Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-07-13

Generalization of the Ctty ROllco.
n Wednesday morning disgraceful fight
at ilsticuffs occurred between two night
policemen, Hummell1 and Mcclure, who
belong to the party headed by the Captain
OF Police, McCabe, that refuse to answer 70
their names at the evening roll-call by The
City Marshal, or to obey orders Issued BY
the Mayor and Marshal. The consequence
of the fight between the two watchmen
was, that one of them, Hummell, was SO
disabled, pounded and beaten, as to be un=
fit for duty on "Wednesday night, and his
beat. which extends from Town to Broad
street, and from High to Fourth street, was
that night, and probably last night, left
witheuta watchmanppon itfgYet, in that
very district thus sinee1 1eftnng guardeds the
breaking into, and stealing of money and
bonds from banking Office was perpe-
trated on Wednesday evening in manner
that shows how much our city is In want
of an effective and vigilant police to watch
every corner, and mark every suspicious
person or stranger lurking about the city.
We do not know what punishment will
be dealt out to the two fighting policemen
as such; whether they will be dismissed
from, or suffered to remain in Office. Nor
are we advised as to what will be done with
the recusants on the police force who refuse
to comply with the directions OF the Mayor
and the City Marshal, or how vacancies oc-
curing in that force can orswills be filled
we are aware that by recent ordinance
passed, and by recent rules and regulations
adopted by the City Conneil.the special
government, management and direction OF
the Police Department were to a great ex-
tent vested ihla standing committee ap-
pointed by the Council from members OF
their oYn body. ...
BuHthere is now practically no City
Council, and no Police or other committee
In existence. This has been the case for
the past three months. The consequence
is that under the police regulations as
they now stand, majority of the police
officers seem to have come to the conclusion
that they are lefo at liberty to. run the po-
lice machine on their own account, or not
run it at all, as they please, and that there
! is no power lodged, anywhere to control,
direct or make them do their duty. Still
they expect to make the citizens pay them
for their time and services, and many OF
them have already sued, or caused che city
to be sued for their wages, and its property
Is to be sold under the hammer to satisfy
these claims and the costs accrued.
The result will be, if these thiOgsare per-
mitted to 90 on in this way, and no strong
arm of law or force is put forth to arrest
them, that ourcity will soon be without a
police force, or be cursed with one that
will be worse than none at all. Why is this
the case, or in other words, why have we
such demoralized police force? The an
swer to this question is plain and self-evi'
dent, and is in every mans mouth. 1T u
because wehaVe not now, and have not lad
for the last quarter of year, City Coun'
Gil in working order Why have we moi
such Council? Simply because ONE MAN
has assumed position to which one-hal
of his fellow members of the Council aud q
majority OF his fellow citizens believe HI
has no right, and from which he refuses tt
retire unless his assumed rights acknowl
edged, and such acknowledgment spread
upon the city records. Upon his head
therefore, and upon the heads Of those
who uphold him, rests the responsibility Of
demoralized Police Department and al
inefficient City Government. @