The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-08
MAYOR MOVES
AGAINST CHIEF
Notifies Council of the Removal
of Hilton.
REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE
DEMAND MADE FOR NAME OF
PROSPECTIVE SUCCESSOR.

The matter Of the removal from Of
fee Of Chief Of Police Hilton is now up
to the new city council. Ever since
early in December, when the mayor
requested the chiefs resignation, to
take effect at the end Of the year. and
the chief refused tC resign, it has been
generally known that the mayor would
undertake to carry into effect his in-
.entions to reorganize the department
just as soon as the new council or
gained. There was no surprise last
evening when a communication from
the chief executive &C the city to the
council was submitted removing the
CHIEF and requesting the councils con-
c1rrence.
Instead of yielding TO the mayor the
council, by a vote of nine to five, voted
10 refer the matter of creating a va
cancy in the police chieftaincv to the
committee or police department. yet to
be appointed by President COttreI
Five Of the epublicans-Daveler, Da-
Wis. Robertson, Robinson and Vigus--
voted 70 concur in the mayors action
and the remaining i've Republicans
present-CottreH, Eardley, Hewlett,
Sharp and Spence-stood for a refer
ence of the question to the committee
for report and recommendation. All
four of the Democratic members voted
with the faction headed by CottrelL
Thomas. Republican. was absent.
Wanted to Consider Matter.
Those who favored a report from the
police committee before concurring in
the proposition to dismiss Chief Hilton
expressed themselves to the effect that
they could not act with prudence in the
premises until they knew who the
mayor intends to appoint as the chiefs
successor. 1t is known that Chief Hill
ton feels perfectly secure in his posi-
ton, and on the other hand Mayor
Thompson is sanguine that he will soon
win out in his determine ton 70 have a
new head Of the police department and
reorganize it on lines that will COM
port with the views of his political
friends in making the police force a
part of the Republican machine.
Friends of the mayor assert that he
Will never show his hand bearing the
name Of Chief Hilton's successor be-
fore the vacancy is created. To all en-
treaties to tell the name of the ap-
pointee he has in mind the mayor has
replied: Go ahead and concur in my
act of removal and then it will be time
to consider who I intend to appoint
chief"
Thompson Favors Sheets.
While the mayor is keeping his own
counsel. il is known that ne favors
Detective George Sheets to succeed
Chief Hilton. and although opinions
differ It is generally believed in official
circles that Sheets will eventually dis
place Hilton.
In favoring the amendment to refer
the removal proposition, Councilman
Fernstrom said that it was customary
to send in the name Of the new ap-
pOintee with the message of removal
OF an officer. He wanted to know
Whom the mayor intended appointing
chief in place OF Hilton before he could
concur in the latter's removal
Robertson declared that every head
OF department must be subservient
to The VIII Of the mayor, who had been
elected by the people as their response
bic executive, and il the mayor wants
the chief of police removed to make
way for another chief it is the duty of
the council to concur He disclaimed
having any personal feeling against
Chief Hilton,and added that if the coun-
ell tied the mayors hands it would
have the effect Of destroying discipline
In the police department and proloEg-
ing the Efficient service. In Robert
sons opinion. it is absurd to demand
to know the name Of the chiefs prob
able successor before voting to make
the office vacant.
Cottreil Favors Reference.
The amendment to refer was favored
by Cottrell who said that il is essen
tial tC know who the new chief viii be
b. fore voting to remove the incumbent
who is out Of harmony with the mayor
He characterized the action as being
without precedent, and declared that
he would have to know. in the interest
of good government, the name of tht
mayors choice Tor the head of the pO-
lice department before he would vote
for Hilton's removal.
Robinson expressed the belief thai
IL would be prudent TO deliberate upOT
the question by referring it to the po-
lice committee so that the controversy
might be brought to head without {
clash between the mayor and the coun-
ell.
At this point Sharp moved a substi
tute that the mayors communication
removing the chief be laid on the table
for one week. Only Arnold, Eardley
Hewlett, Robinson. Spence and th'
4 mover voted in the affirmative.
Il Eardley's amendment to refer th'
Fmatter OF Chief Hiltons removal t.
1.-THE committee on police was then voted
upon. with the following result: Aye
Arnold Cottreu, Z. II. Davis, card
ley. Fernstrom, Hewlett. Sharp, Spence
and Tuddenfam-9. NOes-Daveler. A
]. Davis, Robertson. Robinson and vi
gus.