Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-01


e1nance, which was referred 70 the committee hay
ing the ordinance In charge
Nr- ;. a Fletcher presented petition from
Harriet Jordan askiug correction ia the Assess
nlent on her property. which was referred to the
Finance Committee
Nr Brown novel TO take up the police or,li
nance, and that il be read ~ sections. for the
purpose at amendment. ID sas read
Mr. Wallace objected TO the increase of the
force. or the score Of expense The force under
the lev ordinance would cost $40 900 per yels
Mr. : a. Fletcher replied that the cost would
only be SIS 76s for salaries
Mayor Maxwell stated that heavy tax PAYERS
ia the city IN favor OF an increase of the
force. and bad 20 stated to him frequently They
wished the experiment tried. aud were willing 70
pay for it.
Mr. Kuhlmann objected to the clause establish
ing day patrols He was willing to have three
for each ward. bat wanted them all on duty at
nigh, when the business were asleep.
Dir. Brown reDlied that the Council passed or
dinances night after night requiring the aid of
a force to see that they are regarded in the day
time.
Mr. Thompson objected TO some of the powers
delegated TO the Police Board. There nothing
he much dreaded a central COVER in Iegis
lative body or any other body. lie had conf
dence in the masses .lways. and the Council
should jealousy guard the peoples rights. They
should not delegate power, with the striking ex
aBples We have OF corruption IN the large cities.
He moved TO strike out the words Police Board"
wherever they occurred IN the ordinance, aud in
sert the words "the Council"
Mr.. ) A. Fletcher pleased to DE-.
Thompson tenacious Of the rights Of the CouLcl
The principal was correct. but there should be
some body 10 refer matters 20, whose special
business t would be To attend to them, and who
would be compensated for such service. Ii was
an old adage and true one that what was every
body : business was the business OF nobody.
The motion lost by ayes 3, noes ..
The ordinance was amended in few imma
terial particulars and the blanks filed
Tie following is an abstract of its provisions
as IL passed:
ABSTRACT or TIE POLICE ORDINANCE.
Sec divides the city into nine police districts
corresponding with the nine wards.
Sec. = crettes a Police Bol ard he elected
annually in the month OF May, by the Council,
to consist OF three members of that BODY who,
with the Mayor. shall exercise such powers and
perform such duties as the ordinance prescribes;
the Board to he elected now to hold until the
annual election May
Sec provides that a majority of the Board
shall constitute quorum--they shall sit at such
times they NAV choose and shall receive such
compensation a. the Council shall deem fair and
proper.
Sec 4 makes the police force to consist of one
Chief of Police. one Lieutenant and 81 P'trolmeu.
whose duties shall he performed under the direc
ton of the Police Board. and according to rules
aud regulations they may from time to time pass
such rules and regulations to be approved by the
| Council
Sec. , The offices in the police force be
/ filled by nominations from the Board of Police
and elections by Council.
Sections 6. I and prescribe the forms of APP
pointment and the duties of the watchmen.
See. provides that the Police Board shall
distribute the duties, make rules and regulations
for the government OF the police force. and pro
ydes that no person shall he dismissed from the
/ force except upon written charges preferred, aud
that he shall have an opportunity for his defense
Sec 10 gives tie Chief OF Police power to EN-
ter any building within the city to- take measures
To detect feonIes
See. | / requires notice of ten daysto be given
before res. gnation-
Sec. IL prohibits any member of the police
force from receiving any lee emolument for
/ police services. other than the regular salary
I without the consent OF the Board OF Police
Sec. Is likes the hours of service of Patrolmen
subject to amendment or alteration by the Board
| OF Police
Sec IA authorizes the Chief of Police to act as
a Detective under rules 10 be established by the
| Police Board; specifies the nature of the reports
he shall make. and lorbds him certifying for day
and night service for any one member in any one
twenty four hours.
See. ID requires the Lieutenant of Police to
attend roll calls. and keep general supervision
over the force.
Secs l6 and II establish the pay-s2 90 per
day for the Chief. and s. 10 per day for the Lieu
tenant, and the same for the Patrolmcn.
Sec. Ia repe Is all laws coming in conflict with
the act, aud especially the old acts of May IL.
1859. and July l. 1861.
Mr. Seibert objected TO the ordinance on the
score of expense. and lie wished TO state his Oh
lection before the stage OF amendment had passed.
liz was too costly Tor an experiment, and he did
not think the people demanded it As it stood,
he should be compelled To vote agans; it. He
might be behind the times. but ia his opinion an
addition of four men would be quite sufficient
He did not. however offer an amendment.
The ordinance was reid a third time and the
! question being +" Shall the ordinance now Iassr
Mr.. Wallace said he did not think the city was
prepa Ell for the expense this ordnance would
entail; and secondly. he did not think the Coun
ell had the power to legislate the present Police
men out oil office. a. this law contemplateS The
| opinion OF legal gentlemen Was coincident with
his own. Increase the police force. it necessary.
without changing the law; and if any OF the men
were not tit Tor their positions, turn them out.
! The pay roll under this bill will amount To over
so. 900
Mr. Richmann thought the ordinance a good
one but he feared the revenue would not bear
/ the expense
Mr. Haushy favored the ordinance. if the ex-
pense could be reduced. As il stood, 1t
would consume ne-thId of the revenue, and
could not be supported without increase OF
I taxes
Mayor Maxwell repeated his statement that he
understood the wish of the tax payers to be To
have An efficient force He had long felt that our
police force was inefficient. and he now plainly
told the Council the fact. The control of the
force did not rest with him For some reason
the Council had seen hit tn give the control OF II
To Others but AZ the same time. from his position
he often felt Inundated at It's utter and depl0rlblt
ineficiency He had talked To the men often
aud urged upnu them the necessity OF striving IL
perform with hdelit, the duties expected o them
Tie had appealed 10 their pride To stimulate them
, but To little purpose. The force. it now ex
lists WIS useless liz was a dead expense. anu
here in the presence OF the men he would tell
, them 80 There WAS an absolute necessity for a
change and any change would be for the better
| il couli not 6e worse There WAS scarcely da,
passed but complaints had been made 70 hin
about the police force. and he felt, and had long
! felt that many of the complaints wereju
Mr. Wallace a,kei why the Mayor had no
before informed the Council OF the ttctE de ha'
never heard OF these complaints or other charge
that gentlemen bring up tonight.
Mr = y Fletcher asked Mr.. Wallace II III