South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-20
BOONE SUPPORTS
MAYOR PLAN
Safety Board Member Would
Replace Captains With
More PatT0lmen.

the required mum Der OF patron ''
properly police the city. has caused
Frank N. Boone. member OF the
board q public safety TO follow
Mayor Carson in suggesting "a REM
ody whereby az least a part OF the
cause OF the reported ineniciency
NAV be removed.
Whether Mr.. Boone's plan viii be
treated by the department in the
same manner IN which the sugges-
tion % the mayor made some time
ago. has been treated remains 20 Dee
seen
Several months ago the mayor
took occasion 10 express his opinion
regarding the present system at
headquarters regarding the three po-
lice captains Under the present
plan. these three officers serve the
purpose Of telephone operators. ac-
cording 20 those who have observed
them on duty.
Chief Whole Works.
One captain goes on Guty at
o'clock i'm the morning and D. On duty
until o'clock in the afternoon,
when he is relieved by another who
remains on duty until midnight. The
third captain goes ON duty at mid
night and remains until 8 o'clock in
the morning thus making three
shifts
Observers say that while Chief of
Police Kline is ON duty at headquar-
ters. there is nothing left for the
captain on duty 10 do except 20 an
swer the telephones The chief re-
mains in his office at the police sta
ton throughout the day. Whenever
there Is any business of police
character 10 he transacted, no mat
ter how trivial. the chief desires 10
and does transact il himself IL has
become "a notorious circumstance
that Il is impossible 10 get informa-
ton. Of any kind of Importance from
any Of the captains. The answer 10
practically all questions asked them
by the public is.
II don't know"
Fault Of system
This is not the fault OF the cap
tains so much as il is the system, ac-
cordmg 10 those who are i'm a posi-
ton 20 know the inner workings of
the police department. They say the
chief Is extremely jealous Of the 9th
or ranking members of the depart
ment. and insists that ne he consult
ed on every matter that comes be-
fore the department
Suggests More PatrOlmcn.
The plan suggested by the mayor
some time ago. and now suspported
by Mr. Booone is 20 abolish at least
two Of the captaincies. They draw
S1.450 year each. making a total
OF $4,000. This amount, IL is point
ed out by the mayor and Mr.. Boone
would pay the salaries of two uni
formed men. thus giving the city "a
little better police protection.
Harry F. Josephson is the clerk of
the board OF public safety The Of
flee of the board adjoins that of
chief Kline and also the one now
occupied by the police captains. Ii
IS suggested by the mayor and Mr..
Boone that Mr.. Josephson be made
secretary to the chief as well as 20
the board OF safety. and that he be
assigned the duty OF answering the
telephones now answered by the two
captains at $3.50 a year each II is
pointed out That this arrangement
would provide the city with two
more active officers. and a. the same
time keep the board or safety in
closer touch with the police depart
ment itself.
MIR. Boone is not so much in favor
OF abolishinE the two captaincies as
ne is OF obtaining better police pro-
lection for the city. He is satisfied
with the one who is on duty from
midnight until s o'clock in the morn
ing. is essential 90 the department
The chief is absent from headquar-
ters during that time. and this cap
tain. i'm measure. takes the place
OF the chief
Would Vest More Power.
As an alternative for tho abolition
Of the two telephone operator" po-
sitious. Mr. Boone offers the suggeS-
tions that the two captains he vested
with the same authority that is us
uaUy vested I'm such officers. He
WWAAu Aatt w .ll.IlI .AAlNNf.Nl t'. If'tl n 2
the city hall whenever they deem ii
necessary for the good of the serv-
ice. Usually captains Of police it is
pointed out have little more au-
thority than IS allowed telephone op-
eraSors. I'm most cities ;bc captains
OF police are usually in charge of the
other men On he department and
throughout the day and night They
make frequent Inspections OF the
various posts % see If tho city is be-
ing properly pcHced N,r SO u
South Bend The only time TWO OF
the three captains are oi.s of polio,
headquarters is when they are coins
TO and from work The third cap
tain. the one after midnight. doe.
make frequent inspections e the po.
lice posts
Mav0r Carson planned 90 take On,
rearraugement ,f the present polio,
system up with the board OF safety
and 10 IS understood tina he did talI
the matter over with tie members
but SO far no results have been co
tanned. Now however that Mr.
Boone is agreeing with the mayor 81
regard 10 "A shift iu ~yefau7 ~ Is nos