Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-04
MAYOR DENIES
he HAS POLICE
CHIEF ON SLATE
WILL GIVE COMMISSIONERS
VOICE IN SELECTION
ToPHAM is TO BE A MEMBER
OF BOARD
Judge Stephens Is Compelled on Ae-
count of Private Business to
Decline Appoint
ment

That a program has been arranged
for new chief of police was denied
by Mayor Alexander yesterday.
81 have not yet secured a man for
chief and I do not intend to do so I'M
til my police commission is completed.
intend the police commissioners shall
have an opportunity to say who will!
be chief
The refusal of Albert NJ. stephens to
accept a position on the police board
was a keen disappointment to Mayor
Alexander The mayor had depended
on Judge Stephens as one of his adj
visers in the difficulties that will beset
him during his nine months admins
tration. In his letter to Mayor Alex
ander yesterday, Mr.. Stephens said
that his legal business would not per-
nit him to take up the duties of the
police commission, and that he would
have to refuse although with great re-
gret, because he knew Mayor AleXan-
der's administration would reflect
credit on every one connected with it.
Three more designations were given
the mayor yesterday. DR.. A. w. Moore
rendered his written resignation as
member of the health board and DR..
w. A. Lamb resigned from the play
ground commission. Judge Dillon ten
dered his formal resignation as MEM
Der of the police commission.
81 expect to be able to announce all
my commissioners Monday" said Mr..
Alexander. 81 have been disappointed
in some men, but when my commits
sions are completed I am sure the pub
lie will feel that 1 have selected good
men,"
Topham for Commissioner
The mayor admitted that John Top
ham was on his eligible list for the po-
lice commission, and the broad smile
that accompanied this admission in
dicated that the place had been ten
dered and accepted. This impression
was confirmed when the mayor said
later he was awaiting responses from
two others before his police commits
sion would be completed.
Richard Molony, the new fire COM
missioner, called on the mayor yester-
day, among others who visited his of
fee to tender their congratulations and
ask for places on his commissions. But
the mayor has announced that the
more eager man is to get place on
a commission the more apt he is not
to get it.
When he announced that he had not
fixed on a man for chief of police he
showed a deep interest in remarks
made about The fitness of John M.
Glass for the position. Glass was fer
merly chief of police and in that ca
pacity pleased a large portion of the
better element of the city. 1t IS cur
rently reported that he lost his place
because he insisted on enforcing the
laws and forgot to play politics The
police department is hot bed of poll
tics and it is a fatal error for one in
authority to forget this fact If he cares
more for his position than he does for
his oath of office.
BY going to his office early yesterday
morning Mayor Alexander finished all
the work that was before him. He did
not strictly observe the Saturday half
holiday in the afternoon, as he return
ed to mis- Office after the City club had
adjourned and passed some time on
administrative business.