The St. Louis Republic., 1901-06-23
Mayor Wells. Chairman Boyce ana
President Hawes Discuss
Appropriations
WORK is NOT YET COMPLETED.
Report That Police Board Was
Asked to Reduce Its Expenses
Is Positively Denied-Nal-
liable Suggestions Made.

Navor Wells. Chairman Bcyce of the
Council Ways and Means Committee ana
President Halves Of the Eoard or Ponce
Commissioners held conference yes'eru'S
noon in Mayor Wels's office in regard TO
the appropriations for the Police Depart
ment.
BY invirsti,s of Mr.. Hawss. the Jcint
wsvs and Means Committee OF the Munici-
nal Assembly attended the meeting CT the
Eoard Of Police Commissioners FRIDAY ano
discussed in general WAY the items III
the appropriation hill. The committees had
already investigated other departments ana
this conference was entirely In line WIN
the new policy of inquiry.
The committees did no; ask the board 10
-educa ito expens.s. nor was any such re-
Quest made of the board. The committees
only discussed the conditions In the Police
Department The conference was decueu
upon by Mayor Wells. President Hawes ana
Captain Eoyce.
1T is not at all impossible. as has pee"
stated" said Mr. Halves yesterday morning
..,hat the conferences will be frui'less. we
shall hold n few more conferences and II
may be that We shall find way to assist
the city,
Mayor Wells said. after yesterdays con-
ference. that the matter will be consid-
cred fully. I'VE are not through yet, ne
asserted.
Captain BOyce COmmcnds Mr. Hnwes.
Captain Boyce says it is not true that the
committee called upon the Police Board TO
make any reduction of any kind. We SIM
ply conferred with them In reference 10
ger eral affairs" he said. lust as We dio
with officials of other departments We ex-
plained to Mr.. Hawes the condition OF the
fy'S 10
several very good ideas.
L was very much impressed with his sus-
Eestions He realizes the responsibility oi
the city, and he recognizes the citys pieric-
ament. His plans have not yet ma'ured,
but they have been received with mucn
qualification, and l expect that they VIII
materialize favorably. 1 am convinced thd'
Mr.. Hawes and the board will do all they
can IN the emergency.
Speaking OF Fridays conference, MT.
HawcS said yesterday:
''The meeting of the Police Commission
ers and the Ways and Means committee
of the Council and House was called as
the result of a suggestion of my own Inc
Police Department is now performing tne
work formerly done by street sprlnkiinS IN
spectors. lighting inspectors and SANITARY
inspectors unaer Mayor Ziegenhein. 1 mad
hoped, and believe. that II will ultimately
come TO pass that we may be able to assist
the city in other directions besides these
and thus save il considerable money.
No Request for Discharges.
AT no time during the conference was
request made upon the Police Commission
ers either to discharge any of its men. 10
lay on any of its men. or to reduce me
salaries of any OF Its officers. Police offi-
GERS are employed for a four-year term OF
service. ana can only be discharged upon
trial and hearing, as provided for by law
Under the administration of n former board
II was attempted to discharge a number OF
police officers. They have since sued the
city for the salary due between the time OF
their discharge and the end of their four
years period of service, and have recovered.
Leaving this impediment alone. however.
there is not man who understands the
police situation in st. Louis who would.
having the city's interests at heart, recon-
mend the discharge Of a single one OF our
men upon the ground that the department
is too large L shall in a few days prepare
communication TO the Mayor, stating ex-
actly how many men we have, what num-
ber of beats are patroled the size OF the
same and the salaries paid. The account
of the meeting at the boardroom yesterday
given in a morning paper has scarcely the
color of truth in it. No such conversation
took place as is therein reported. nor were
sny requests made. There being no re-
quests made upon the hoard. there could
he no refusais. 1t seems to me that 1t IS
time partisan Misrepresentation should be
stopped while We are preparing the city
for the Worlds Fair, and that the public
should not be misled as TO the true condi-
tion of affairs