The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-17
Great Confusion Exists as the
Result of Commissioners
Demand for Officers to Re-
sign.
ACTION is DECLARED
TO BE QUITE IRREGULAR
It Is Stated That Several of
The Members of the Old
Force viii Not Be Reap
pointed.

The claim is advanced by the new
board of police commissioners that the
act repeating the. metropolitan police
law makes the creation of a new police
department mandatory. This is as
signed as the reason why the resigna-
tions OF all members of, the department
have been asked for. One member of
the new board said this morning, the
old department exists no longer
This being the case, the question
arises, why has the new board seen fit
to ask for designations instead of SIM
ply dissolving the entire force. At
torneys, who + were asked about the
proposition. said the board is acting
beyond its authority and the members
of the department can not be dismissed
except by filing charges. The situa-
tion has become entangled, but there
is no likelihood of any trouble devel-
oping. All members of the force will
comply with the boards request and
submit designations. These are
worded SO as to become effective "at
the pleasure of the board
oduSyS OpIutOOs
Supt Bailey stated today he expects
all OF the members of the present force
will apply for reinstatement. He says
he does not understand the action of
the board in asking designations and
at the same time proposing that appli-
cations be filed, also. He .aeks the
question. III the beard wishes to dis
solve the department why does it not
do so without formalities:'' As stat
ed in the Palladium yesterday the rules
of the department permit dismissals
solely upon specified charges. One
attorney said that without these charg-
es being preferred and substantiated,
the board can not. acting under the
rules of the department, discharge a
man and So it is to be believed. 1t
wishes to obtain the dissolution of the
force by designations, which may ap-
Some Cops to Go.
There is a probability some members
of the force will not be retained. There
is on file with the department, a list
of about fifteen applications, that do
not include the members OF the force.
1t is probable the names of these appli-
cants and those of the men now on
duty, will be given consideration and
the entire department reorganized to
satisfy the board.
Ford's Statement.
Albert Ford, republican member OF
the board. claims the filing Of com.
missioner's bond is not necessary to
complete his qualifications Ford
says as soon as the commissioner takes
oath before the clerk of the circuit
court, he becomes member of the
board and that the matter OF the bond
is purely incidental. The bond re-
quired is 5000. Under the terms OF
the appointments. Ford is to serve one
year. Jacob Lichtenfels two years and
Petis Reid three years. A new mayor
will be elected before the expiration OF
any Of the terms, however and il he be
republican, it is to be expected he
will terminate the terms of the present
commissioners and appoint men Ct his
own selection to fill the positions.
Superintendent Bailey has not deter
mined as to what he will direct his at
tention to Immediately following his
resignation becoming effective. He
is a candidate for sheriff and has an
nounced his anxiety to obtain that Of
flee. Before being appointed super
intendent he served as deputy sheriff.