The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-21
MORE TO FOLLOW
The Mayor Is Not Yet Done With
the AK.
WILL KEEP FORCE UP TO LIMIT
Explanations VIII Be Made to
+ None of Those Re-
{ moved. E...-
fore nolice heads are to fall.

More police heads are to fall. =. .5
One or two will go tomorrow, others
the cimiter of Acting Mayor Jones will
flash and the head of some Ames ap-
pointe, whose record on the police force
has been unsatisfactory, will roll into
the basket. Mr.. Jones said this morning
that he was not through by any means.
He was satisfied that the efficiency of the
police force had been materially improved
by the changes n1aI.e vest erday. The
step has been drastic but it was neces-
sary. 1t was not the end, however.
There has been submitted evidence
against other members of the,force. The
accusations are very serious and 1T Is.
the mayors duty to investigate fully.
One man is surely due to lose his official
head tomorrow, but the execution will
be held off as long as possible.
81 would be doing scant Justice" said
the mayor, "if 1 accepted every complaint
without making careful investigation. Any
man doing his duty is liable to incur the
enmity of certain persons who would not
hesitate to take any action to satisfy per-
sonal revenge. Mr.. Waite and myself are
doubtless in possession Of more evidence
regarding the officers on the police force
than any other two men in the city and
we will not act with undue haste.
No Explanations.
"Will any explanations be made to the
officers who have been removed?" was
asked of the acting mayor.
"None whatever, neither to the men
nor the public. To give the reasons in
each individual case would open a series
of controversies which would be intermin-
able and which would serve no purpose.
When we refuse to make public our rea-
sons we are actuated by the spirit of max
ing it as easy for the unfortunate men
as possible. We are protecting their names
and we hope that they appreciate the con-
sideration.' ."
"Wfll there be further appointments"
NATURALLY it is our plain duty to fill
the vacancies. The maximum of 225 men
fixed by the charter is small enough for
city of this size and we will keep as
close to the maximum as possible. I un-
derstand that we are still ten or eleven
| men short of this number, although have
not ascertained definitely with regard to
this matter. There arc hence several
places to- be filled aside from the vacan-
cies which will be caused by future re-
movals.''
The mayor said, further, that he had
| come to no decision respecting other ap-
pointments. The application list had
been carefully scanned and had been re-
| duced to "pjreferred" list from which
| the appointments would be made. The
application of ex- Officer Stewart had been
! considered and his Endorsements carried
| considerable weight. No assurance had
| been given to him or his friends that the
appointment would follow. The unfor-
tunate shooting affair In which Stewart
was involved apparently did not lose him
any friends.
Former. Officers Get Preference.
-5saErtr
+ 'It seems to be the policy of the present
administration to restore to the police
| force all such members who were dropped
| therefrom simply to maket room for Ames
| "strikers.'' These old men, provided
they have good regulations for moral con-
duct are in good health and have shown
| themselves efficient and, faithful police
| officers will be reappointed as far as the
| vacancies will permit ."h a
Mr.. Jones refused absolutely to give
any intimation' as to where the ak would
fall next.
The threats of the decapit ated men to
make trouble do not disturb Mr.. Jones in
the least. They can not appeal to the city
council as this body has no jurisdiction