The age-herald., 1901-05-17

| the question or the petition was again brought up. Attorneys Weaver, Harsh, 1 Beddow and Bowman discussed the mat ter at length before the commission. Att torney Weaver contended that the city ordinances. expressly stated that any man elected to any position in the city must be resident of the city. The other gen. tlemen claimed that the section of the ordinances referring to employees of the city had no reference to members of the | police force, the question of the selection of its men being solely within the hands of the board.
 When the arguments of the attorneys were at an end, Commissioner Stratford moved that the consideration of the peti- ton go over until the election of the force was begun. This motion was carried, but when the election of officers began no mention of it was made. number of the men-if not aH-referred to in the pe- ton were reelected to serve on the force. l. The qualification and installment of the new members of the board was accom- plfshed within a few minutes after the l meeting of the old board was called to order The oath was administered to Com missioner Rudulph and Scott by Chair I man McCary after which MT. Mobley took the chair and administered the oath to the former chairman.
 MT. stratford was made temporary chairman Commissioner McCary was nominated for permanent chairman by Commissioner Rudulph, and unanimously elected. Commissioner Strattord was unanimously elected secretary of the board.
 The monthly report of Chief Austin was read This report showed an increase of fines and fees over March amounting 10 s321. .75.
 A resolution was offered by Chairman McCary thanking Mayor Drennen and the members of the police and sanitation committees for the attention they had given all requests of the board and the promptness with which the requests had been considered.
 Election of the Force.
 Commissioner Stratford stated that 1t was late, and asked that the election of officers and the force be held until an adjourned meeting, but his motion did not meet with the appreciation of all the commissioners, and the election was be- gun.
 The vote of the entire commission was given to c. w. Austin for chief and also to Eugene Chambers for desk sergeant For night captain two nominations were offered, Captains Weir and Donelson.
 A petition for the position from Officer Joe M Nix was read to the board and his name accepted as a nomination. On ta1l lofc and Captain Donelson received three. A motion was then made by Commissioner Parker to make the election unanimous Captain Donelson was then unanimously elected to the position of day captain or lieutenant.
 A previous motion of Dr. Mobley to make the day captain ranking officer, which had failed of carriage, was offered by Commissioner Stratford. The vote on the question was:
 Yeas-Stratford, Scott and Parker.
 Nays-McCary, Rudulph, Norton and Mobley.
 The election of the members of the po- lice force was then begun, with the result i as stated in the first part of this report. Chief Austin's Report.
 The annual report of Chief of Police l Austin was read at the meeting. This re- port was very lengthy document, and was filled with exceedingly interesting | facts relative to the police department and it's conduct during the past year.
 The commissioners are asked to sup ply the chief with number of new men, he naming as absolutely necessary at least ltwenty-fiye additional officers The force Is entirely inadequate to patrol the six and one-half square miles Our city now contains. I am satisfied that the population of the city of Bir- mingham is now fifty thousand inhabi- ,tants. You will readily see that force of thirty7seven men is entirely too small to cover the territory. Again, 1t must ! be- taken into consideration that two out of that number are engaged in doing de- tective work, which leaves thirty-ive men divided into two shifts to patrol the Y city. In order to show that the police department Is more than self-sustaining ; I will give a few figures showing the average amounts saved by the city, to- gether with the amount of fines and fees and stolen property recovered:
 Average amount of fines and fees , monthly ... ....:. .!....... VI, .lO l Average amount saved the city by street hands .-.-.... r...... ........ ,3S2. OO Average amount of stolen proper nl ty recovered.... .... '.... 674Tl Total .... .... ....... ............s4, ,O51. .s7 Difference between average pay ,a roll and amount saved cty....$ .$1 .051 Si The chief then recommends the intro- duction of the Bertilion system and a modern rogues' gallery; also that the city become a membereof the National Bureau l of Identification, and the purchase of an- other patrol wagon be made
 The election Of a night sergeant is rec commended. He asks that the commission : insist upon the Aldermen passing an ordi- nance requiring all junk dealers and pawn ssl brokers to make daily report to the chief of all property received. He further recommends that the "Gamewell system be either put in operation or disposed of The report also asks that an attorney } be employed to look after the cases oi the city in the police court and to prose cute all appeal cases. A recommendatioE is also made that in the business part oi l the city two lights be placed in each block of the alleys. The detective depart. ment of the force Is referred to In glow. ing terms, as Is also the clerical depart ment The latter, under the efficient di rection of Desk Sergeant Eugene Cham bers. is spoken of in an exceedingly en- thusiastic manner.
 arA On Gambling.