Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-01
CIVIL SERVlCE RULESPREVAIL
New Regime in Police and Fire Depart
ments Begins Today.
MAYOR WILL NAME C0MMISS TONER'S
chief Richmond and Members Of
Police Force 20 BE Re-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for
Fire Chief.
MW0R WILL NAME COSass TONER'S

Commencing today the police and fire de
partments Of Council Bluffs will be under
civil service rules and under the jurisdic-
ton of a Board Of Fire and Police Com
sioners Of three members. The appoint
ment Of the commissioners rests with the
mayor and Mayor Macrae stated last even
ing that he expected to name them some
time today. While Mayor Macrae had prac-
tically decided yesterday on three men,
two Of them had not announced their will
ingness to accept the position.
The bill placing the police and fire de-
partments in cities of 10000 and upwards
under the jurisdiction of a fire and police
commission and civil service rules was
signed by Governor Cummins, IT is UNI
derstood, last Friday and became law
Immediately on publication.
II is understood that the new arrange
ment will not affect the present members
Of the police and fire departments who will
hold their present positions as long as they
continue capable and efficient and are not
removed for cause. They will not be re-
quired to undergo the civil service exam
nation, but all future applicants for po-
sitions on both forces must so qualify.
The chief of police win as heretofore be
appointed by the mayor and will not be
uHu0I lAb JuIlHulbNloH Vi tic NbllliiASolOll
The chief of police will appoint In the flu
ture the members of his force from the List
OF suitable men approved by the commits
sion and who have passed the examination.
The same system will prevail in the FIRE
department, with the exception that the
chief will be named by the commission and
not be elected by the city council as hereto
fore. The new law will take the control
Of both fire and police departments en-
tirely out of the hands of the city council.
Under ordinary circumstances the city
council would at its meeting tonight 1t
being the first regular session of the new
fiscal year, be called upon to elect chief
of the fire department, but IT is understood
that the commission will be named by
Mayor Macrae in time for it to do this be-
fore the meeting is held. Mayor Macrae
will reappoint Major George H. Richmond
as chief of police for the ensuing year,
and It is understood that Major Richmond
will reappoint all the present members of
his force.
Whether the commission will reappoint
Fire Chief Jones remains to be seen. 1t is
reported that there are other candidates
| for the position.
The personnel of the commission. IT is an
nounced by Mayor Macrae, will comprise
two republicans and one democrat, the law
requiring the appointment where practic-
able OF two of the three from the dominant
party at the last niunicipaI election
The city council tonight however, will
] elect a street supervisor poll tax collector
and poundmaster. 1t was stated yesterday
| that likely a change would be made in the
street commissioner and that A E. Avery
would be selected to replace George Rock
| well. Avery has held the position under
several previous administrations. Charles
Burke It is expected, will be reelected
! poundmaster, although George Washing
ton, another colored man, is out for the
job. d. ]. whitaker, II is understood, will
be reelected poll tax collector, as will be
the present custodian of the city hall.