The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-03
Hilton Fails to Make Charge
Against Policeman.
WOULDN'T BE SPECIFIC
CLAIMS HE ACTS FOR GOOD OF
SERVICE
Final Action On the Matter Was
Postponed For a Week By Close
Vote-Chief Of Police Exhibits a
Sudden Change Of Heart In the
Case Of Bicycle Patrolman.

Chief Hilton and the members Of the
city council committee on police enter
tanned each other for over an hour last
evening, over the long-pending ques-
ton Of removing Patrolman Z. c.
Davies. TO make room for Howard Viii
son, son Of Sergeant Wilson, who met
death while on the force six or seven
years ago. Several new points We're
brought out in the discussion, and at
the conclusion it was decided by a
vote Of three TO two to defer action
one week. The Republican members
carried the motion 10 postpone. while
COuncilmen FernstrGm and Hartenstein
stood for immediate action in reversing
the chiefs recommendation.
The chief opened the ball by saying
he is not required by law 10 make
| charges against any member of the
police force whom he desired to dis
mics, but in this case he believed he
! had ample cause to ask tOr the removal
Of Patrolman Davies az being for the
good of the department Since he Is
| held responsible for harmony and et-
| ficiency in the department, the chief
said he believed his recommendation 10
J remove Davies should be COncUrred in,
although he failed 10 cite single spe-
/ cific instance of misconduct by Dawes.
Councilman FernstrOm remarked that
| he had heard Wilson was law and in
! subordinate while serving as JanltOr IN
/ the public building. but the chief re-
J fused to believe anything derOgaJOTy 10
/ his new appOintee Who is waiting Tor
! Davies to fail out.
! "One man is as. good as another TO
you, chief, because both are Demo-
| Gratis" suggested Chairman CottreH.
Hilton Does Some Denying.
To Councilman EartensJein Chief
! Hilton denied that Davies removal was
! contemplated because Of his relation
/ ship with eX-Councilman Barnes The
! chief also denied that there was any
| politics in the proposed change
] During the discussion that ensU5d ii
developed that the chief had exper-
I fenced change of heart within a short
eight days as 10 Davies efficiency and
worthiness to have his superior officer
that what might have been his opinion
/ Of Davies on certain day would be
/ subject 10 reversal a very few hours
/ subsequent
It was brought out that the members
| Of the committee, excepting Council
! man Thomas, early in January called
I upon the chief, who, in reply 10 Ques-
] LlolS. Sdlu Ne NdS perfectly satisfied
with every member Of the department
Eight days later the chief called for the
removal Of Davies thus perpetrating 4
great surprise upon the cOuncilmen.
Chief Hilton explained that he re-
feTred TO the police force in general
and when he mentioned Davies as a
merry little fellow" he did not W-sh
to convey the idea that the bicycle. DO
Hceman should not be dismissed. The
chief added that when the committee
threw out feeler on the question Of
making the police force Republican
/ throughout he cOntended then as now
that he objected TO the proposition.
since many OF the best men would
have to go, and hence he would not
care IL his recommendation to dismiss
Democrats were turned down
Politics In the Play.
Fernstrom said he saw politics in
the scheme because Wilson had de-
clared Davies job was promised 10 him
by Councilman Robertson before cleo
ton. The chief asserted that Robertson
had never asked him 20 appoint Wilson
and that he had never said anything to
him against Davies
When Thomas urged that the chief
should be upheld if harmony and eff
cheney in the police department were IA
be expected. Hartenstein concurred as
a general proposition and CottreU de-
clared he stood for the same principle
as far as possible, but in this instance
he believed the chief had not acted in
good faith. Cottrell added that if any
removals Of Democrats were to b.