The San Francisco call., 1904-12-21
CHIEF WHITMAN
DENIES RUMOR
Story That He Anticipates
Being Ousted is Branded
an Absolute FalsehOOd
TONGUES ARE WAGGING
Many Who Pretend to Know
Say That the Department
VIII Have Another Head

Runors OF changes in the Police De
partment are rife sinsS the findings OF
the Commissioners on the Chinatown
scandal were given out One Of the
rumOrs that found credence yesterday
was that Chief Whitman was to be
ousted- Later q story was circulated
that Whitman had admitted to friends
thar he anticipated such a fate.
The Chief denounces this story as a
f8lsehOOd- L have nothing TO be afraid
OF, he said The statement that an
ticipaIe being ousted is utterly alb
surd- OF course, there is no police
force that is infalHble, but 1 think that
! have raised the San Francisco depart
menI 10 a standard Of efficiency as
high as that Of any city in the coun-
Try"
When asked why the Commissioners
had lot voted 10 specifically exonerate
the Chief, as they had the Mayor and
A Ruef IN connection with the China
town scandal, Commissioners Drink
house and Reagan said: We do not
think THAI the Police Department has
cleared itself There was gambling in
Chinatown and il was permitted TO go
on"
The Chief is responsible for his men,
isn't hez" remarked Commissioner
Reagan We viii know more after the
trial We VIII deal with the men at
that time Other matters are for the
Grand Jury to investigate
In regard 10 this statement Chief
Whitman said: My bonds do not guar
antee the integrity Of all the men on the
force. If I am 10 be held responsible
for the honesty Of each and every po-
liceman under me I would have a big
contract on my hands There is moth
ing in my conduct as Chief Of Police
that needs defense I stand on my rec
ORD"
Commissioner Hutton declined to
make a statement regarding his atti-
tude toward the Chief. Commissioner
Howell reiterated the statement that
he saw nothing in the evidence offered
70 show that any official or citizen of
the city was receiving corruption
money from Chinatown gamblers.
None Of the Commissioners seems to
care to discuss the stories of the pro-
posed removal Of the Chief. The ru-
mOrs. however, came fast. The real
inside OF the whole thing" was spread
by numerous gOssipers, who were as
thick as tramps at a lunch counter. DIR.
George J. Drucker and J. George Boyne
were mentioned as sure things for
the vacancy TO be made by the expira-
ton OF Commissioner Howelrs term in
January i ne DuTIOn-hOle information
bureaus also had numerous appointees
for the position OF Chief OF Police. Va
rious whisperers who had it straight
appointed Commissioner Hutton. Cap
tain Martin and Captain Gleason. And
the tongues are still wagging of
changes 10 be made and dark horses
10 be appointed.
It Is stated on what appears TO be
good authority, that George Maxwell,
former secretary Of the Fire Commits
sloners. viii succeed Bert Cadwalader
as secretary Of the Police Commission
ers. 1t is claimed that this was decided
upon when Cadwalader announced that
he would resign.
The three sergeants and five patrol
men charged with receiving tribute
from the corruption fund Of the Chi
nese gamblers viii be on the stand TO-
night The charges are now up TO them
10 disprOve. as the findings OF the Com
missioners absOlve those higher in civic
authority and place the accusation
against the Police Department The
men who must face investigation are:
Sergeants Ellis, FRAZIER and Brophy
and Patrolmen g r. Num- r. r
O'Brien. H. T. McGrath. Henry Heinz
and William DOran Of the Chinatown
squad