The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-23
Hammond Manufacturers
Take Hand in Opposi-
tion by Wire.
A. M. TURNER EN- AVANT
Speaks Against It in Senate Com
mittee-Lawrence Becker to
the Rescue.

Yesterday some of the manufacturers
OF Hammond got together and decided
to see if they could not influence the
senate committee in favor of the re-
tention Of the metropolitan police law
and against the enactment Of the Nc
Cullough bill. Sixteen kilograms were
sent to Senator Bowser asking him to
use his influence against the McCul-
Tough bill.
Those who favor the new law, which
places the power to appoint the police
commissioners in the hands Of the
mayor, learned of the action Of these
Hammond business men and sought to
counteract it by a flood of kilograms
from those in favor of the proposed
bill.
As a result of this action Senator
Bowser Of Lake county appeared before
the senate committee on cities and
towns at its meeting last night He
said that his Hammond constituents
were divided with reference to the Nc
Cullough bill to repeal the metropon-
tan police law. He bespoke a re-
spectful hearing for Murray Turner of
Hammond
MIR. Turner contended against the
Mccullough bill and in favor Of the
present system. Il believe that the
present law IS good" said Mr.. Turner,
and should be retained Particularly
should the present law obtain at Ham
mond, on the border of the state"
The speaker said he had nothing to
do with the appointment OF either of
the present members Of the board.
Il wouldn't say the majority of the
citizens of Hammond would favor the
repeal of the law: but 1 would say that
two-thirds of the property owners are
against the repeal Of the present law
The welfare of the city can be main
tanned better under the present law
than under local control"
The speaker referred to Mayor Beck
er. who was present saying that he
must be a good man or ne wouldn't
have beaten him (Mr. Turner for
mayor.
The speaker said that the interests
of the manufacturers demanded that
the present law be retained
This plan of preserving peace in
our city is the best devised" conclud-
ed Mr.. Turner.
Becker Also Speaks.
Mayor Becker spoke next to the ef-
feet that he did not want to take
any part in the metropolitan police
matter, but that he had been asked by
several Hammond people to speak
Theoretically he said he was oppos-
ed to the spirit Of the law. as 1T took
the control away from the mayor
The police department seems to
exist only as a guardian against the
saloon interests" said the speaker. who
deplored the present system whereby
the mayor, in effect. was divested of
manufacturers were against the repeal
Of the law.
"A radical candidate for mayor be-
comes a conservative mayor when he
is elected" said the speaker. and the
manufacturing interests will be taken
care OF,
At present I am mayor but Mr.
Knots has the police appointments
while Mr. Knots was mayor. Mr. Tur-
ner had the police appointments That
is always the situation under the pres
ent law"
Once outside of the committee the
Hammond contingent for the McCul-
Tough bill resented the intimation OF
those favoripg the present system, that
Hammond was incapable OF governing
itself
Hammond Contingent Returns.
AessFs. A. NJ. turner and w. j. Nc
Aleer' who has appeared before the
COMMITTEES, returned to Hammond last
evening. While their personal rela-
uons are amiable stiu their opinion
differed widely as 10 the disposal Of
the MeCuTough bill Mr.. McAleer be-
ing strongly in favor Of II
On the whole Hammond has brought
strong bearing on the committee both
for and against the bill Other Ham
mond men have appeared on the scene
at Indianapolis while they urged their
friends at home to telegraph and write
&c their representative lawmakers and
such other friends in the capital who
could possibly use their influence.
Indications point to stormy weather
ahead for the metropolitan police law.
1t would not be surprising if the SEN
ate passed the Mccullough bill, as the
general sentiment in the senate seems /
70 be against the present law.
While the governor has made no
public statement It is understood that /
he will veto II II IL masses tha senate /