Evening journal., 1913-10-10
COUNCIL TO
PUT "SHOO-FLY
COP" ON JOB
Republican COunClImen Vote
For and Democrats Against
Confidential Agent
Mr.. ZIMMERMAN WOULD
DO "GUM-SHOE" WORK


lpartments of Wilmington who has a
guilty conscience Of duty not perform
ed in the manner It should have been
will now sit up and take notice, for
City Council, at its meeting last
night adopted, by a strictly partisan
vote, Councilman W. z. Stover's
resolution authorizing the finance
committee to employ a confidential
AGENT to be really a private detec-
tive whose duties shall consist Of in
lvestigations into the various city de-
partments with the aim in view OF
eliminating such unsatisfactory con-
ditions as may exist at present The
eight Republican members voted for
the resolution and the dve Democratic
members against II.
There has been much speculation as
10 just what departments are to be
investigated by the detective. who will
lin all probability be a Burns detec-
tive OF from some other we'll known
detective agency with a reputation of
obtaining results. This matter, how
ever, will be kept a profound secret.
although IL is stated that no one de-
lpartment in particular will be singled
I0uN AAA AnN AnNfrAikdiiNMrs IHt lUOuEnI
that a detective is in the city work
ling somewhere, no one TO know Just
where, will no doubt serve TO keep
every official Of every department up
Ito the standard IN the performance OF
his duties for fear that the detective
might get him If he don't watch out"
In fact, there is a suspicion In some
Quarters that the "shoo-hy" sleuth
has hoar AZ ucrL corrafIrr d, tIf~ ,tt..
for a month
At the meeting of Council last week
the same resolution, worded in a slight
lly different manner, was presented but
was lost, the vote upon its adoption
being a tie. Tho members were some
what surprised when Councilman Stover
offered the resolution again last evening,
as they had not expected such action
until next week The resolution, in the
) form il was offered last evening, was
similar in every respect 20 the resolu.
tion lost last week, with the exception
that the word detective in the Original
resolution was stricken out and the
words confidential agent" inserted in
stead. The resolution in the form IL wal
/. adopted last evening, is as follows:
Re it resolved by the Council Of vii
mington, That the finance committee oi
!. the Council be and they hereby are au
thorized 10 engage the services of a con
= hdential agent, and 20 fix his duties
!. compensation and term of service
/, In offering the resolution, Mr. Sto
yer remarked that II was practical
, ly the same resolution that he haI
offered at the meeting the week be
, fore. The only change in II is tina
/, instead of using the word detective
I have used confidential AGENT h
said. 1T sounds a little milder, but 1
means the same thing"
Councilman McDermott took excep
tion to the resolution. stating that h
understood the investigation was 70 b.
into the affairs of the city department
a The reason ! am not going TO vot
y for IT," he declared. lis because I be
j. lieve our mayor has appointed honor
j. able men TO all the city department.
). and If there is anything wrong. ] be
). lieve they are competent enough I
/ investigate the conditions themselves
o Why / would take Il as an insult 10
n this body to appoint an agent to in
2 vestigate a department OF which
I had charge" Mr.. McDermott men
u toned the Street and Sewer Depart
} ment in connection with the invest
j cation.
II have never made any statemen
as TO who is to be investigated" re
piled Mr.. Slower, "and I do not thin
any one else has made such a state
Ie ment There has been nothing sal
az to the effect that the Street and Sew
AZ er Department has even been consic
a. cred in the matter. feel, howeve
"a that there is ample reson sor thi
n body TO have a man Of that kind. W
are entirely within our rights. Il
:. done in other cities and there is n
AZ reason why It should not be don
"A hereH
nu 81 did not mean 10 refer TO any ce
y tain department when l mentioned II
Street and Sewer Department" rcturl
ed Mr.. McDermott. "Take the Board I
Police Commissioners. Aren't they con
nt petent enough TO run the affairs Of thl
iy department without any outside help
d. AMY employe Of the city who is d
n ing HE duty as he should be doing
as has nothing 10 fear from any priva
r detective who may be brought here
n replied Mr.. Stover.
ay Thinks Council Should Know.
i'd Councilman Haney then asked N
Stover whether the finance commit
or City Council as a whole was to
Continued on Page Tvo).