Evening journal., 1918-02-14

I RUM anu lIuh Tic lilOlltHl illtH lEoltl
ed from their oflce, he would turl
over TO the fund not one but thousand
Of dollars. He added. There is no nee
for me to say where it is 20 CONF
from"
Daniel J. Farren. the next speaker
said: Il as one man ask for the resig
nation Of the police commissioners"
James 0'Kane, Of the Painters Union
also entered a protest against the COM
missioners for ignoring the CouncilmeI
/ in the matter Others present said the
/ commissioners are the servants Of the
people and may have more money and
/ education than some OF us but they
should not ignore us. Chief Black is
here and he has more on his shoulders
than all Of the commissioners
Representative ]. Edward McNabb
said that the ignoring Of the invita-
tion by the commissioners was an un-
Usual thing and showed that the COM
missioners held themselves aloof too
much. "They act as the big body and
we cannot get at them. They don't
ask us for our votes they are appoint
ed by a judge who does not live with
MS and they are the most exclusive
body Of otllcehOlders In the state
j. F. Cooper. treasurer Of the Nom
Partisan League. suggested that the
commissioners should have given the
citizens an hour Of their time as he
thought their salaries were sufficient.
John J. Mcdowell. a bartender who
said ne had Travelled from coast TO
coast, caused much laughter when he
replied 90 President Lyon as "Mr.
Mayor" Mr.. Lyon replied, "he Is not
present" Mr.. Mcdowell sNid that any
body of oflcehoders who would not
meet the citizens were no good
City Solicitor Bayard explained IN re-
sponse to a question that Council has
no authority over the police board as
10 is a separate and distinct body and
law unto itself.
Mr.. Davis thought the suggestion Of
Mr.. Saylor relative 10 adopting the Cen
tral Labor Union system would meet
with the approval Of the Voters Nom
Partisan League and that the league
was willing TO so on record as being
in favor Of this system. He said they
realized that the trouble could not be
remedied In Council and that there
would have 10 be an appeal to the
Legislature He made the announce
ment, however that this will require
expense but that this expense will be
covered by the Voters Non-Partlsan
League and the citizens Of Wilmington
and the policemen will not be required |
10 pay 10. This announcement brought |
forth much applause from almost every |
man In the room.
Mr.. Cooper asked il a policeman who |
a - a. -
cover from the city his pay for the /
time he Is compelled TO do his duty, /
and Mr.. Bayard replied that he knew |
Of no law updor which he could make /
such a recovery. He said the Police /
Board has power TO make the rules |
governing its own department andI
every man subscribes TO those rules |
when he contracts with the city to do |
police duty.
Mr.. McNabb said that he doubted
whether the commissioners had the
right to make the rules Il had and hs
suggested that it was such rules as
had been made that caused dearth Of
patrolmen. Within a few months, he
said, the commissioners viii be asking
for additional patrolmen and already
they have fifteen vacancies which they
cannot flll Mr.. NIcNabb added, 81 can
not see why any man wants position
on the force; there must be something
wrong with his topnot."
George j, Sauter, Of the Brlcklsyers'
Union, asked II IL were not possible for
Council 10 withhold The pay Of the Po-
lice Commissioners for not attending
the meeting, but he was informed that
The commissioners made up their own
payroll
Mr.. O'Kane then asked n Council had
jurisdiction over the purchase Of sup
plies for the police department and |
whether Council had approved the pur-
chase OF a machine sun at cost Of /
$500. Mr. Robertson explained that /
The present Council knew nothing Of !
The purchase of this gun and Mr..
Jkane asked Mr.. Robertson II nc /
would have approved its purchase il .
he had been IN Council at that time. /
Mr.. Robertson explained he could not /
say at this time what be would have /
lone IN the matter, whereupon Mr.. I
QKane asked II he would advocate /
securing another gun. Mr.. Robertson /
said that he would answer that ques- /
Mr. Farren asked that the members F..
lf the commission be docked 50 each |
ior not doing their duty by attending .
The meeting, and Mr. Timoney suggest /
ed that the Council concur in the next .
police department budget in an things /
except the salaries for The police COM F.
nissioners.
Mr.. Davis said the best thing to do .
was to get together and agree on what /
they want to present 10 the Legisla- /
lure to remedy existing conditions He /
thought they should formulate rules 4
that would not be a hardship on the +.
policemen but at the same time would .
require the best Of discipline from
them.
Mr. Robertson said the police board .
Is a law unto itself. They had an ap-
Of Si67,0OO for the current /.
fiscal year and they have fun say as
10 how this money should be spent The
police commissioners have absolute I
jurisdiction over the police department 1
and Council cannot compel them TO I
come there or to make any changes in /
their rules
Mr. SAVIOR suggested that Council f.
confer with the Police Commissioners /
and inform them that the docking sys-
tenn was not approved by the citizens |
OF this city and that the rules should .
be changed The country. he said. is
ENGAGED in a war for democracy and
such autocra'ic action as that OF the
Commissioners has caused the war in
Europe Mr.. O'Kane then endeavored
to get the Gouncilmen 20 express them
selves on the subject which nearly