New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-01-17
Condition Of NewCrleans.
.Messrs. Editors Of the Crescent:

should be such safe guards thrown around as
will prevent this power from becoming in the
hands Of designing men, an engine of tyranny
and the means Of ministering to selfish purposes
. The most effectual means of accomplishing thi
would be such division of authority between
4. the different branches that they would act upoi
q each other as mutual checks, and thus preserve
Through the whole the strictest accounta bility
II 1T has already been stated that there should b.
a Chief Of Police elected for two years by the
legalized voters Of the city. He should keep
the principal Police-ofice at such place as the
Council might designate, where should be kept
d regular and detailed record of the police ope-
rations of the city, and from this office should
emanate all orders which should govern the po-
4 liceof the city. In each separate department
or Municipality there should be a police-oftice,
4 nnder the management Of captain, with such
\ 4 number Of subalterns as the Council might
l9designate all of whom should be under the con-
troll Of the Chief of Police, and be elected an
Inually by the joint vote of both Houses. The
men should be annually appointed by the May
or, subject to the approval of the Board of AL
4 dermen
served that they receive their commission from
three appointing powers. The Chief of Police
receives his authority directly from the people,
and is not permitted to participate in tile APP
lpointment Of either the officers OF men; for were
he, there would be danger that the influence
that he would thus acquire might be directed
more to perpetuate his authority than to the
public good. By giving the election of the sub
altern officers to the Council, they would, in
most cases, have to vote for men who would be
removed from the sphere of the individual men,
bers, and hence they could have no personal in
terest in the selection, and would therefore be
Influenced alone by the public good. 1t is i'm
portant in Police that they should be so indie
pendent as not to shrink from the performance
of their duty, and hence the propriety of
appointing the officers, who come directly in
contact with the people, by different authority
But for fear that these officers, not being amen
able to the people, might administer the law
rather by their passions than the principles of
justice, the men are made to look to another ap-
pointing power for the approval of their conduct
Thus, in drawing the authority of the police
from three different sources, it is thought the
possibility Of making it an engine in the hands
of designing men is taken away. The Chief of
tile Police looks to the people for the approval Of
his conduct-the officers to the Council, and the
men to the Mayor. But it may be said, in thus
drawing their authority from different sources,
the different branches of the service would be-
come independent, and the unity and efficiency
be lost. But let the power of suspension be pro-
perly given, and it will preserve the discipline
without destroying the independence. Give the
Chief Of Police the right to suspend an officer
with the approval of the Mayor, and, should
such suspension be ratified by the Council, let
the officer be dismissed Give to the several
Captains the right of suspending the men, with
the approval of the Chief of Police and if rati-
fed by the Mayor, let the men so suspended be
dismissed from the service In carrying strict |
accountability through the whole service, you
fix the responsibility, and the people are able to
judge Of the efficiency of their agents by the
result Of their acts 1t may be said in this ar
too much power is given to the Mayor;
but if he is to be held responsible for the good
order Of the city, sufficient authority must be
given to him to effect that object The most
likely manner in which this power would he
used to initiate against the public interest
would be for the purpose of securing his re-
election and to guard against this, he is rem
dered ineligible for reelection after two terms
and having, therefore, no motive to abuse the
trust reposed in him. it is but reasonable to sup
pose that he would be aetuated by those feelings
which would prompt him to desire to stamp his
with the impress of good With
a police thus responsible, and yet. at the same
time, independent. promptness and efficiency in |
The discharge of their duties might be antici- |
pated.
A subject Of vital Importance not only to the |
present prosperity of the city, but to its future
hopes and destiny, is found in theproper organi-
zotion Of our public schools. 1t is no longer |
debateable question that every community owes
tothe rising generation such an education as
will fit it for the proper discharge of the duties
that will devolve upon it. In every system of
there should be such unity as would |
point to ssne one object. This object should be |
the cultivation of the mind and the development
of the heart upon such principles as the expert
ence Of the past has shown to be best calculated
to fit man for discharging the duties of life
For this purpose there should be elected annu-
ally by the Council Superintendent for the
public schools of the city. 1t should be his
duty to supervise the several schools and cstab-
lish uniform system of education In each
Municipality there should be Board of School
Directors, consisting of twelve members elected
annually by general ticket by the voters of the
respective Municipalities, This Board should
elect their own President make such bylaws
and enact such regulations as may be necessary
for the good government and efficiency of the
schools-shall annually appoint the teachers.
define their qualifications and tuties-tix their
salaries, and have such control over the schools
as will but tend to accomplish the object of their
creation.
Having i'll the first of these communications
laid before your readers the true position of the
financial affairs of the city, have followed this
information with such suggestions as to me ap-
peared pertinent to the subject In these arti-
cles, my object has been to lay correct intorma-
tion before the community, and to call attention
to the important subject of change in our city
Government, rather than to incucate my own
particular views. 1t is the good of the city that
Iseek; being satisfied to enjoy that portion of