The Portland daily press., 1901-01-08


pass uocn the appointments Of the
mayor ana approve OF them and that
a policeman might be removed for cause
subject to the approval Of the committees.
MIR. Connellan proposed TO amend
this ssction so that this COMMITTEES only
have the power 10 remove policeman
after a public hearing. This, he thou ght,
was only Just. He did not believe In
giving ths mayor or any two aldermen
the power Of removing policemen with
ous due hearing.
There was much debate over this pro-
possd amendment OF Mr.. Connellan. A
few Of the counoilmen seemed to be In
favor of giving the mayor abso iuts au-
thority to remove for cause.
Mr.. Hunt said that as far as public
hearing being required in such cases, the
city witnessed q public hearing on case
brought against policeman short time
ago and 1t was disgrace to the city be-
causa OF the action which wss there
taken by the aldermen. He said that be
hoped the citizens would not be required
to witness another such hearing and per-
IDEmH0Uts A1t boAAANc4 ~ 6&NA@1 ~~-~
mayor absolute control Of this mattsr
As long as he was held resnonsible by
the citizsns for the conduct OF the rolios
force over which he now has no authori-
ty.
Mr.. Connellan replied with some heat
that many people were now oriticizine
the police forcs for things which they
know nothing about, and he defied any
member Of the council to state wherein
the police force was open TO criticism.
People are talking about this hearing
to which the gentleman from Six re-
ferrsd ana they know nothing about the
matter, were not present at the hearing
and have no idea of what occurred there.
but on account of this hearing they are
criticizing the entire departmsnt.
Mr. woodside said that the proposed
polios regulations would prevent re-oo-
currence of any such scene as has recent
fy been witnessed In the board OF alcer-
men.
MIR. Hunt proposed to give the mayor
absolute authority to remove for cause
after fling his reasons for so doing with
the CLERK.
Mr.. Griffin said that he favored Mr..
Hunts amendment. ave now elect O
man as mayor ami expect him to enforce
the laws. hut he can't do 1t because he
has absolutely no power. Our mavors
have all been honorable gentlemen, but
they have not the power to remove po-
Iiceman who gets drunk on duty. My
coIleaaue from Ward / says that people
are criticizi ng the police force on account
of the recent hearing before the board oi
aldermen, when they know nothing OF
what occurred at that hearing. wish
to say that was present at that hearing
and want TO go on record as saying
that IL was the most ridiculous farce
ever saw. We ought to give the mayor
some power. Why not tIust the mayor
of the city as much as we do police.
manfs
MIR. Woodside said that the proposed
section gave the mayor the power to &C.
ieot three aldermen out OF ~ for his po
| lice committee and II he couldn't GEL
men in symuathy with him who would
back him up In what ever course he toos
there would be something the matter
with the mayor.
Mr.. Comedian said that the VIII ole trou
bic now with the police force is with the
SD eoial policemen the mayor has appoint
ed and has had ths power OF removing al
win, He has appointed men not ii
to be policemen and that's the cause O
the whole trouble today and the acts o
these specials bring disoredit on the regu
| lar force, ''Some day we may have I
poIiticarmayor instead OF philanthropi'
| m ayor ard then without the amendment
l propose for public hearing, we MAJ
have trouble"
Mr.. Fox advocated giving the mayo
power in keeping with the position b
occupies.
MIR. Dow was opposed to any chang
| at all ard said that the whole idea Q
the proposed section was wrong an'
| would result badly.
The ayes and nays were called for oi
this proposition OF Mr.. Hunts to CIV
the mayor full authority. Those votini
| for Mr.. Hunts amendment were: Messrs
Griffin, Murphy, Thomas. Shaw, Hunt
Fox, Moulton, johnson, Wilson ant
| Phinney.
MIR. Hunts proposition to amend wa
lost The section as amended by Mr.
Connellan requiring hearing before re
moyal, was then adosted and the whol'
section included in the charter, which
was then passed and sent to the uDpel
board where 1t was Immediately killed.
Mr.. woodside offered motion 60 b
sent to the representatives to the lesis
lature to amend the laws so that all dis
uosal of franchises should be acted oil
concurrently by the aldermen aud com
mon council and not by the aldermen
alone, This motion was carried by
unanimous vote.
The council took no action on tn
French -Wiggin cass.
The ordinance relating to the taking o
the fire department from politics wa
introduced by MIR. Fox at former meet
ing, was taken from the table. but a
not acted on as the council adjourned b,