The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-27
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1861

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 81, 1861
The theory upon which Mr.. PHELPS contends
for the excellence of his proposed reform in the
police law, is this-that ''it would combine the
advantages oftwo opposing principles, that of a
popular election, and that of legislative appoint
''ment.. Thus, he says, that the Mayor, elected
by the people of Baltimore, would balance the
nominee of the Legislature, and consequently the
"umpire,' or third Commissioner, whom they
would select between them, would probably be "a
''man without decided political bias" We con-
fess that do not precisely perceive the logic of
this. In the first place, the chances are very
largely in favor of the Legislatures being con-
trolled by the city ofBaltimore, under Mr. PHELPS
proposed plan of representation according to pop
ulation. The Legislative Commissioner would,
therefore, in all probability, represent precisely
the same "principle' as the Mayor IF they
should agree in politics, Mr. PHELPS "balances"
and "checks" would be in rather bad way; and
the umpire" it is fair to infer would be of the
same kidney with his colleagues. If the Mayor
and the Legislative appontee should differ, polit-
cally, they would probably agree, if at all, upon
the patronage each endeavoring to get the best of
it, and thereby demoralzing the force, and divid-
ing it into separate camps of politicians. Indeed,
unless Mr.. PHELPS presupposes the absence of that
very spirit of partsanship in the Commissioners,
which is the precise evil he desires to get rid of,
the idea of committing to two the choice of q
third, upon the supposion that they will lie down.
like the young lion and the failing, and select a
little child to lead them, is, in our Judgment, to
speak politely, very-pastoral. The difficulty, in
this regard, would be augmented ten-fold by
the fact, that if the Mayor had one voice out
of two in selecting the third Commissioner. and
one voice out of three in making appointments to
the force, the police patronage would, beyond all
doubt, have great weight in his nomination, and
be an important item in his election All the ele-
meats of corruption and office-hunting which the
old system involved would come again into play,
in greater or less degree, and the club-houses
and police stations would he once more next-door
neighbors
1t was the desire to prevent this very cOnse-
quence, which, among other reasons, induced the
trainers of the law, as we have been informed, to
give the Board so large number of members 1t
ence of the Mayor, as one among FIVE. would
be hardly esteemed so important, as to make the
patronage, which the place would give him. q Sc
rlous element in his nomination or success. But
this was not all. 1t was foreseen as the event
has shown, that the Mayor, discharging his other
duties with strictness and fidelity, could not pos
sibly give more than partial attention to the la
bors of the Board. One of the Commissioners
was to be entrusted with the duties of Treasurer
which must, of course, occupy much of his
time. Every policeman charged with misconduct
was to be tried formally and carefully, and it
was found to be probable las it has now become
certain) that some such trial would be required to
be had, on an average, almost every day. The
elections and election system were to be superin-
tended the city ordinances were to be carefully
enforced; constant and uutiring supervision was
10 be exercised over large number of men, and
over diverse and most important interests. In
view OF all these things and of the contingent
cles OF ill health and accident, it was believed
that four Commissioners, besides the Mayor,
would not constitute larger Board than the
faithful and thorough aam4stJra5qn, Rff dbfn688
we are quite sure the experience of the existing
Board will establish.
But there were still graver reasons for the con-
stltuton of the Board as it exists The powers
given to it were large and of great responsibility,
taken away from tie municipality and from elect
i've officers, and to be exercised possibly, in cases
involving human life, and necessarily of.
ten, upon occasions of great public excite
ment. 1t was therefore, not only i'm
portant that the system should possess real eff
cheney, but it was indispensable that it should
command public confidence as well. To have
concentrated its functions in the hands of single
individual not chosen by the people, or 10 have
limited the number of the Board, so that one such
Individual might control it, would have been to
put lis popularity and continuance, and indeed
the public safety, in much doubt. 1t was deemed
Indispensable, as counterpoise to the mode of
appointment necessarily adopted, that the Board
should be so large as to leave room for the seec-
ton of citizens of different personal character and
qualities, from all respectable classes, from all
opinions, and from various localities-a BODY.
substantially, though not nominaly, representa-
tive. 1t was believed that such a BODY. chosen
with reasonable care, and with the chances of
freedom from political monopolization which the
mode of selection afforded would concentrate upon
Itself larger amount of public appreciation and
trust, than any sacrifice Of the policy thus indi-
Gated, TO mere economy, could possibly have COM
marded The Reform Committee, besides, did not
agree with Mr.. PHELPS, as we certainly do NOT in
attaching so little Importance to the oath against
appointing or removing officers for their political
opinions, which the Commissioners are required
to subscribe. Many men, it is true, will forget
those official oaths, which merely, in general
words obge them to perform their duty. Opin-
ions differ as to what duty may be, and con-
sequently there are many loopholes. But when a
man swears that he will not do a particular
named thing, and then openly does it, he must
not only be very INSCRIPTIONS, but very bold
scoundrel, to face whole community with the
guilt on his front. We will not believe that onv
Board OF five persons could be selected by the
agencies which the Police law now prescribes,
without having at least. majority of its mem
bers unwilling to commit deliberate and open per-
jury. In Board of three, the thing would. of
course, be proportionately more possible
and more dangerous, and hence, in this
point of view, as in the others already
mentioned, the advantage of the larger num-
Der. When we add to so many advantages
the further consideration that the policemen them
selves are appointed for five years. and cannot be
removed for political or any other improper rea-
sons, unless through the perjury to which we have
alluded, it does seem to US, that the existing |
system is as carefully fenced on all sides, against
partisan usurpation, as foresight and wise inee-
nulty could make it. Is there any reasonable
man who will consent to let Mr.. PHELPS tinker it
for the chance of making it better? Can there be
any gentleman in the City Council, who has not
learned the wisdom of "leting well ENOUGH
'aloue?'
Our special Washington despatch, of yesterday
would seem to indicate favorable change in the
Republican programme. 1t announced on
what was believed to be good authority, that Mr..
LINCOLN would be guided in his future course hy
the more conciliatory counseIs of Nasors Suu,,, |