The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-16
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

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THE MAYORS MESSAGE,
MAYORS OFFICE, City FALL, !
n, a.. ,,..,,. ;, Baltimore, November Is, 1858.
10 the Honordble The Members of the
GRNTLEMEN- "'' 0''y 'O""'"'
AT the commencement of another term of official duty
your honorable body The Presidents of the First and Sc
cond Branches the only recognized officers
by law to represent the Mayor of the city in of sick
ness or disability and have deemed it my duty to .o
eminent.
Measures of most important character which
nave engaged the deliberations of the last Council
Will be reported to you at early day, and
beSpeak for them your earnest consideration
Scenes of disorder and violence much to b. regretted
which have tfanspred withna few past point to
the necessity of increased vigilance part of the au
thores of this city in main tanning the SUPREMACY f the
laws The people have imposed restraints in their mimi
cipa organization which they expect enforced
no govern ment can be successful without submission
law in all the details of its management certainly
mistake the purpose of those who placed here if it
the peace of the city maintained hazards Acts of
outrage have occurred which every good citizen must de-
pore The power of the city government has been exert
ed to its fullest extent in meeting the rubc expectation
in this particular need hardly you my firm
determination to deal with awessness it deserves
to hand over to the courts for punishment all place
themselves in criminal antagonsm the well being of
society.
regret 70 say ,hat many most valuable and efficient Off
GERS of the police department have been down in
the faithful discharge of their duty No could better
illustrate the resolute and determined spirit with which
these brave men, amidst species of abuse have
stood up day and night in carrying the requirements
OF their official OATH The backened list OF the killed and
wounded presents picture which the people of this city
may well contemplate with regret How far these results
may have been influenced by the nfiammatory of
the partzan press it is needless speculate The city of
Baltimore like other large cities of the Union has been
afflicted with more than her usual proportion Of evil dis
posed persons who almost daily figure in the records of
the Police and Criminal Courts. These are recog
nized and sustained by party having any claim
spectabiity, and only permitted to continue their
of awlesness because of the ineciency our
system in bringing them prompt punishment and the
absence of adequate power in the Office which hold to
| put an ehectual stop to so crying evil.
The sad to which refer, proclaim lesson to
this community which ought be lost sight of. A
warfare much to be regretted by all conservative and
der loving citizens kept up for two wears mast
by the partizan press against organized government
of this CITY, Its authorities have misrepresented
and traduced its police brought into contempt and its
efforts to reform abuses made the favorte theme of rd
Guile and reproach. The executive arm has found
itself parayzed at times when the moral support
entire community was necessary to give it vigor The
good name of our city has felt the bighting niu-
ence of this unnatural condition of the public mind
The smallest outbreak has been magnifed into startling
enormities shaking the very foundations our So
ca SYSTEM the stranger has been led fear the
bic penalty of passage through streets soourn
at our hotels even for night letters have appeared
distant journals, portaying condition of society from
which the soutes heart might well shrink with alarm
These efforts have been influence abroad
and at home They have gathered strength from the very
CONFUSION violence which have
and they have given lawessness dscredt
in which, within the sphere of their influence they have
brought the power of the city which alone competent
control it.
An ordinance making provision for the families of de.
ceased officers who have fallen in the faithful discharge of
their duties called for by the events of
The past two years. 1t would add increased stimulus to
the vigorous action of the department those who are ex
posing themselves day and night, among the most de
PRAYED classes of population had guaranty that
their families would be saved from restitution in the
event of violence to themselves
| / would al he ha
authorized to present to officer Cook whose efficiency
bravery on recent occasion has elected the rait"de
and admiration of the whole community appropri-
ate testimonial in the of the city, appreca-
ton Of his gallant conduct
Such action am sure would not he with
out Its return The lives and property of citizens
pend upon the activity and vigilance of police depart
ment and 1t is not less the duty the city, than the
munity at large to strengthen its whenever oppor
tunity occurs.
fore disturbed the successful working of our municipal
system has been the presence Of low drinking houses
where the young and inexperienced tempted resort
Ihese schools OF wee and immortality have been greatly
multiplied within few past 1t is here that crime
begins and that the list outrages which men are driven
to commit almost invariably originates OF the higher
grades of crime is believed nine enhs are refera
Bile to the use of Intoxicating drinks. The city auhori
ties have adequate control places of public
resort and they compelled witness without the
power of correction the deporabe results which they
invariably lead.
