The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-31

by policemen who took advantage Of
the privileges Of vacations and sick
leave, Mayor Jones discovered that
fifty members of the force in two years
had been absent from 80 to 1875 days
on sick leave. He promptly issued an
order that the vacations should be re-
duced to ten days. and sick leave to
five days a year. go .'~>. ... .. <:
- = Minnehaha Redeemed. 80
Early in May he took up the matter
of purifying the atmosphere at Mime
haha park. The park police force was,
supported by special detail from the
regular force, a lookup was provided
and cooperation with the commandant
of Fort Smelling for the control Of the
soldiers was secured The objections
able dances were stopped entirely, like
wise, many of the other Objectionable
features, and the result has been that
Minnehaha is no longer the Mecca for
the tough element of the city. -
Early in the summer Mayor Jones
took up the matter Of burying the
dangerous overhead wires. While very
little progress has been made thus far,
Mr.. Jones has not dropped the matter
by any means. There have been con-
ferences with the representatives Of
the various companies. One result has
been the passage Of an ordinance Gre
ating the Office Of outside wire inspect
or, whose duty it will be to see that
the laws for the protection Of life and
property from electric currents are
enforced. The next step will be to
pass an ordinance establishing under
ground districts in which no pole lines
can be maintained, When such a meas
ure has become law and the inspector
appointed, the city will then see the
fruits Of the crusade started by the
mayor last summer.
The South Side Police.
In August he took up the South Side
police situation, which WAS one Of con-
siderable difficulty on account Of the
many conflicting interests. Each one
put in an oar and there was consider
able turmoil for time, which the may
or ended by sending Captain George
Sinclair to the South station and reor-
ganizing the entire squad, with the re-
suit that conditions have been greatly
improved and much of tho previous
friction has disappeared.
The meetings Of the board Of tax
levy engaged the mayors attention in
September. The task of the board was
an unusually difficult one on account Of
the large estimates presented by most
Of the departments. The board Of tax
levy did not spare the ak and eventu-
ally cut the tax levy down to reason
able limits without hampering the ef-
fective work Of any department.
Then came the famous order Of Nov.
4, closing the saloons and all bars on
Sunday. It gave Minneapolis a ma
tional fame and incidentally brought
the name Of David P. Jones to the
forefront. Mayor Jones is satisfied
that this order, altho it works a hard
ship in many cases, Is approved by the
large majority Of the best element in
the city and he has no intention OF
modifying it in any way. He Is thoroly
satisfied that not only will the city not
lose any trade or prestige by the order
but that the city will derive an actual
benefit in commercial way by being
known as clean and moral city. IT,
Fight with Council. .
Just at present the mayor is engaged
in controversy with the city council
over the method Of awarding contracts
The council has seen fit to ignore the
mayors request to undo its work with
regard to the lighting contracts, but
the fight is not ended yet. In fact, il
has only fairly begun. -. i.
Mr.. Jones opens the year with thu
council fighting him on one hand anc
the liquor interests on the other, fol
the saloon men have not yet become
reconciled to the order for Sunday clos
ing. If Mr.. Jones, even with the star
he already has, should have as strenu
GUS a life in 1905 as during the pas
year, he will at least know that he hal
| been mayor.