Evening journal., 1914-08-28
COunciImen and Police
Commissioner Bowers in
Tilt Over Mounted Squad

two hours duration, held in the
mayors office last night, which was
marked by frequent clashes between
members of the Police Commission
and City Councilmen, the members OF
Council adopted a resolution author
izing the Police Commission imme-
diately to appoint seven additional
men who will comprise the mounted
squad" and specifying that these men
should be competent men, who viii
make the squad a credit to the city,
as had been stated by Commissioner
Wickersham at a previous meeting
of Council.
The resolution was not adopted un-
til after lengthy discussion, and it
was amended a number of times be-
fore it was satisfactory to all mem
bers. Even then one of them, Council
man Kane, voted against it. After
agreeing upon the resolution in COM
mittee of the whole, tho body con-
vened in regular session and adopted
it.
The meeting was far from harmon
ious, there being numerous clashes
between Councilman Stover and Pres
ident Bowers of the Police Commits
sion, in which personalities were free
I ly INDUCED in.
When the meeting opened the ques-
ton was brought up as to the neoessi-
J ty for the appointment of the seven
mounted men as soon as possible. In
reply to a question from President
White as to how soon the men could
be appointed, President Bowers stated
that they could appoint the men in "a
hours. if necessary.
General Wickersham did not agree
with him. Mr.. President" he said,
il will take more than twenty-four
hours to do that II is a very i'm
portant matter, the men have to pass
the tests, and twenty-four hours is a
very short time"
81 said p hours and / still say so,
returned Mr.. Bowers. 81 am satisfied
we can make the appointments in "a
hours. The tests viii come after the
men are appointed"
"Well, it is not necessary to appoint
them until your next meeting, so why
talk about "a hours 2" said Mr.. Haney.
1--WE want them as soon as possible
replied President White, who explain
ed that Big Quarterly" came on Sun
day and they might be needed then.
Air Bowers stated that they sould pick
out the men and they could undergo
the examination afterward. He stated
that it would take about one evening
to give the men the examination.
Councilman Hopkins declared that he
did not anticipate any trouble on Big
Quarterly" as things have settled down
now. Later in the meeting Mr.. Hop
kins requested that if trouble did oc-
cur on big Quarterly" he desired the
police department TO send their Older
men and not the new men recently ap'
pointed TO the force.
Mr.. Bowers stated that he did ~
anticipate any trouble on Big Quar-
terly."
Councilman McDermott stated that
he did not believe Council should b
too hasty in the matter and jump into
il all at once He stated that II Coun
ell had been hindering the police com
mission by not authorizing the appoint
ment of the men, then the best thing 4
do was to 90 ahead and authorize /
and let the commission make the ap
pointments at their pleasure
Councilman StOver remarked tina
on the night General Wickersham ap
peared before Council, representing
the Police Commission, to ask TO
( the appropriation for the mounte'
E squad he had assured Council tha
the mounted squad would be some
thing of which the citizens of viii
mington will be proud. I'm othe
words" he said, that the squad viii
be modelled after the mounted squad
g hf % G. VI
vania State constabulary. / don
agree with some persons that the Po
lice Department is the personal prop
erty of the Police Commission. Cit
Council is equally responsible to tn
citizens of Wilmington for the man
agement of all the departments
Council Is responsible for raising tn
founds for them and they are re
sponsible as to how they shall b
expended. I have no recommends
tions to make for appointment on tn
SQUAD have no one in mind, s
l have no axe to grind, but l simpl
want the assurance that the mounte
squad will be as General Wicker
sham assured us it would be. TIL
:. men who comprise the squad shoul
posses physical ability and courag
beyond all question. They shoul
e look like horsemen. The mOunte
II squad should not be made a restin
place for any one who is tired q
<. patroling the streets. II we get thi
s assurance I will have no hesitanc
in voting for the resolution"
i What makes you think the recon
o mendations will not be carried out
. asked Mr.. Bowers.
I There are a great many citizen
s who feel that the competency in tn
= Police Commission is not all that
y should be-" replied Mr.. Slower.
l. for one feel so. | haven't the conf
dence in the Commission that I woul
II like to have"
" Stoyer and Bowers Clash.
:. Then you think the Police Con
II mission isn't competent?' asked M
lt Bowers.
q have so stated on the floor
= Council so far as you are concerne
n Mr.. Bowers" replied Mr.. Stove
- "and / could not retract it"
~ "Well / want you to understar
p that as long as the police departmel
a is in existence and / am at the hes
of II we will make our own appoin
* ments," returned Mr.. Bowers.
notice your signature is on a goo
many recommendations"
J. Stover-"I have only made tv
n, recommendations"
Bowers-"Council has nothing
e. do with the management of the poll
Or department. We can manage our ov
=. affairs"
as Stover-"It is in the province
rsa4. al a.. fNu4 =