The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-12-07
City Attorney Hasn't Given
Opinion Yet but Impression
Is That Klein's Dismissal
Calls for Vote.
UP TAKES ON
POLITICAL ASPECT
Burtless' Appointment Viewed
With DisapprOval by Citi-
zens Who Object to Mixing
Politics With Case.

Mayor Boatright having removed
fttc chief Jacob Klein from office
nld appointed Former Chief 4. T..
burtless his successor. and council
having dismissed Driver w. J.. Reed,
who ran the truck that killed little
owen Doris Nthe question in the pub.
lie mind now b.. What will city coun-
ell do in the matter OF Klein
There h. a general impression mat
the ordinance under which the mayor
acted provides that diamlssal calls for
concurrent action by council before Il
IS effective. city Attorney Thomas y.
Wiikerson said today that he was not
prepared to giye an opinion on that
point until he had studied the ordi.
nance. Mr.. Wilkerson is sim suffer
ing from the effects OF injuries receiv-
ed In a recent automobile accident.
pnd so far. ne said today. he had not
been able to give the attention 10 the
lsubjcct that it required He expected
TO settle the matter IN his w mind
IN a day or 20, and attend the next
meeting Of council armed with an the
necessary opinions that might be
called for.
What council viii do when the
I NAAAN p NfAAANNAA anu iAAAAN@ nNNNNAA=
ment be laid before u. Is "a matter for
speculation. II rumors are 20 be- cred
tied there viii be stin %oppo1Fion on
the ground that the mayors move
was so patiently political as TO remove
from serious consideration any pre-
tense that he was actuated by "a sole
desire 10 better the service.
chief Burtlvss has been frankly
NIaWFHHN.N nraHHN rAaNff4.. IL. a. on OBJ
%gnnization Republican, and h. known
as a man for whom Gillenwater. Iio-
nero ana other @. O. +. leaders have
the most kindly aud solicitous feel
ings based on the fact that la polit-
teal parlance he IA "all right"
BVrtless was ire chief for six years.
lie vas brought here from Toledo.
Ohio, eleven "A ago 90 take the
pYace ACthe Head OF The department.
lie saw long service In the Toledo
fire department, and came 20 Albu-
.querQue with strong recommendation
one of them was from Golden Rule
Jones. then Toledos mayor.
OF recent years Burtless has been t
deputy sheriff. acting aa CHIEF aide To-
Undorsherim Dick Lewis
Interest in the removal today seem
cd to be divided between the act Itself
and the political aspect of a.. I'm o.
good many quarters resentment was
expressed over what was regarded a.
the needless injection OF politics into
the departmental situation. The
opinion was expressed that the ma
.yor's advisors had led him into a posi-
tlon that would weaken him seriously
ia his attempt To 40 before the people
with the assertion hat the depart
monal problem vas approached with
AN eye single 10 the public good.
Klciu's removal n Burtio-s ape
pointment ave nOt Sc, been laid boa
amy way before the council. Klein
was dismissed by the mayor after
council adjourned last night. The
mayor waited tor the fire committee
TO act, ana when 10 failed tu recon-
mend Klcin's removal the executive
took the step upon his own shoulders
The committee recommended Driver
Reeds dismissal, making no refer
nee whatever 90 Klein. Several days.
Mayor RoatVight reached the Con-
clusion that in recommending only
ccd's removal the committee
wouldn't so far enough, u ne went
TO the meeting last night prepared to-
act himself with regard 20 Klein Do
the committee didn't
Immediately after the meeting the.
called Klein 10 his Office and
notified him that he was removed by
executive artiol. with the formal no.
tlrc of dismissal the mayor gave
Klein "a copy OF "a statement Co couu-
cu. setting forth the mayors r]eaaons
for the act. CITY Cltrk Huphes got a
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