Evening journal., 1913-10-17
COUNCIL TALKS
SLEUTH AGAIN
Slower Says Police Chief Was
Not Mentioned While Agent
Vas Discussed
REPORT INCREASE OF
DISREPUTABLE HOUSES

The question Of City Council hiring
confidential agent, which was de-
cided upon last Thursday, was again
discussed by Council last evening,
when Councilman Stover. chairman
Of the finance committee. who intro
auced the motion last week, branded
an editorial in last Saturday nights
Issue of Every Evening, in which II
was said that the agent was to secure
evidence against Chief Of Police
Black. as wrong. Incidentally II was
stated that the name of Chief Black
had not been mntioned in connection
with the hiring Of the agent, but that
the sole reason for such an expert
was to learn If certain rumors were
true.
At the same time Councilman Stover
declared that there were forty-eight
houses of ill fame in this city, which
information had been gathered by a
man from outside this city. II was
also intimated that one citizen living
an Delaware avenue had gathered q
mass Of evidence against some evil
doers.
In bringing up the subject last
evening Councilman Slower said: "On
Tkursday last Council decided to hire
a confidential agent as suggested by
The finance committee, and in last
Saturdays Every Evening an editorial
referred to the agent as "Stover's
Spy and stated that the sole purpose
of the agent was to get Chief Black.
the Police Department and that II also
was a move of the so-called Republi-
can organization, whatever that may
Be. I want TO say that Chief Black
was not considered and no mention
was made of him when the subject
trNas discussed. AS result Of the
Dd r,1rial ! started to investigate the
IA pfce of the article and the cause Of
wb a /rumor. The assumption is wrong
v,7.o A to D."
l AePresident White said that as far as
fe was concerned the question OF
getting any one" had not been his
motive In voting for the resolution
'proyiding for the agent Councilman
McGoldrick. OF the Third ward, SAID
that no doubt the editor would ike 10
know why the agent was engaged.
Mir McGoldrick thought the Council
men also would like to know. MT.
Stover said that members Of Council
were not disposed to devote all their
time to the city's business, but tnat
he had done so for some time past
and as public official he was willing
To correct certain things that we're
wrong. and thought by getting an
agent this could be done. he also
said he was willing to leave the mat
ter of hiring the agent TO Council anu
A they saw fit not TO engage the
agent. he would let the matter drop
Mr.. Draper said the newspaper edi-
torial was the first word he heard OF
any attempt to get any one He SAID
ne had confidence IN the finance COM
mittoe and that when the time came
be thought all would be satisfied.
Speaking of the need Of such an
-~fqent. Mr. White cited an instance
when an attache of certain city ae-
nartment said he would like TO confer
with the agent. as he had suspicious
Of wrongdoing in his department.
instructed him." Mr.. White salo' "
reduce his suspicious TO Writing anu
send them to the finance commlt'ee'
and anyone who wants the services
NJ the agent will be able to get MN.
II was then that Mr.. StoVer salu
there we're forty-six houses OF III
fame in this city tooay, anu nc eohcS
the question. why are they allowed
~ exist" Following this discussion
Samuel ". Baynard. Of the Board OF
park commissioners, said that IN
1856 while he was member OF Coun-
cn from the sixth ward, the city was
alive with policy players, and Tor
awhile the police were unable to sup
rrcss IL. Finally a newspaper editor
through the assistance of detectives
secured evidence against the policy
houses and at noon one day raid was
made. Those arrested filled the police
station and the Golfers Of the cit,
treasury was Increased by severa
thousand dollars In fines. Mr.. Bay
lard told Of his activity In trying I
have Council pay the newspaper 10
lss work. which cost $500, but Will
lhis was not done, he said the pape
frceivcd the plaudits of all.
After Mr. Baynard had cease
tpcahing Mr.. Stover, who had smile
when the story was being told, sal
hn vas glad 10 hear that other SPY
bad heen here before.
a During the session Of Council. u
members discussed the present II