Norwich bulletin., 1918-04-06
Gpecial to me Bulletin. )

Gpecia1 to The Burietin)
 New London, April 5.--It developed ct the regular meeting of the court Of common council of the city of New London that all the published state ments of the mayor. the G-appointed GtiSens' committee, and their se- iected or volunteer mouth piece, which set forth that the government had made demand that there be a change made in the personnel of the police department, including the ren1qTai of Police Lieutenant Tom Jeffers, acting captain for the past three months, under threat that if this were not done, a liquor prohibitive zone i've miles in area would be established in eae city, was a game of puffed-up eluff. Simply that and nothing more. Alderman Murray proved this when he read a letter and telegram rom Congressman Freeman setting forth that the federal government never made any such demand, was not in terested in who was at the head Of the police department or the men who composed the force, and had never seriously considered the establishment of a prohibitive zone. The govern = ment claimed, however, that sailors were getting intoxicating drink in the city by the bootlegging process and that there was urgent desire that 1t should be stopped. In this particular matter there has been marked inn provement during the past three months, or while Tom Jeffers was acting captain of police. being ad- vanced temporarily from the lieuten- ency.
 There is not an unprejudieed citizen to be found but appreciates the good work accomplished during the past three months. New London was never cleaner morally than at the present time. So far as can be learned there is not bawdy house in the city street-xalking has been reduced to the minimum, and what boctlegging ha; been done has resulted in arrest ant prosecution. Even the liquor dealers co-operated with Acting Captain Jeffers and declined to sell package goods only to persons known to them and who could not possibly be sus pected of engaging in beotlegging But the mayor, ard the self appointed committee did net want Jeftsrs or tht force ia any capacity and for reasons that they have not had the courage t' divulge.
 The bluffing bunch were determine, to win, and they secured a maiorit. of the members of the court of com mon council 10 make their scheme sCc ceseful. They did win, in part. fo the council by party vote, i2 to voted against Jeffers as acting captain and in his stead chose Charles PinneS to act es captain to the end of tn fiscal year. In doing this the senior ity rule was ignored and he was jump ed over half the members of the force P.nney is a competent officer and la been on the force eighr years, In appointment Was surprise to him an it was clearly case of the office seek ing the man. Naturally the jufnpin feature will not tend to cement rhs good feeling that ought to exist in th department. Still it is believed Actin Captain Pinney will receive the cal nest support of every man on tn force. This does not settle the polio affairs, for from present indication Pinney's appointment until Octobe in a temporary capacity, is only 1 hold the place open until the financis town meeting, when the bluffing bunc may attempt 10 have the salary ( captain materially increased, and the Ing in some cop from the outside | come to New ] ondon and comman the police force Wonder if Il mayor and his supporters by the continual nsgging of the departmen without iJstiGabie cause will tend advance inc hes interests Of the eli in these growing times?
 After the election of Mr. Pirney acting captain, ard in order to carr out the scheme of theN bunch H buffers. Mayer Rogers in his effort
 get JeffeTs off the force, announce that tce council would proceed to u election of a lieutenant of police
 was right here that the mayor and h followers struck a snag that shatte cd their hopes. and created surpri among the members of the self-a pointed citizens committee. Aide man Murray. chairman of the poll committee, cooly remarked that t city already had a police lientena in the person of Tom Jeffers and tn there was no vacancy, and that t lieutenant could not be fired witho cause, and that cause must be in [ form of charges submitted to the poi committee, anu after a hearing had heard the mayor state that charg were to be preferred several mont ago. but none had mater alized
 date. In support of his claim tn there was no vacancy, Alderman Mu ray read the written opinion of t corporation council as to the status
 Jeffers. As lieutenant he was lected to serve as acting captain. | that did not affect his standing
 lieutenant when another was elect as acting captain or even permane
 So Jeffers is back in his old DO ton, after a faithful service of rnt than thirty years, with no prospect
 advancement so long as the mayor a
 his chosen followers have infuel sufficient to prevent, for these gent men have no regard for the senior rule. all other conditions being eqr
 This move of the council sho, another faithful officer out of chance for lsieutenancy after a gr
 many years of service, man e
 ceded to be one Of the most efici
 police officers that ever served
 city. Ben Beebe had no aspirat
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