2 The wearing of concealed weapons which in the alb
of law has become habit with of all parties is
subject to which would direct your earnest attention
The opinion of the City Counsellor would advisable in
regard to your power to act in the premises An ordi-
restraining this dangerous practice would be
attended with decided and useful results
g., The defective organization of our criminal system
in the prompt application of suitable in eases
OF arrest coupled with the total absence of power
executive arm to deal with notorious disturbers of the
trouble.
reference to former messages show that have
not been ignorant of the embarrassments with which
was surrounded in the discharge of the duties imposed
upon M. During the st session of the Legislature
used my best efforts to bring about early call of Con-
stituona Convention in order that prompt action might
taken IN reference to reorganization of the Criminal
Court loo ing to provision investing the Mayor this
city with enlarged powers offences of fragrant
acter against the public peace. Mayors Re
corde court with adequate authority, did doubt,
would afford the desired relief 1t was necessary that
punishment should follow Immediately upon the offence,
and that the power of commttal house of labor or
correction for limited period should be vested in the
court proposed to be established While its effects would
have been instantaneous, saw that such system
De attended with the saving of large annual expense
the city of Baltimore.
The act of the Legislature fixing the call of a conven-
ton at an early day. having failed to response in
the State at large the functions of the Mayor were left as
before, without enlargement modification If men
init outrages from the too habit frequenng
drinking houses the remedy is not within the control of
the municipal If frauds are perpetrated by
both parties in the absence of registry law or other
legislative provision to guard the purity Of the
it is no fault of the Mayor. If unduy crowded
at their places of voting, the responsibility with
him that the law dividing the wards passed by
the Council The chief and leading defect however
der which labor the nsuciency of our crmi
nal system and the absence of all power in the Mayor
supply the omissions which both the constitution and the
| laws have failed to meet .r..
Those who have witnessed my past arrangements to
organize the of this CITY, aud infuse
into its administration, will do justice to the motive
which has prompted more than OCCASION the effort
to remedy existing defects by all the my dispo
SAL These efforts have been relaxed and one of
the objects in converting honorable body this early
day. is to ask your further cooperation in strengthening
the arm of the executive by devisng new modes of fol-
lowing out to successful termination in which all
good citizens are alike interested.
The ordinance creating the Police Department has been
found defective in Its practical working The provision
requiring the frequent alienation of the day
night service, and their consequent
cinct to another has been attended with
When an officer becomes familiar with locality to
which he is assigned and is known citizens whose
property he is expected to guard he
der efficient vice than when he frequently
from one beat to another under the requirements OF
the existing law. 1t not only important that officer
should be acquainted with the alleys and secret
hiding places, of his beat but that he should
the citizens who in of neglect delinquency may
report him to the Mayor
The division of the force into day and night service
is also believed to be essential to the working
the system.
The provision requiring that uniform dress shall be
worn at all times whether duty not, has subjected
the department to unjust When it is recoected
that twotrs the men are released from service dur
ing the day it is not surprising that the public should be
impressed with their apparent want of occupation when
enjoying upon the streets elsewhere their period of
taxation
These defects in the existing ordinance found, a
ter much experience papaby injurious that assumed
the responsibility in anticipation of the meeting of your
honorable body to order the necessary changes be made
and respectfully ask that my action may be confirmed
!
l have also found it important, owing to the large
space required to be raversed by the police provide
mounting of the Marshal Deputy Marshal the
Captains of the four districts This feature, satsf
ed will be attended with the most decided benefit The
whole city is thus brought under the immediate eye of
the commanding officers at least twice day, and the
active supervision is given to the rank and file
denquencies carefully noted In this partcu
lar have also acted without the authority of law.
The limited sphere within which have been confined,
in making selections for the police department has led
embarrassment Men suitable for this duty
always be found Mechanics trained regular pur-
suits will leave their occupation take position
in the police service for the small compensation which
ordinance allows unless at periods of great business
depresson and those who have been brought without
business habits likely to make good
tive officers. Experience will prove to any who may
occupy the executive chair of this city, that the organz
of perfect system of police and the selection
proper material to carry out its requirements always
prove work of time. There is department city
government where the difficulties have been en-
countered.
The working of this system for two years past has
brought out many defects which have been in steady
of correction Any who is competent judge
will find that this organization from the beginning both
in plan and matere has compared favorably with those
dol nhI0 Nnrl