The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-12
COMMISSION IS PROMPT
NEW POLICE BOARD BEGAN oPER-
ATIONS BRIGHT AND EARLY
YESTERDAY MORNING
SEVERAL REMOVALS ORDERED
At the Head of the List Was Chief
GetcheII, and There
Were Others,
Too.

Acting on the advice of Republican OBJ
structionist politicians, Parker L. Getch-
ell made chief Of police by ex-Mayor
Kiefer,y yesterday declined to recognize the
authority Of the police commission pro-
vided for under the charter, and appoint
ed by Mayor Smith. Other police patrol
men and detectives followed Getchell's ex-
ample and refused to recognize the order
Of removal made by the commission.
Getchell was at the central station all
day yesterday, despite his removal at 10
o'clock yesterday morning, the first Off
cial act Of the police commission.
John j. OConnor was made chief Of
police by the commission, and although
he was sworn in, Getchell did not leave
police headquarters or surrender his star
maintaining that he would not accept dis
charge without trial on charges before
the commission. Getchell did not attempt
to interfere with the orders issued by
Chief OConnor and all of the other Off
Gals and members of the police force rec
ognized the authority of the new chief
During the day 1t was talked freely that
proceedings of some kind in court would
be instituted to prevent the removal of
Getchell, Lieut.. Davis, Chief of Detectives
Mclnt1re and three patrolmen but the
day passed without the DEVELOPMENT Of
such a plan, if it existed.
AS soon as he reached his office yester-
day morning Mayor Smith sent for the
1lVe men whom he wanted for police com
mtssionefs. AS they entered the Office
they were handed thei commissions, and
meeting was held at once. Charles L.
Haas was chosen president of the c5mmis-
sion and c. w. Copley was elected secre-
tary- Mr.. Copley has been employed in
the st. Paul pOstoffice. Attorney ]. c.
Michael was present, and advised the ne y
commission as to its authority
After organization the commission ap-
pointed John j. OConnOr chief of police
ana Getchell was sent for He refused
to obey the commands Of the coramis-
sion. but did not interfere with OCon-
nors order. For a time many people
thought there might be an armed clash
OF authority at police headquarters and
a large crowd hung about the station
nearly all day, without being rewarded
With view Of trouble Of any kind
Aside from Getchell, McIntire and d.
Wis, the commission removed John Chris
tenson, detective, Jacob Stadheld, pa
trolman; D. j. Saintong, patroman, and
Joseph King. The last named was the
superintendent of the police alarm tele-
graph system. The commission also ap-
pointed John Clark captain of police at
the central station, and Joseph Macau-
ley superintendent OF the police telegraph
system. No attempt was made to inter
lere with Capt. Clark in the discharge
Of his duties.
AT THE EVENING MEETING.
Only matters of routine business. wara
transacted at the adjourned meeting of
the police commission at the moyor $
once last evening, when the vacancies
caused by removals from the force that
were not filled at the morning session OF
the commission were flied. The com
mission also considered the department
OF the police alarm system, and appoint
ed new force for the newly elected SUI
perlntendent, Joseph McCauley. The an
pointments made were as follows:
Henry Meyerding, lieutenant, vice los
eph Davis, removed.
Daniel Ahern, detective. vice John
christensen, removed.
Joseph Pugleasa, patroIman vice Sam
uel Sa1ntOng removed
Norbert Schaffhausen DatroIu1an vice
Jacob Stadtfeld, removed.
Senger.
John r. Crane. janitor, vice Louis Liv,
erpool, resigned.
For employees in the police-alarm de-
partment, Harry Burdette, lineman; and
Martin Rowan, Richard Hazard and
John Graves, operators were appointed
vice Roy Chase, lineman; Joseph Michel,
Charles Hoffman and BENJAMIN Rice
operators, removed.
The appointments were filed by resolu-
tions offered by different members of
the commission. Commissioners r. T.
OCOnnor and D. w. LawIer presented
the resolutions making the changes in
the alarm system employees, while Com
missioner May introduced the resolution
constituting James Nugent messenger for
the police commission, instead of MAYORS
messenger. The appointments to the va
canc1es created by the removal of former
Lieut.. Davis, and others named in the
same decree, were rendered by Commits
siOner Foelsen.
In each instance the action Of the com
mission was unanimous. The commission
adjourned subject to the call of the
chairman.
Among the mayors letters vester.
day Secretary Costello found one
from the mayor of Fargo, informing
Mayor Smith that Detectives Ed Chris
tian and j. G. Murnane had made a de-
mand for $40 each as pay while attend
ing the fire festival at Fargo seyerfT
days ago.
Mayor Smith answered the letter, saw
ing the present administration had moth
ing to do with sending the men to Fargo:
that they had been paid for full time bV
this city and that unless the city Of Far,
go had employed them, he was unable
to see what claim they had against Far
go.