Year: 1879

did Commissioner Wheeler offered the following
resolution


of Clothing and Equipment and never have been
upon render account OF hem and whereas am ana
That the matter be referred to for
the CORPORATION for his opinion 10 what disposition
should be made of these funds in the hands OF myself and
Commissioner MacIean moved to return Mr.. Noes
letter for detailed Abatement of all the items max
ing the balance mentioned dispute followed as to
the date back to which the statement should go, Mr.
MacLean being anxious to go beyond April 2, 1875
His amendment was lost, and the resolution was
offered by Commissioner Wheeler. Mr.. Moe was di-
rected to answer the summons from Mayor Cooper,
contained in the following letter:-


Mayors OFFICE, August l, 1879.
request the Board Of Police instruct Mr. Isaac L.
tend at the Mayors Office Monday and to bring with
actions Of tho Department Of Clothing and Equpment


also request Board of Police bs sent
20 before the 4th Of August certified copies OF a rssS
ns and Equipment or the purchase Of eiothing equip
ent adopted since January and Of any which
rsspsefay nays EDWARD Dec COOPER Mayor


VIEWS OF THE POLICE ON THE CHARGES.


The publication of the charges against Commits
sioner Wheeler called forth different expressions
of opinion from members of the police force Those
O 81
of the opposite political faith regarded the whole
proceeding ridiculous and i'll founded. There



garding the object of the Mayors action. Several
putromen and sergeants were interviewed by q
HERALD reporter, and they were very unwilling to
talk until assured that their names would not be
published. patrolman in one of the central pre-
cincts said. in answer to the question Do you pay
more for the cloth you receive ut Headquarters than
you get it for elsewhere?"


.'Well sir. there is this about it-a always
make better bargain when he is dealing with
strangers than when he is dealing with friends OF
course, know places where could get blue cloth
much cheaper than can at the Central Ofice For
inc n All M n ha
Central Office could get elsewhere for $25. But
then must be remembered that the cloth our uni
forms made of under the rules is better than wnat
would be likely to get at any ordinary tailors for
the money.


..How often do you have to buy new clothes?''


Whenever we need them"


'Who decides when you need them?" ~


"rn explain the whole business to you. Twice q
year the men go up to the Office OF the Inspector of
their district and nave their garments examined II
they clean. well made, of the regulation cut
and fitting they passed out, and the officer is
not obliged to get suit. If anything-hat,
coat or pataloons-s unsatisfactory in any OF these
particulars. the mans name is put on the books for
another article, and he has to go to the Central
Office at once. buy the cloth and have it made"


''Has nobody else the power to order man to in


'.Oh yes, sir. The roundsman who inspects the
platoon every time it is turned out report
worn or soiled. The Captain then takes the patrol
man and sees that he goes to headquarters
day for the material. You see that q good deal Of
hardship may be put upon poor fellow il he is not
very particular with his gear or II he patrols dirty
part OF the precinct.


"Are you obliged to go to the department tailor to
have your clothes made?"


"Not tor the last two years. We are compelled to
buy the material at the Central Office; may have
it made up by own tailor"


''Have you ever known any officer to be ordered to
buy mare than two suits year?"


"Certainly have known several II o man is tidy
and accustomed to wearing and taking care CT good
clothes before he came on the force he'll continue
to do so afterward. He does need more than
two suits a year. On the other hand. if the
fellow is slovenly and careless his uniform is
sure to look seedy in few weeks, and you
bet the roundsman sergeant will notice it. Then
the order for another suit and another or
three months later until the poor patrolman spends
the best part of his salary wearing apparel. I
know men. too. who have worn the same suit Of
clothes for year.


This was about the general tenor Of the statement
Of the men spoken to in relation to the subject.
There were few whose views may be thus summed
up:-"It believed that Captain Williams princi.
pal hackers were Commissioner Wheeler and
John l. Davenport. Very well The ene-
mics of the Captain felt that nothing could
be done with him until both of these gentle
were got out of the way. Accordingly charges
preferred against the Commissioners. and Mr..
Davenport drawn into them. Should the Com
missioner go Captain Williams would be easy to
deal with"