The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-07
POLICE IN LIMELIGH1
INTERESTING EVENTS SAID TO
 BE DEVELOPING.
Chief Gerald Holds That Councirs Committee Has Nothing to Do With Removal of Cowling
 and Thomas.

Montgomery policemen are in the limeligh l of public opinion.
 The controversy between Russia and Japa
 pales into insignificance beside these momen
 tous questions:
 l ''Wil Police Sergeans H. M. CowlnS ant
 John G. Thomas be removed?' .Will all patrolmen who oppose the candi
 dacv of Mayor Thomas H. Carr be removedT These questions are to be answered by the
 Police Committee of the City Council, con
 sisting of Aldermen w. J. Ryan, C. l.. Ruth and c. B. Coins.
 The Committee has the first question under consideration and to answer 1t intelligentiy has begun an investigation into charges against the two police Sergeans. The commit
 tee had meeting Friday evening, at which the Police Sergeants and Chief Gerald were given a hearing. The matter will be pursued further at meeting to be held Tuesday even ing.
 Chief Gerald holds that Bowling and Thomas have not been removed. but their terms having expired, he has simply failed to reappoint them.
 q don't want to give the impression that I'm trying to evade investigation, said Chiet Gerald yesterday afternoon, but under the City Code I sure that the Committee on Police has no right to investigate why I left Sergeans Bowling and Thomas off my list of appontees than you have. Understand me now that I'm making no kick. They can in- NpStiEate all they NtinI to anu III all PiNp- ability will never make use of the law, which I know gives the right to leave any body off the list of appointees so long as I'm Chief of Police.
 And I'm not defending the. law. It may be a good law. It may be a bad one. Anyhow it's the law and acted under 1t. ''The law gives me the right to appoint any 1 body I see fit on the police force. and 1t gives the Council the authority to confirm the ap- pointment. It gives me the right to refuse to | ,N.alvr T mt and the Council the authority to object to my fall ure to make the appointment. ] ITO make my point more clear, Sergeants Bowling and Thomas were appointed for term of two years each. These terms nave eA- | pired They are neither fired nor have they | bern asked for their resignations They sim 1 ply weren't on my list of appointments
 i.There were l4O applicants recently for ten
 police jobs. There were ten appointments | Now. any one of the 13O men whom I failed to i appoint have just as much right to have the 1 asons why they were not appointed inVestl- | ated as Sergeants Cowling and Thomas. And
 YOU who have never patrolled a street a min
 ute of your life have much right to have my failure to appoint you investigated as nave
 the two deposed sergeants.
 | ..I have never intimated to Sergeant Thomas ! that I would appoint him to patrolman s | position. As matter Of fact, would do | anything to help him. so long as 1t does not interfere with the efficiency of my department. hut [ believe retaining him as sergeant does 1 irteyr,re. and left him off the list of ap-
 pointmcnts accordingly
 The recent question being asked by the pub
 lie has not yet reached the Police Committee. | If ,,iu not be referred to that body until Chief 1 Gerald sends a list of fortyfour nominations to | he patroImen for two years to the Council.
 This list will be sent to the Council Monday night of next week,
 It has been openly announced that Patrol-
 men H. C. Mckee. who has been on the force
 ion years or more. will be left off this list
 brauss he is "an offensive partisan"
 While members of the Police Committee are ,,+ lnokjng for publication, it is known defl-
 nitely that they will require more specific
 charges against PaIrosman .iSI Mckee: Indeed. 1t