Evening star., 1925-07-08

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not cooperating; that recommends
tions came through the police depar rt-
ment for the changes made. and that
Mai. Sullivan approved the change:
that there was no spite work; that
HeadIey was not cooperating: that
the Board Of Commissioners had
agreed in the demotion. and that he
hoped the chamber would consider
the matter a closed issue. Mr.. Hanna
and Mr. Shipley both declared they
had received the same statements
from the Commissioner as Mr.. Leese
and Mr.. Foote.
Supported by Albert w. Schulties.
Dr. A j. Battle. Martin Weigand
and several others. MIR. Dsrr praised
Capt. Headley's previous service and
declared that it was not so much the
action of the demotion, but the
method.
Mr.. Darr declared Traffic Director
Eldridse Informed me on his honor
that he had nothing TO do with the
demotion, although he knew 1t was
going to take place" Mr. Darr re-
sretted that Commissioners Fenning
had informed four directors OF the
cha mber of charges he had not in
formed Capt. HeadlAy Of"
The meeting ran along at a lively
pace following the revelation by the
four directors OF the conversations
with Commissioners FenninE. Several
Of the members scored the entire pro-
cedure and method OF demotins Capt.
Headiey.
Recommendation Carried.
Mr.. Darr. in presenting the recon-
mendstions OF his committee. declared
the committee was unanimous in it's
recommendations. The recommends.
tions were finally carried. with four
voting against II.
Mi. Darr made a lengthy speech In
which he lauded the % years service
of Inspector Headley. and declared
that he had done much for the traffic
problems under handics pa that pre-
vented him from having a SUFFICIENT
force and compelling him TO accept q
donation OF $4,000 from A citizen for
the marking of white lines on the
streets.
Mr.. Darr made it plain that he and
the committee. in It's recommends.
tions. were not complaining against
the right or action OF the Commits
sioner to bring about demotions. but
that in the Headley case it objected to
a man who has given the people OF
the District 20 years faithful, honora.
Bile service, whose record has no stain.
who has never shirked his duty, being
denoted without being told why or
given g. right to defend himself"
We want Headley to have his day
In court, to be given a hearing. The
reason given for his demotion is for
the good of the service which might
mean anything from larceny to
murder. We want the facts, Under
the law Headiey may not be entitled
to hearing, but there is a higher
law, the moral law. the law of Justice
and - years of spotless service, and
he should be heard declared Mr..
Darr, amid the applause OF several
of the members of the hoard.
"Headley had TO solve the trafic
problem of the District with Insult
ficient equipment and money and he
was handicapped from the start. He
had. no traffic experts to help him or
consult such as now flock to the
District building to try to improve
what he has done" declared Mr..
Darr. complaining that Commissioner
Fenning had disrupted the morale of
the force by his action.
Explanation was given by Mr..
Foote later that Commissioner Fen
ming had not retired Capt. .Headley
as inspector because he had Ave and
half years more service before he
was eligible for retirement While
his length OF service Is sufficient for
retirement. unless he was disabled he
would have to reach the age Of so
before he was eligible to retire.
Headley Is now "a years old.