The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-14
POLICE SCHOOL
 ADDS TO TURMOIL OF CITY'S SCRAP
Altman Asks For Funds To Instruct Members
 Of Local Force
CLOE SAYS MOVE
 IS GROSS INSULT
McLendon Asked To Pre- sent Matter To Meet
 ing Of Commission

Another city hall war got off to lively start Friday when John W. Altman, chairman of the civil serv- ice board, sent letter to members of the city commission asking an appropriation of $7o0 to bring an expert to Birmingham in July, to conduct a police training school.
 This proposal aroused the ire of Police Commissioner W. B. CIoe, who served notice he would fight to a finish to block the appropria- ton.
 Here's another plan to waste the peoples money on something that wouldn't amount to row of pins," Cloe asserted.
 We don't need any expert to come down here and instruct our police, " he continued. "We have department that is as efficient as any in the south, and the records prove this. This move is an insult to the members of the force. They don't need to go to school l; they need achievements. No other city of Birmingham's size has such a small force, and yet the annual report of the civil service board declared against an increase in personnel"
 Cloe predicted that the move would fall flat when considered by the com mission.
 ''I can't believe my colleagues will so over my head and vote for such a foolish waste of funds,'' he declared.
 Mfr. Altman plans to press for favor able action when the commission meets. His letter requesting action showed that the proposal already had been dis cussed in conference with majority of the commission members. Commissioner Cloe, in whose department the pro- posed training school would be held, was not at this conference.
 Would Train Men
 Under the civil service boards plan, Prof. George T. EkEsdale. director of the police training school in Louisville, Ky, would come here for the entire month of July to supervise and train and otherwise put into effect matters looking towards efficiency in the police department" His compensation would be $500 and expenses of the training school would be $150 or $200, accord
 
 The school, after Ragsdale returned to Louisville, would be conducted by members of the local department who by that time would be somewhat equipped to carry on the work" Mir. Altman said in his letter. He added that such school is badly needed and would be of great value.
 President D. D. McLend0n was asked hV Mir Altman f0 nroeont fha pnottar to the whole commission. Action prob ably will be taken next Tuesday.
 ''In all my life, I've never heard of such thing" said Mir. Cloe. Why, we've got men in our department that could teach this man Ragsdale some things about police efficiency. Our re- port for May has just been placed on my desk and it reflects the remarkable progress we are making with a ridicu- lously small force"
 The May report, submitted by Chief McDuff, showed arrests were made in 2,6S9 cases and that 2.284 convictions resulted. It showed total fines in record CTS court of $23, ,4O1 .S2 and credited the detective force with having re- covered $1O,S5S.11 in stolen property.
 There were 1.439 arrests in traffic cases and 1922 convictions; 260 ar- rests in gaming cases and 256 convic- tions; 280 arrests for intoxication and 212 convictions; 146 arrests for disor- derly conduct and 127 convictions. Fines in the night recorders court tOtaled $4,- 900. The officers stationed at Ensley arrested 460 defendants and convicted 404 of the number.
 T call that an efficient months work, ClOe commented "A force of men that can accomplish such results, doesn't need one of these so-called ex- perts from Kentucky to come down here and teach them how to patrol Birming- ham. My guess is that there will be no training school"
 None of the other commissioners would discuss the situation in advance of Tuesdays meeting. One of the most heated battles of the year appeared in prospect.