hopes Of gaining their salar-
les from the city by means of a lawsuit,
as the members OF the board are per-
sonally responsible for all debts in
CURED above the regular appropriation.
The matter is up to the citizens now,
With the knowledge that something must
be done. and done quickly. az less than
two weeks remain until the police de-
partment will be no more.
People Warned.
: The Portland board Of police commits
sioners announced recently that the city
would have no police protection during the
months of November and December. on
account of lack of funds. Though the
police force now is less than two-thirds
as large as it was twelve months ago. 1t
has already been necessary to secure an
extra appropriation to conduct the depart
ment- This money is expected to last UNI
til the first of next month, when the off,
GERS OF the law win be discharged and
the station house closed unless the men
consent to work without salary, which
seems decidedly improbable.
ID. Soils Cohen. chairman OF the board
Of police commissioners, said:
Il am very sorry that this had to be
announced so early. as II Will tend to
bring petty criminals here from all over
the country, but Ii was matter Of JUS
tice TO the men. who now might look for
other work While we might receive aid
from the city council, the right Of that
body to appropriate money out Of the
general fund Ii questioned by good legal
authority, so do not blame the council"
No remedy OF any value has been sug-
gested so far, and 1t looks now as II the
city would be placed In the safekeeping
OF the sheriff, whose deputies are not ntI-
merous enough to patrol the city. ana no
more will be allowed MIN. A number OF
the present patroimen have decided to
keep right on with their work, ana hope
to force the city to pay them for srneir
services, as they are under civil service
and claim they cannot be put out.