The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-02
RED TAPE: METHODS
Sample Of Way Things Were Done
.: Under COL Ames. -.>--
AN ORDER AND ENDORSEMENTS
1t Was Issued by Chief of Police
and Looked Like q
ssstaIl."

A beautifully exact and excruciatingly
precise military way of doing official busi-
ness prevailed under the Fred w. Ames'
administration of police affairs, even 1t
the results did not speak volumes for the
efficiency Of the department head. An in
teresting sample came to light the other
day as Former Assistant County Attorney
Al ]. Smith was cleaning out his desk
preparatory to leaving the county attor-
ney's office for his new position with the
United States district attorney. The in
spiration for the official action, suggested
by a document found by Mr.. Smith, un-
doubtedly lay in the fact that about the
time the document was issued the grand
jury was in session and there were ru-
mors that it was to Investigate certain
conditions in the ''red light district
The police department, at any rate, was
seized with a spasm for investigation
along certain lines. The successive steps,
with the results, are told in the following
letter and the subsequent official indorse-
ments:
Fred w. Ames, Superintendent of Police,
Minneapolis, Minn.-Dear Sir: received your
order to investigate all houses Of illfame in
| the city who pay monthly fine OF $100 and
| to ascertain IL such house are selling intoxi-
| eating liquor without city license.
! In accordance Herewith I submit the fol-
I lowing statement of, facts:
| + visited in person all places as per list
| and find: that in all of said houses beer Ii
! sold and in part of said houses other in
I:toxicating beverages are sold. All Of sale
houses have government licenses to retail
the same. Respectfully submitted.
:. -. ( =. al; "A. l.. Gardner,
License Inspector.
/ The Ncensef sfnspeetor' communication
then went up and Gown the line Of off
eials and finally ended up; covered on the
back with the following typewriter in
dorsements: 49, p ~yt - >.
First Observation-Disclosures Mime
apolis Police Department, Minneapolis, MINI
May {, 1901 Respectfully referred to hi
honor Mayor A. A. Ames. ..-<
Fred W. Ames,
| superintendent of Police.
| Second Observation-Disclosures Office, Mime
apolis, Mimi, May s, 1901.-Respectfully re
} turned to Fred W. Ames, superintendent {
| police, with instructions to have the enclose
Information laid before the grand Jury b
A. l.. Gardner, license inspector.
"A. A. Ames, Mayor.
Third Indorsement-Headquar Mime
: apolis Police Department, Minneapolis, MINI
May 6, 1so1--Respectfully returned to A.
Gardner, license inspector. with instruction
, to lay the enclosed information before tt
grand jury of Hennepin county.
Fred W. Ames,
, Superintendent of Police
= Fourth Indorsement-Oface License 1nspe
2 tor, Minneapolis, Mimi, May g. 1sO1-R'
l spectfully referred to the grand jury OF Her
l nepin county, state Of Minnesota.
= II "A. L. Gardner,
= License Inspector.
t Fifth Indorsement-May 6, 1901.-Gardne
A. L., license inspector, states that he h:
t personally visited all house of ill-fame
v city and finds that beer is dispensed in a
g Of them and other intoxicating liquors
= part of them, and that they all have govern
e ment licenses, but none of them have CT
/ | license. '"n5 - J
t with this final Endorsement the matt
| ended. -