Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-24

securing the advantages of retirement
at the close of my duty here. have
served nearly "a years and the Presi-
dent under the law, Is authorized to
retire me after 30 years of service; so
it is my hope that he will grant me the
privilege on request
Assuming that l will be allowed to
remain here until the canal is COM
pleted and that on application | will
be placed on the retired list, attractive
as your offer is, / would be obliged
to decline it so'long as the present law
remains in force by which removals
from the police force are subject to
review with decision based upon legal
evidence. In public work of any kind,
efficiency can be secured only when
the service of those engaged in 1t is
satisfactory to superiors and while |
fully believe in the right of every man
to have a hearing, the decision of the
superior as to the character Of the
mans service should be final. In cases
where a man whose services have not
been satisfactory can be reinstated by
coure of review, the effect on disci-
pline and efficiency is most injurious.
It undermines authority, leads to in
subordinatien, tends to destroy the
loyal cooperation which the executive
authority must have to secure results,
and makes his tenure of Office impos-
sible.
Assuming. therefore, that | were
free to choose after completion of the
canal 1 would gladly accept your Of
fer. providing a change in the law is
secured which would vest the right of
removal in case Of unsatisfactory ser
vice in the hands of the commits
sioner."
Mayor Mitchell in giving out the let
ter issued a statement in which he
said:
"FulIv realizing the great Importance
of solving the police problem in this city
the thought uppermost IN my mind when
elected mayor was to secure the right
man for police commissioner The place
requires a man of unusual QUALIFICATIONS
and after considering a number of names
I made up my mind, from all l coule
learn, that Col. Goethals was the man
for the place However | did not know
him personally, and naturally felt that
I wanted to see him. talk with him and
learn for myself of his great work on
the isthmus.
"I went to Panama and came away
more impressed than ever with the fact
that he was the ideal man for police com-
missioner If we possibly could get him
He has done "a grsat piece of engineer
ing work on the isthmus, but in my
Judgment the greatest piece of work he
has done has been incordinating great
force of men into a harmonious, loyal
enthusiastic working organization. The
human problem down there was vast
and difficult one. just as it is in the po-
lice department here. He has. besides,
proved himself great administrator.
After prolonged negotiations and
overcoming many objections and in the
face of the naturally attractive oppor-
tunitias opening 70 him in other di-
reetions l have been able to set Col.
! Goethals to say that he will come here
as police commissioner If he can be
retired from the army and provided
the powers Of the commissioner as they
row exist, can be enlarged. He states
his position clearly and gives his rea-
sons for desiring these increased pow
ers in letter to me made public with
this statement. Believing, as l do. that
the police commissioner should have
these additional powers, I shall imme-
diately ask the Legislature for the ne
cessary changes IN the law.
There is nothing more important to
this community than the proper man
agement of the police department. 1t
naturally takes its color, its inspira-
tion, its ideals from its head and l be-
lieve that if we can secure Col. Goeth-
ais as this head he will be able to in
fuse into the department the same
aims and ideals, the same loyalty to
the city and its interests that he has
inspired in the men in Panama for the
government and its interests.