The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-10-12

Ordvty 0ity.--It ~ heen often renoxked ~
strengera that oar people, - : naes, were ne
most 0rdef-loyinE and law -abiding 70 - found
ssnyTnsrs srsyrE! e ~ union 10 riots ne ont.
and e hight occuFs, or d party eefs tIpsy, and
gives tongue too lcnd, 4 call BEFORE The Mayor
the next day puts fhe offender under bonds
ana fnere the matter ends. For several nights
been on duty, and we believe they have been
yigilant and faithful, but what have been the
fruits Of their labors Really nothing, as the
station -honse registers show. Now aud then
some unfortunate inebriate IL picked Nm In the
streets, and occasionally negro without
pass falls into the handso Of the law; but furth.
er than this the watchmen find nothing to do
In the day time, how do the police employ
.themselyes9 Simply in hunting up and REPORT
fEg nuisances--for no crimes are perpetrated TO,
demand their services. If two or three fel.
lows quarrel and exchange blows, or IL some
rnman cudgels his wife, warranted are prompt.
optalned, the officers execute them, and
there is an end of all controversy, Suppose
an addition-a permanent addition--is made
70 this force, what are they to do Simply
neip each other to do nothing, and probably
ns l IN the way of the old officers, who know
tnelr duties and can perform them. We know
" VIII be said that thieving, honse- breaking
ana lighting sometimes escape the attention Of
the police. Whatifit deesi Can ten men watch
nve hundred rogues, If that number exists in.
the ctty-and if such crimes are to be entirely
prevented, viii not the Council have to APP
point at least one officer to every building IN
Richmond s sy-.s 81
Ii there was the slightest necessity for
permanent increase of police and perpetual
increase of taxes, we should offer no opposf-
uon 10 1t bur when we see an effort made TO
add to the number of salaried officers, and to
the burthens of the people, without any good
reason for SO doing, we feel 1t to be our duty
TO protest against the injustice and oppression.
Az certain times temporary Increase Of po-
ice iorce Is necessary, and the Council have
PROVIDED Tor that They ought to do no more,
ana Will not at this time, If they have any re-
gard for the interests Of their constituents
upon whom the burthens Of expense must fall.
The Mayor, who is the head Of the police,
says there Is no necessity for q permanent in
crease of the day police. His present force
Is amply sufficienton ordinary occasions, and
II ne has the power to put on additional force
when needed-say during the Fairs, and when
there are large convocations of strangers-he
Council add 81 900 per annum to the taxes Of
the people, when the head of the police says
1t is useless If that body intend to take
control of the police force, and relieve the
Mayor of the responsibility, let them do SO,
and answer TO the people for it. But do not
force upon him officers that he does not need.
few years ago, three Day Officers performed
all the police duties of the city. Now there
are fre permanent ones and one temporary,
and yet portion of the Council, without the
slightest reason for so doing, declare that fire
more, at q salary of $500 per annum each, are
essentially necessary to do-nofhiag ,--abso-
the old officers declare that they could readily
perform three times much serriee as is now
imposed upon them, if they had it to do.
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