The morning journal-courier., 1908-06-03
WEBB'S REQUEST IS TURNED DOWN Private Detective Fails to Get Appointment by Police
 Board as Special
 Constable. PRINCIPLE AT STAKE Inquiry to Be Made Into Number of Specials Now Having Powcr--
 Sposa Gets Appoint
 mcnt.

Through the raising of the question of how many special constahes .hore arc duly authorized In this city in the session of the police commissioners last night In connection with the ap- pointment of several which were asked for an investigation is to be carried out by the committee on efficiency and the board Is to he informed Cf the number and occupation of all who arc enjoying the privilege through iis permission The matter came up through the suggestion of commis- sioner Dean that there were great many special constab bles doing duty ,n the city. many of whom were un- known to the present board and that perhaps many of them had since left the employment on account of which they were granted the privileges, The mayor took up tho idea and Commits sioner Dean moved for the investiga tlon which was unanimously voted. In response to a question of Com missioner t'lIman for an approximate 1 idea of how many there were. Clerk Phillips said that he had about ninety on record.
 One of the men who desired to ~e- ceive the privilege was turned down 1 despite the fact that Chief Cowles recommended him to the board as a suitable person In his opinion. This Is Louis J. Webb. Webb it appears conducts private detective agency and is employed for the courts as well as by private individuals. He does not have the right to make arrests, however, in the city and this he wish ed to have added to his powers in order to assist him in his business Mayor Martin questioned the proprie- ty of authorizing a private detective to carry out the fur ctions of q public official Chief Cowles agreed with the mayor on the principle, but thought that in the case of this man where he might well be made an exception Then the mayor asked the chief if ht would recommend him for a position on the clty's detective force and th, chiet promptly answered No" tu he did not think that his action II this case was equivalent. The may ol said that he would be against ih, principle of the thing. though he dc not question the chiefs judgment 1T the matter of this man and ad Ice that the power should not be siYer for a private detective to make CT rests under the authority of the cit! as it was very apt to be abused ant the right was not intended to b' given for the purpose of working uI civil cases at all. The board took ?, action on the petition of Webb, whicl leaves him without the appointment.
 Frank Sposa of the railroad det ,c tive force, was made q special con stable by the board at the meeting The petition of Carl Bergstrom to b
 made a special constable at Grana;s corner was not acted upon.
 The certiflcation from the civil ser
 yice board of the list of about fit
 men who by passing the two rec n examinations had become eligible io appointment as surernumeraries va , received and copies are to be sent [
 each member of tho board, Commis
 sioner Ullman asked if the ages 6 given in the report were ever certido to and the answer was that they wer not He then asked that the clcr be instructed to certify the ages al place of birth of the applicants as ia as possible and this was ordered.