The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-01-05

Monday, December "a, in a let
ter to safety commissioner Sill
Derstein, chias ,f police McKer.
cher made an ef Fort to tell wnere.
how and why h. gos that Mar
1uon car. The commissioners did
aot appear to show much inter-
est in the matter, either through
professional courtesy to Mr.. Sill.
bersten or because they feel SO
poor over buying cars for the
fire department that they cannot
buy mammoth cars for the mas
slve chief OF police. But, to get
back to the Big Chiefs COM.
munication, he told his story on
paper, as follows: viz:
In compliance with your request,
herewith make the following state
ment with reference to the Marmon
car which has been and Is now in the
service of the police department.
When I took the position of chief
of police in 1915, I was in possession
of an automobile of small type Of
car which I used for all driving in
connection with the department on
account of the inefficiency of the
Franklin car, then in use in the de-
partment and, also, on account of
the depleted condition of. the city
treasury, which condition made it
impossible to purchase car.
In the spring of 1916, my car,
which I used in the city service,
being pretty we'll worn, traded it in
as part payment on a new five pas
senger car, and the new car con-
tinued in the same capacity as the
former. This deal necessitated a diff
ference of $3.50 which was appropri-
ated by the city in lieu of services of
said car during my term as chief of
police.
Then, in the spring Of 1917, was
instructed by the commissioners to
handle the special police in connec-
tion with the D. M. & N. ore docks
and, upon taking that over, it necessi,
tated my doing that work in the
night time as the duties of my office
kept me at headquarters during the
day.
On account of the United States
declaring war on Germany on April
6, 1917, and it being current that
a repetition of the I. w. w. troubles
on the ranges was likely to occur, as
in the previous year, and would, of
course, affect the city of Duluth and
it's Industries, I was compelled to
get larger and more powerful car
as precautionary measure for
transferring of reserve officers from
one point to another.
1t was then I decided to change
the five passenger car for seven
passenger one of heavier type, and
consequently the car which 1 bought
in 1916 was traded in as part pay
ment on the Marmon of 1917 which
is now in the service of the city, the
difference being paid by myself as
per checks attached and cancelled
through the bank on or about the
date of that transaction.
The foregoing was signed "R.
D. McKercher, chief Of poice."
The communication to commits
sioner Silberstein, from chief of
police McKercher was the out.
come Of a general public de,
mand that some explanation be
given as to how, where and why
the Big Chief secured the power.
full Marmon Car that he has been
driving at a high rate of speed,
at all hours of the day. all over
Duluth, up and down St. Louis
county and even to the southern
ends Of Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin.
In behalf Of many citizens, the
Rip-saw has, for many weeks,
been asking for information. Fin.
ally, the Federated Trades &
Labor Assembly passed a resolu-
tion, asking the city commissioners
about the matter and directing
the inquiry to mayor Magney
The matter came up in the city
council and was referred to com
missioner Silberstein. The fore.
going communication is what he
reported.
Chief McKercher was not pres.
ent to supply information that
his communication so wofully
lacked.
Commissioner Silberstein garru.