Evening journal., 1900-11-09
PRESENT
AN ITRMIZHD BILL
Council Holds Up Police
Commissions Fund
Unprecedented Action on the Part
Of Democratic Members at Last
Nights Meeting

NiSho y hNNb"~
Members Of City Council at their meet
ing last night assumed n new attitude to-
ward the Board or Police Commissioners
which sayors strongly Of political CHI
cancry.
The action Of Council was brought
about whom Thomas Monaghan, mem-
Der from the Third ward and chairman
Of the Police Committee, moved that an
order for $3.50 be drawn in favor OF the
Police Commission and the same charged
to the contingent fund.
Councilman Smith arose and address
ing prerident Alexander said he desired
to know to what use the money was to
be applied by the commissioners. MI
Monaghan, replying to Mr.. Smith squery'
said he could not enlighten him on the
subject and that all the information he
possessed was contained in communi-
cation received from the commissioners
requesting that the money should be
drawn payable to their favor
Mr.. Smith then offered an amendment |
to the original motion requiring that the
Police Commission present an itemized
bill stating for what purpose the money
was to be used. He said all bills pre-
sentod to Council were itemized and that
there was no reason why Council should
not know what the Police Commission
did with the money provided for by the
contingent fund.
From time to time" continued Mr..
Smith. "the commissioners ask for money
and Council has nothing to show what
was done with it."
AN UNUSUAL REQUEST.
Mr. Fisher, Republican member from
the Sixth ward, said he had been inCoun-
ell for the past five years and during that
time the Police Commissioners had been
paid from the contingent fund provided
for by law, but he could not recall an in
stance where an itemized biz. had been
presented. or asked for. The present re-
quest he thought, was unusual as the
commissioners knew what the money was
| wanted for.
Mr.. Smith agreed with Mr.. Fisher in
his statement that no bill had ever been
asked from the commission before, but
said that the time had come when the
taxpayers wanted to know what this
e. contingent fund" was used for and that
, they had a right to know inasmuch as it
, came out Of their pockets.
li Mr. Kane. Of the Fourth ward, said
e that member of council recently went
!. to the police station for some information
r and practically was told to get out by one
of the captains who intimated that what
took place there was none Of his business.
In the future Mr.. Kane said that il
v would be found out whether it was any
Il Of Councils business or not.
u Upon the question on the amendment
h being called for, the amendment was car
n ried by vote Of to 2, all the Demo
|. cratic members present and Mr.. Pierson
n Republican, voting in favor OF il.
d The original motion as amended was
then brought up. Mr.. Stewart objected
on the grounds that isasmuch as it hnd
e been declared that an itemized bill mus
be presented, Council could not draw tn,
order until such statement was received
Upon the motion being put it was lost b.
vote of ten to one, Mr.. Monaghan vot
ing in the affirmative.
As the subject now stands the order il
favor Of the Police Commission probabl,
will not be drawn until that body pre-
sents an itemized bill to Council settin
forth to what use the money is to be put
ACTION Is PECULIAR.
The Board OF Police Commissioner
was created in 1898 and the rules govern
ing its powers may be found in chapte
four, of the city charter. Section clever
Of the chapter says: "The said Board o
Police Commissioners shall be allowe
an annual contingent fund Of $1,000 {
conduct detective secret service or othe
work pertaining to the police department
when, in their judgment, It is necessary
In view of the fact that the above sec
ton states explicitly to what purpose tn
contingent fund is to be applied the ac
tion Of the Democratic members OF Coun
ell in demanding an itemized bill is sharp
ly criticised and regarded by many as al
effort on the part of the Democratic sid
Of Council to hamper the legitimate wor
II of a Republican Police Commission.
n REPORTS OF OFFICIALS.
City Treasurer w. l.. Hamann report
: ed having received from City Enginee
George IL. Boughman $5S.75; from job
j. Cassidy, building inspector, fees for DC
tober amounting to SS2.50; from Cit
4 Auditor Isaac G. Pyle, IS; I. S. Lewis
s622 on account of taxes for the year 1899
y +. w. Sayres, $500 on account Of take
for 1894. The balance in bank was re
ported as sSO.OS016.
II Building Inspector Cassidy reporte,
4 having issued twenty-four permits in DC
4 tober at a total cost Of S49,055. The usua
J monthly appropriation TO the Board o
: Education Of S1s,566O1 was ordered paid
Overpaid taxes amounting TO Sl1.S
4 were returned 10 Charles G.. Guyer, an,
SILL to Gibbons & Moore.
v The crematory superintendent reporte,
! 25i,l05 pounds of coal used and 1880. .66l
pounds of coal used in the crematory il
October.