The Detroit times., 1908-05-27
TO IMPEACH SMITH
If LID ISN'T ON
IN TWO Weeks
COMMITTEE OF ONE HUNDRED,
AFTER GIVING SMITH HARD
GRiLLlNG ON SALOON SlTuA.
TON, FRAMES ULTiMATuM.

Police Commissioner Smith has been
given two weeks by the Committee
OF One Hundred In which TO institute
the aling complaints against saloon
keepers who violate the lid regula-
tons If he does not do 50. the com
mittee will appeal TO Governor Warner
TO have Smith removed from Office.
The committee Is also going to go
after other officials TO find out why
nothing has been done with the saloon
complaints filed weeks ago by the
police department. Most OF the com
plants were rejected by the police
Justices. 'and, of the remainder, none
OF the cases has been tried.
The law is being openly violated
and we are going TO see who Is re-
sponsible," says Chairman John B.
Howarth. or the committee. This
committee has gathered evidence evil
dence OF the illegal opening Of saloons
which has been presented to the com
missioner and has also bean put In
affidavit form to send to the governor.
ut Il not the intention OF the COM
mittee to prosecute these cases In
court, however. This 10 function OF
the police department and II that de-
partment is derelict In It's duty 1t Is
our business TO stir II up. We would
not have the same standing In court
as the police
Commissioner Smith had warm
session OF nearly two hours with the
Committee OF One Hundred in the
Board OF Commerce rooms. Tuesday
evening He was told plainly that the
committee expects him TO enforce the
law as IL stands on the staue books
without waiting for better Legislation.
Smih was accompanied TO the CON
ference by George p. Codd. The com
missioner asked permission TO have
Codd admitted TO the meeting and the
request was granted The ex-mayor
sat beside Smith and the two held fire.
quent conferences.
Smith attempted to justify his
course, saying he was endeavoring TO
bring about better conditions by clos
ing tough saloons. shutting up the all
night places and stall saloons.
Public sentiment was not strong
enough TO keep the lid intact" he de-
clared. am not going to criticise
any other department that Is not rep
resented here tonight. merely say
that there was not sufficient pressure
from above 10 keep the lid on"
He went on to say that only about
IL per cent OF the complaints made by
the police were recognized by the
courts and that conditions were be-
coming worse instead OF better.
What we are doing now" he said,
lis this: We are stationing men at
the doors OF the saloons about which
complaints have been made. The ga
loonists do not like this plan. II
brands their places as tough joints.
Several OF them have asked me TO
remove the officers and merely COM
plain against them as before"
The commissioner declared that by
making more complaints. as asked for
by the committee. the police depart
ment would be merely side-stepping
the question In the easiest way. He
preferred to wait until disposition was
made OF the complaints already In.
AS suggestions. Smith told the commit
tee that IL might work to create public
sentiment for closing saloons and
might also collect evidence and com
plain In the courts, II the members
considered that the best plan. He also
suggested that a conference be held
with the brewers. the Liberty league
and other organizations and proceed
10 draft legislation for better con-
ditions, giving his own opinion that
a non.political excise commission
would be the best solution.
This did not please a number OF
members OF the committee. Jasper
c. Gates declared that the committee
must either do business with the com
missioner or disband. Some members
wanted the judges brought down To
face the committee but others oppos-
ed this. Finally Smith invited the
trials committee TO come 10 his ONCE
Wednesday afternoon and go over the
evidence presented TO him by his OF.
hcers and this was agreed on.
After he had left. a resolution Civ
Ing him TWO weeks 10 make com
plants was put and carried. c. r.
Baxter inquired whether the commit
tee OF one hundred was backing up
Democratic politicians who are after
Smiths scalp.
Chairman Howsrth made an address
at the opening OF the meeting In
which he stated his opinion that the
present liquor laws are impossible OF
cutting the saloons TO half the present
number. raising the license 20 $1,000
and providing a penalty OF the loss or
the saloonkeeper's license for Law
violations. He offered TO resign II the
members Of the committee did not
agree with his views but this offer WA
"a