The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-11
CITY news
MAY0R.ELEC1 HOME
Says He Will Not Consider Police
Department Changes Until
3 After January /. -
Pointers Obtained From City Of
fcials in Various Cities-Civil
Z: ~. Service in Favor. ~ -

!, Mayor elect ]. G. Haynes returned to
Minneapolis this morning after an alb
sence OF three weeks. He spent most Of
his vacation visiting his mother at SYRIA
cuse. N.Y., and in recupera ting from the
fatigues of the campaign at Cambridge
Springs. Pa: He went first to Kansas
City and St. Louis and after brief in
spection of their municipal machinery,
looked over Cleveland and Buffalo. On
The return trip he stopped off at Chicago,
where he was met by T.. J. Conroy. the
new chief Of police. who accompanied him
to Milwaukee. where they were the guests
Of Chief of Police Jensen. Mr.. Conroy
Will remain in Milwaukee until the first
Of the week.
Mr.. Haynes makes the positive an
nouncement that he will consider no
changes in the police department until he
takes Up the reins of government, Jan. 5.
Mr.. ConrOy and l canVassed the .situa-
ton only in a general way he explained.
land you may say that we have reached
no conclusions whatever as to any
changes that may later be considered ad-
visable 70" the good Of the department
! do not contemplate any sweeping re-
organization. No one need expect that
am going to tear up the police depart
ment Not until I take the oath of office
will | undertake to discharge the duties of
mayor.
4 discovered that the chiefs of police in
different cities visited were in favor Of
civil service in their departments. I
didn't take my chief from the department
here, for it isn't the custom in Minncapo-
us You know. he added, jollingly. =
A Secret Door Good Thing.
What [ want to know" said Mr..
Haynes, with renewed interest, lis if
there is secret entrance to the mayor's
office in the new city hall. Haven't been
or Chicago assured me that such a way of
getting out of the office unobserved was
the only effective means Of lodging office
seekers. His predecessor. Ripley had a
trap door cut through the floor Of his
office into the basement. so that when all
inSistent plaCehunter insisted on an audi
ence he could easily give him the slip
i hey dldn t know when he was going or
coming
Mr.. Haynes says the two house system
OF municipal government now in effect in
most American cities is giving general
satisfaction. With the exception of Chi
cago. which has d common council, like
minneapolis. there are two branches of
government in each of the cities Mr..
Haynes visited. He found a chaotic con-
dition of police affairs in Cleveland where
the mayor and the police department are
at swords points. The supreme court
having held the present city charter in
valid, Mayor Tom l.. Johnson decided to
show his authority by discharging the
chief Of police and FIVE captains. The
officials refused to be, discharged with
out cause and appealed to the supreme
court which decided, that the mayor had
no authority to discharge police Officials
without preferring and proving specific
charges against them. This he was .ur-
able to do, aud the chief and captains are
all back at work again. paying no atten
ton: whatever to the ldictum. Of Mayor
j Johnson.
= In each city the Officials took pains to
acquaint Mr.. Haynes thoroughly with the
inner workings. He was particularly i'm
pressed with the MiIwaukee department
which is conceded by Chief O'Neill of Chi
'cago to be one of the best in the country
Chief Jansen lived in Minneapoli unit
he went to Milwaukee thirteen years ago
Considerable interest is still being taker
throughout the country in the Minneap polls
municipal scandal and the flight of DR.
Ames.
'''Fhere is no doubt" said Mr.. Haynes
"but that the example Of Minnea polls AM
st. Louis in fearessly probing corrupto,
In office has been powerful incentive tic
other cities to do likewise. and we may
be prepared to hear alarming revelations
of corruption in other big cities from now
on