The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-08
GOSSIP OF A
new CHIEF
E. F. Waite Suggested as a
Possibility for Police
Superintendent.
The Second Resignation Of
Mayor Ames Will Ar
rive Tonight.

City. hall gossip to-day connects the
name Of E. F. Waite, assistant city attor-
ney, with the Office of chief Of police un-
der the administration of Acting Mayor
D. P. Jones.
1t Is known that Mr.. Jones was waited
upon yesterday by several gentlemen who
suggested Mr.. Waite as a man we'll quail
flied to administer the affairs of the po-
lice department.
Later in the day Mr.. Waite himself was
seen by some of these same gentlemen.
It is not thought that he is an applicant
for the place, but that If he took It he
would be impelled by sense of duty.
Mr.. Waite has good knowledge OF the
personnel of the Minneapolis police
through his work as prosecuting attorney
in the municipal court. Before becoming
assistant city attorney he was for many
years engaged as a special investigator;
for the pension bureau.
+ No OmciaI Confirmation.
Whatever Mr.. Jones intentions may be
with respect to Mr.. Waite, there is
| growing impression in police circles that
the rumor of the proposed appointment
has some foundation in fact, and that
it is largely contingent on Mr.. Waite's
willingness to accept. Mr.. Jones himself
had nothing to say as to who would suc-
ceed Acting Chief Henry Getchell. He,
could not underst and he said, what could
| have given rise to the report that he
had Mr.. Waite in mind for the place.
Whatever action might be taken, he de-
clared, no changes need be expected inn,
mediately or before next week. -
% When the report reached Chief Getehel
that his tenure Of Office might be short
and that he would not succeed himself he
said that he was ready to move out on q
moments notice, IL 1t was thought that
4 his exit would be for the good Of the
service.
J. IF could be assured the necessary
Support, said hes II am confident Of my
ability to go ahead and manage the police
department in. the right way, but If Mr..
Jones thinks that Mr., Waite, James G.
Doyle or any one else Is better qualified
for the position than myself, why, I say
q all right and good luck to my successor.
81 whoever he may" be. a I have been used
to obeying orders from superior officers
ever since l went on the force eighteen
years ago, and I've been too long In the
harness to do anything else now. Il don't
). mind saying that would have liked to
remain here and have chance to put my
ideas about police work into effect. There
is certainly great deal Of work to be
, done in the way of reorganization before
the department can be put upon as eff
cient basis as the public has right tc
) expect. It is my firm belief, however
:: that until the size of the police force IL
increased to correspond with the popula-
tion of a rapidly growing city. 1t cannot
be properly policed, no matter how higf
y the morale OF the force may be"
Mr. Waite was at the city hall thil
. morning. He had nothing to say about
his attitude toward the police chief ap-
pointment. &
Former Police Captain Charles r. Hill
was closeted with Mayor Jones for some
: time this morning. He was said to have
been summoned, in an advisory capacity
with regard to needed changes in the de.
partment. He declined to disclose the
nature of the Interview. 80 :
Alderman Fred Powers, former acting
mayor, also had a chat with his success
sor. Other. callers were Alderman
+ Peter Nelson and Lars NJ. Rand and T
R. Brown.
II Mr. Waite is appointed, Getchel. i
s is thought, Will be placed In charge o
q the headquarters squad. Sd s.
Ames' Resignation En- Route. 81
d AS. fast as steam can carry him, John A
II Fitchette, former police captain, is fly.
Il ing toward Minneapolis with Mayor Ames
, 4 resignation tucked snugly away in his In
= side pocket. The redoubtable Fitchet t.
4 wired last evening from Green Castle
" Ind, that If the council meeting could
Z be held open until 10:40 tonight h
: would deliver the goods" to Acting
II Mayor D.. p. Jones.
1 AS the council will in all proba bilit!
s have dispatched all other business con
: siderably before t hat hour, Coffee John
will probably not get in before adjourn
ment There Is no disposition to accep
d the resignation at this time.
g "'It is quite possible" said Acting Mayo
t Jones, that the council will still be ii
j
y case. OF course, there will be nothing 70
,r us to do but receive Mayor Ames' resigna
tion. BY that don't mean to say that tn
It resignation will be accepted. On the con
RI trary, 1t will in all probability be table,
/ and put away for future reference. whe
y 1t finally becomes advisable to &C
y cept 1t formally. At present no sue
immediate necessity exists. AS Dr.. Ame
has himself already pointed out, 1t woul
be needless extravagance for Minneapolis
It to hold a special election at this time i
q orde rto name his successor Should "
'e accept his resignation tonight itwould b
q necessary to hold special election 500
e at an outlay of approximately ,00l
q and the city certainly cannot afford t
L blow itself,ssto that extent just now.
II ''In any event whether the bearer .
+. the resignation arrives or not, 1t vii
hardly be worth while TO keep the coun
ell in session In order simply to plac
the resignation on file. 1t is not g
D. any great moment whether the resigna
tion arrives at this time or not since &C
tion on 1t must necessarily be deferre
until the general election.
g. Fitchette also said In his telegram ths
On City Attorney Healy had advised Mayo
erl Ames not to resign at this time, leayin
n the inference that the mayors resigna
on tion would already have been fortheon
i, ing but for that fact. Fitchette arrive
as lin Chicago over the Monon route frpl