The Police Inquiry

Chicago, Jan. 11.- Chief of Pólice Kipley and Secretary Campbell, shortly beíore noon were summoned to appear -before the seríate investigating committee, which is probing into the methods oL Chicago's pólice forcé and the civil service commission. The committee was half an hour late in starting its inquisitorial mili. The proceedings began by a protest on the part of President Kraus against the nart taken by Attorney Bliss, who, it is charged, is acting as a sort of attorney for the committee. Chairman Berry hptly denied that Mr. Blijs was at all connected wi'th the committee, and said no more privileges had been aecorded him than to other citizen. Beiiy Groivs Kmphatic. President Kraus then wanted to know why it was that Mr. Bliss had been called into private conference with the committee. At this question Mr. Berry grew more emphatic, and said the committee resorved the right to cali in any citizen and should itneed any member fo the commission it would rail him. Here Mr. Bliss rose to say that he was present not to aid the committee, but to make his words good concerning certain charges he had made in a private club in this city against the commission. "Mr. Kraus has challenged me to prove these charges, and I propose to do it." Chairman Berry, seeing trouble ahead, stopped Mr. Bliss, and said: "I understand one prominent gentleman here has sued another prominent gentleman, who is also here. I do not propose that that suit shall be tried here." Attack oh Civil Service. The committee then proceded with its regular work in hand. Theodore Saindon, a clerk in the city hall, being the first witness called. It seems now to be the general impression among the politicians that the one object of the senatorial pólice investigating committee in coming to Chicago is to make an attack on civil service rather than to probe into the workings of the Chicago pólice forcé. The motive behind this, it is asserted, is to furnish an excuse for repealing the civil service law, which is contemplated before the legislature finally adjourns. Senator Ben Mitchell, when asked his views concerning the commission and its objects, unhesitatingly replied that it was the civil service commission and not the pólice departmcnt it was after. He also gave it as his opinión that the legislature had decided to repeal the law. Concurrecl in the A'iew. Senator O'Brien concurred In this view, and it is said that the drift of the committee's examination of Secretary Glenn plainly indicated that some such scheme was in the wind. This official ■was on the stand during the afternoon session and was questioned in detail as to the workings of the commission, and especially as to the examination of applicants for places on the pólice forcé and the manner in which they are placed on the force. Among other things the committee learned that the commission has examined 2,200 applicants for pólice positions, 1,130 of which were for original entrance and 527 were of those who had formerly held positions on the pólice force. Ï50 Got l'laces. Mr. Glenn stated also that 750 men had been appointed to the force by the commission, and that there were now 2,000 hold-overs who had since been given a perfunctory examination in order to get them under the protection of the civil service law. Askjed why examinations had not been held for pólice captains and lieutenants. Secretary Glenn explained that the right of the commission to do so had been in controversy until the recent decisión of the supreme court, but that since that decisión the commission had called examinations for these grades.