New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-19
WHOLE NUMBER 1923.

bill-as would appear from the absence of
any other-it is so weak that 1t should bring
about the downfall of the scheme proposed.
we know, sl-, what our present Police force
ls. apprehend, sir, that not single valid
efficiency and conduct. believe, sir, that
it affords equal protection to the white
man, and the colored man, the Republican.
and the Democrat. 1t contains in its
offices men of both colors and men of both
parties, and 1t is controlled, as | said before.
oy BOARD OF commissioners representing
only the Republican party of this city. II
is otfcered by men of acknowledged ability,
and men who are all Republicans, believe,
without one exception. Therefore can not
conceive why any change should be made,
and simply on the ground that this bill is
fac slmlle OF the law which governs the
police forces of the city of New York. Now,
sir, it may be said that it is necessary to ex.
tend this police district; that it is necessary
to include the parishes of jefferson and st.
Bernard. But, sir, during a twenty years
residence in the city of New Orleans I do
not remember single instance where either
OF these PARISHES or any other parish called
upon the police force of New Orleans for
assistance or protection. believe, sir, that
the people OF st. Bernard and the people of
Jefferson are perfectly able and capable of
perfecting their own police organizations.
conceive that they are perfectly capable of
protecting themselves, and that it is folly
for this Legislature to say that these par
lshes shall be governed by police force
which shall have its headquarters, its Board
OF control, its power, and its force in the
city OF New Orleans.
Another reason why l am opposed to this
change Is the fact that this bill will cost an
enormous amount of money, the exact sum
oi which no member upon this floor, on
either side OF this House is at present able
to state. Our present police forces, sir, cost
US at the utmost about 5000 900. And vet
it is said that this new system could be en-
tered upon for about $780, coo year, there
| fore increasing the cost about 500. .OO0
which will be paid as their pro rata by the
| parishes OF Jefferson and st. Bernard. Even
| admitting that argument to be true, it
shows the fact that the new system will cost
as much as the old, and have seen moth.
ing in the bill, and have heard no argument
| to show us that we will have better police
force, better officers, or more orderly af
fairs, or that the citizens will be more safe
in their persons or property than now.
Now, sir, the city of New Orleans has
| upon the assessment rolls taxable property
to the amount of nearly two hundred mil
lions Of fdollars-four-ffths of all the taxable
property, believe, in the State. And, sir,
| think that as representatives of the city of
| New Orleans we have a right to say upon
| Vic hOoI VI luc General Assembly
| gentlemen, do not impose more taxes
upon us because the schemes that you
make, the laws that you enact, which bear
expenditures upon their face, affect us more
than they do you.
We will be called upon to foot the bills,
and hence our words of warning cGght to
| be needed by the members who are not af.
fectcd by the bill which is now before the
| House. | will venture to say, sir, having
read the bill carefully, that its cost for the
first year will not be less than one million
of dollars. Why, sir, you not alone have
an increased force, President OF Boards,
Commissioners in each parish, Treasurer's 5
Clerks OF all colors and sizes-you not alone
have sergeants, patrolmen, door.keepers
and God knows what all, but you give the
Commissioners the right to charter steam
boats, pay secret police, and all without
limit. There is no limit, cir, to the con
trolling power which will enable this i'm
mense machine to expend per annum one
million of dollars in rewards. There is nc
limit to the agency which will WELD thi:
instrument to the torture of all those who
have TO bear the burden o
taxation it will impose.
There is no limit to their employing {
thousand secret policemen throughout thC
State of Louisiana. And sir, these consid
erations alone in my opinion should sound
the death knell OF the bill as it now lies
before us. You make these men autoCrats
you give them patronage without limit ant
without STINT And yet it is said that this
law, if it becomes q law, could be carried
into effect at an expense of 500, 900 u year
when the paying of the force alone, with it.
officers, without the chartering of steam
boats, without the offering and paymen
of rewards, without the employment of sc
cret policemen, and without all those littlt
leaks through which the State money will
flow in unstinted measures are calculated
la mol a cip until &c s,f3so
will cost the sum Of 100000 pc
year. The question who is to pa
this immense outlay; the questio
, ont of what treasury this money is to flow
the question what taxpayers will be com
PEELED to foot the bills is easily answere
: the people of New Orleans. Another featur
of this bill, sir, is that in my opinion it vii
lead to oppression and prosecutions; it vii
4 permit the Governor of the State, the Polio
Commissioners, and the other officers hay
ing the necessary powers to send this polio
> force out of the city of New Orleans int
any part of the State when in their opinio
i necessity and the occasion require it.
Now, sir, ] say that the right on the par
!. of any man or number of men to Withdraw
from the city the protection of its police
would lead TO consequences that no man cal
foreshadow-co that would no
. alone be felt here, but elsewhere.
This immense force of 575 men, not count
t brought to any part Of the State on election
t days or otherwise, say, would lead to con
sequences that no man now on this floor car
) foresee or foretell. 1t would give them tn,
right TO take from the city every policeman
9 on the nretext that their presence was re
/ quired elsewhere. What the motive is, sir
r | | can not say. No NOinducement, no eXplana
e ton has been given the Senate why tn
. measure now before us should pass, except
J forsooth, that it resembles the system
which governs the city of New York.
Now, sir, another feature in this bill i
] that the officers have a right to emplo
: counsel; that probably might be an induce
ment for me to favor the BILL because bC
ing lawyer, l might occasionally be en-
: plOyed by the Commissioners or Others
having right to do SO. Who, sir, can tel
what amount of money will be expended 70
! lawyers fees alone! Every one knows tina
lawyers fees are no trivial matters; that i
is profession that expects to be paid TO
its services; L speak by the card, and fron
some knowledge on the subject. Now, sir
no man upon this floor can calculate wha
amount of money viii be expended for law
, yers' fees alone. 1t is time when ever,
man considers it his right and his higi
. privilege to protect his neighbor and hi
| friend. l know, sir, of lawyer in New
Orleans who has been hungering for fee
for long time past, and who perhaps look:
upon this bill as the new era that is about
, to dawn upon his existence. Hangers on
about the Temple OF Justice, for the pur-
pose of catching the crumbs for which this
{ bill provides, are no doubt satisfied with it.
| am satisfied that the sum OF SIO0,0O
: will not more than pay the gentle
) men who expect to be employed by the
, legal provisions of this bill. Another argu.
ment used yesterday by senator Campbell
> was. that the people Of New Orleans wanted
s 81 ,,,oosura nassad. that the taXDayprs n