The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-08-03

| 81 was rather large sum for gra'u'Ou'''
saving a mans property, and minated mat mat
he had hardly escaped after all, from the
gentry who live on their wits The justice
in his usual torcibe logical way showed him
wherein he had offended. His mir was 50
G,Lerly vet disni6ed that none but the most
ill.natnrsd man could fail to be convinced,
rohn Martin and James Jones were
,L,r,ed with drunkenness and fined 81 and
costs each.
OrR PoLIcE.--It is well known to many
Of our people that our police authorities are
not harmonious, and that some changes
ought 10 be made. II also seems that the
Mayor is about to assert his right, as Chief
of Police, to direct the affairs Of that depart.
ment, as will be seen by the following which
is copy of an order he issued, on Saturday,
to all Policemen:
POLICE REGrLArIoS.
Mayors Office
Rock Island, August lst 1868.
To-------PuLICE CONSTABLE, Sir: Hereafter
you will cause all persons whom you may arrest
for violation Of city ordinances, to appear before
Esquire III gby, Police Magistrate, at nine O'Clock
each morning, Sundays excepted, until further
orders.
Should there at any time be special instructions
or information required, you will apply to me for
the same. Violation Of the above regulation viii
subject the offending party to removal.
Il. a Natf ha nFiiin
ing the Police Of the city, and prescribing their
duties.
THos. MURDOCH Mayor.
], will be seen by this that Mr.. Highly
must have regular hour for business, and
Policemen must 60 to the Mayor for inStruc
,ions-or be removed, The City Marshal
and Policemen Curtis and Condor ought to
be removed for the outrageous fees they are
cxtortiug from the people, aud for the often.
sivc manner in which they perform their du.
ties. Look at the enormous fees eXtorted
on horses and swine the manner in which
the dog ordinance is being enforced the eS.
torting of fees from poor men who have com.
mitted no offence worthy Of notice; the haul.
ing up Of whole gangs Of laborers for no
earthly reason except to make fees and the
general eagerness to find somebody who
don't walk to suit them or whose breath is
not as sweet as new made hay. There are
plenty of charges which might be preferred
against them, aud which, if preferred, would
Cause the City Council to remove them or
give the Mayor power to do so. But we
have not time, now, to allude % only one.
We are informed that, on Saturday night, a
man laid on the sidewalk near Gus Stem.
gels house, when Gus told the man if he re.
NAMED there the police would gobble him.
The man said he had no money and he was,
probably, pretty tight--but Gus gave him
the privilege Of lying in his back yard,where
he would offend no one and, as he thought,
he secure from the policemen who we're look.
ing for fees. After Gus had gone to bed,
we are informed that Curtis and Condor,
(who had probably watched the operation of
putting the man in the yard, got into the
ward and took the man out and took him to
Jail. If these things are true, they both
ought to be removed. If they are not true,
our columns are open for correction.
The truth is that the name of our city is
becoming by.wor4 and a reproaeh abroad,
on account Of the bad police Management
and something should be done to relieve us
of the scandal. The radical officials, know
ing it is their last chance, act upon the idea
that "after us comes the deluge, and so
they 90 for every cent they can get 1t don't
seem to US that the police should be
an organized banditti for legally robbing the
pockets of unfortunate men. The police
organization should be conducted upon high.
er and more humane principles, being the
terror of thieves, robbers, burglars, highway.
men, fighters, murderers, &c,&c,-but should
be the friend of the unfortunate, the
guardian and protector of the innocent, and
the conservator of the public peace. In.
StChu VI budtj INC ladlNaA t4lhho SA4'N''s " ''~
Rock Island police seems to indicate that its
highest ambition is to make fees out ofsome.
body. The City Council will do well to
make some move which will change matters
in that respeet-and the sooner it shall be
done, the better it will be for the credit Of
Rock Island.
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