New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-02-12
SATURDAY MORNING. FEB'Y 12, 1856
LEGISLaTYVE TTNKERING.

proposed are of very doubtful wisdom and ex-
psdiency The proposition embraced in one of
these amendatory acts to transfer the power and
responsibility of appointing the Police from the
Mayor to the Recorders, strikes at one OF the
most valuable provisions of the Consolidation
Act. When the question of Consultation was
before the people, there was no stronger arga-
ment in its favor than the necessity of a united,
vigorous, and efficient Police, with authority
extending over the whole city, placed under the
direction of some responsible head
Under the old system, it was found impossible,
in any emergency, to get the Police of the seve-
raj Municipalities to act efficiently together.
On such occasions the Mayor found himself the
/. head Of disoordant body, which, being indie
pendent of him, evinced but little alacrity or
vigor in obsying his orders. This was shown in
q striking, if not disgraceful degree, on the &C.
casion Of the ssSpanish Riots in 1850, when a
paltry band of rioters were permitted for day
and night to keep the whole community in alarm
and to perpetrats the most shameful outrages.
Many other instances might be mentioned to
prove the same fact. Such effects, however, of
the organization Of the Police of city, in three
Independent bands, appointed by three bodies
ere quite obvious enough.
To get rid Of these evils the new city charter
made the Mayor really, what under the old
charter he was nominally-the head of the Po-
lice. The nature of their organization and du-
ties partaking of the character of military dis
cipline and functions required that every Police
should have Chief, with full powers and full
responsibility to appoint, to suspend,
to punish, to dismiss; responsibility for their
efficiency and good conduct Divide these
powers, and you divide the responsibility In
stead Of having the Mayor to refer to, in all
matters of complaint against the Police, under
the proposed system we shall have a body COM
posed Of four persons, with like powers and
authority, and with the means of shutting upon
one another, or eyading altogether the oonse-
quences of any bad appointment or ineficienoy
Of the Police. The people will never know where
70 look for the source or the remedy of their
grievances Such consequences are too serious
to be incurred for mere temporary party adj
vantage; for, thus far, We have heard no other
argument in favor of this change but that the
power Of appointment Of the Police in the hands
of the Mayor has been, and will be, used by
him for partizan and electioneering purposes.
Such charge against the present Mayor GER
tainly has but little foundation in the history of
city politics, If he has, really, (and we are
about the last person to make such charge
against his Honor-indeed, we have frequently
acquitted him of all such imputations of having
thus used his authority the history of the last
years election would show that. either he has
been singularly inefficient in the employment of
his power, or that, in fact the power of appoint
ing, removing and experimenting the police is
Of that dangerous description of official patron
age which makes more enemies than friends for
the incumbent or his party.
Every election in this city has recently ter
minated disastrously to the wing party. But,
in the preceding elections, when the Mayor had
no power Of appointing and directing the police,
such powers being vested in the Recorders, all
Of them democratic, for several years the wings
were victorious by very decided majorities
These are notable facts, worthy of the con-
sideration Of the hot partisans who, upon bare
suspicion, are so ready to emasculate our new
charter for mere party purposes. These facts
prove what, to man of reflection, might be
easily foreseen the effects of the exercise of
power like that Of the Chief of Police of the
city, who literally fulfs that description of the
Office giving power, as one s. which makes ten on
emies and one ingrate'' The Mayor has re-
ceived more than twenty applications for every
Office in his gift How is it possible that the
nineteen who receive blanks in this lottery will
be kindly affected to him Win not their hos
tility do him and his party more injury than
any service rendered him by the single indiyid-
usl preferred
We would view this change as impolitic, and
injurious to the party for whose benefit it is
proposed.
But the main point of our objection is to any
premature changes CT amendments of form of
government which has NOT had o full trial The
new character of the city has not celebrated its
hrst birthday. In many respects it has worked
admirably we'll Under it the credit of the city
has been re-established, and great vigor COM
municated to every department of the city ad-
ministration. There are no doubt slight defects
ana evils which time and experience will sug-
gest; but let us wait until they are fully de-
veloped, before we commence tinkering and
patching it. And above all, let us be slow, to
catch one of its most valuable features--that
which imposes upon the Mayor the power of
experimenting the Police Of the city and the re-
sponsibility for its efficiency.
Since writing the above we have received
copy Of an act to amend our charter. II
places the power of appointing and confirming
fohce in the hands of the Mayor and the four
Recorders Of the different Districts. Such a
council and ehambered committee would scarcely
be harmonious, united or conciliatory. Every
member would have his own preferred members
and would be more than apt to make their en-.
dorsement matter of personal courtesy and
their rejection matter of personal bitterness
The appointment of policemen would be in dan.
ger of becoming matter of special compromise
upon favorites of this or that member of the
Police Board p and should he fail to secure
an acquiescence in his nomination or nomina-
tions, the nominee or nominees of the offending
party or parties would scarcely come before him
with fair show of considerate justice.
II any unruly member of the Police, any
noisy electioneerer of the body, should find in
the proposed " Police Board three (Which is a
majority favorable to him through favor, obi
CATION prejudice or partisanship--if, say, a
policeman should be disposed to annoy the Re-
corders of the Fourth and First Districts by
controversies and should ana ~. s,o.