Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-01-08
DEMOCRATS TO
ASK SITTING Of
COEM CHARGES
.ilneIight Demanded on All
Matters Concerning Con-
duct Of Fire Department Re-
CARELESS Of Who May Be Hit.

. Nv Aitdf Bud NibNtHA bA WF1h
| Boatright AGAINST Alderman steve
lcoen. alleging irreeularity IN the
management Of the department While
the alderman was chairman of the
/ fire committee Of the council, and
the removal Of Fire Chief Klein By
the mayor. followed by the appoint
{ ment Of former Deputy Sheriff L. {.
Burtless as chief Of the fire depart
ment, have caused the local political
pot To be- begin bubiling with more
than usual energy during the last few
days Wherever two or three politi-
clans have gathered together there
have been some remarks on the sub
Jcct and the effect that the recent
developments may have on the APP
lproaching city campaign has bern the
matter uppermost in the minds Of the
leaders in both republican and demo-
cratic ranks
That CONSERVATION was thrown
into the democratic party by the
mayors disclosures regarding Alder
man Coen Is not denied hy even the
most stout.hearted Of the unterrified,
AZ first they were dazed. MIR. Coen
himself has left the city, and Il was
hard 70 get an accurate lineup on the
situation. Ever since last Monday
night the democrats have been run
ming around IN short circles asking
each other where was the right place
TO head in.
To Get Together.
I EaaInH IL. trunv ~
democratic city executive committee.
announced yesterday that n meeting
OF the committee would be called
next week to consider the situation
and that not only the democratic
members OF the city council but all
democrats would be invited TO attend
aud express their views. with a view
10 formulating n policy for the party
IN the present crisis. Several informal
gatherings OF democratic leaders have
been held during the las, few DAYS
with view 10 getting he party skcin
untangled. and II is likely that when
the committee meets something like
"a wcll-dcfincd program will have
been agreed upon
who has been Interviewed on the sub /
ieet has spoken IN favor OF prompt |
thorough and vigorous Investigation OF /
tn. charges against Alderman coen |
In regard 70 the removal Of chief !
Klein. the consensus of opinion among /
the unterrlfied seems to be that
whether guilty or innocent, he should ,
not have been removed until he had .
a hearing. and that the appointment (
of Chief Burtless in his place cannot /
become effective until it In confirmed
by the council 4
The Democratic View
\ prominent democratic leader, VINO
ia also one Of the leading lawyers Of
the state yesterday stated the ease IN
this way
III there has been graft in the city
council We want to know It and will
insist that the guilty ones be pun
Ished. II makes no difference whcth-
r those affected are democrats or
Honesty and dishonesty I
ire not matters of politics. Every I
honest democrat will insist on the
punishment OF a dishonest democrat. =
Just AS every honest republican should
insist Oh the punishment OF a diahon-
Isl republican
Mayor Boatrighl has asked for an
Of the charges against
Mr. Coon, ana has requested an alp.
lropriation Of $500 with which 10
prosecute an Investigation We an Of
AZ heartily favor an investigation and
he more searching it is the better we
win be pleased. | am quito sur, that
here viii be no objection To appro-
lriatlng rs much money for that pur-
pose as may be needed, but there
should le a strict accounting Of the
money appropriated For instance,
with city attorney TO take charge of ,
lust such matters there should be no
excuse for the city paying a fat fee
10 some other attorney who may hap
pen to BE a friend Of the mayor. As ,
long as the money il legitmMely eN-
pended there can be no objection 70
going down to the bottom of the ,
treasury for the purpose Of ascertain
ng the truth and seeing that Justice ,
81 done
rs To Chief Klein.
~ do not think that the democrats
# the council can be charged with un-
lne Partially to former Chief Klein,
ae continued but law is law. and II
Klein was to be removed it should
lavo been done in q legal way. The
mayor has NO power to remove an Of
tcial on chargcs--hc may only sus-
bend hum pending hearing # the
'harses against him Cntl the
'hatges arr heard and sustained the
eeond in command has charge oil the
lemrnncni
The law * plain. ALSO that the
mayor rannot appoint successor TO
he chief even II he IS removed or Is I
lead. he can only nominate. ana the
'omnation does not become effective
mill the council has confirmed the 4
appointments chief BWrtleSs has new
~ been confirmed aud believe that
vary cent that is paid him by way 4
4 salary prior Go his confirmation Il
'ap he recovered from the officials
sho pay 1t TO him
None al us ate trains TIA keep
<len in office he added lit N4y
"a that he should have been removed
onR before he was. Bui we do insist
hat there is d right way and "a yfons /