The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-11
MONDAY, JANUARY II, 1869.

I'm Favor of n M etropOIitan Police Bill
SINCE his induction into the office Of Mayor oi
Philadelphia, Mr.. Daniel M. Fox has acted IN
q manner to merit the oommendation OF all
good citizens. He has so far reappointed to
various positions officers of experience and
merit, and has announced his determination
20 be governed in his choice of policemen not
NV nolitioal considerations. In all this he
gives promise Of acting like good officer. But
in doing 60 he must necessarily give offense to
a large proportion of the voters who placed
him In his present position. They are not the
sort of men who can suffer neglect in silence.
Familiarity with the interior of station-houses
may be desirable, but the information had
halter be obtained after than before the star is
worn. This will, of course, beget anger and
dissatisfaction among the unterrifed, and it is
10 the unterrifed and the unwashed that Mr..
Fox owes his election. Now as 1T is our policy
aid by every means in our power an official
who is seeking to do his duty, and as we
think it only fair to Mr.. Fox
10 save his popularity with the
Democracy, we intend to come to his aid, and
10 We all we can to promote fraternsl re-
lations between the Fourth ward crowd
and other leading members OF the oppo-
itiou. It is, therefore, from kindly feel
jag to the Mayor and from sympathy for
i'm in his tribulations that we favor ME
tropoltan Police bill" There have been
d,ifted and will be presented to the Legisla-
tqre several bills looking towards the accom-
p. .shment of the object in view, and the vest
r ? of all the police appointments in the hands
Il commissioners. The bill which has at
,ssent been agreed upon provides
at the Mayor, the Presidents OF
)uncils, and the judges of the courts of the
.-}unty shall be constituted commissioners,
aad shall have the choice of all the guardians
OF the public peace. Some such bill as this
should certainly be passed. We know that
Mr.. Fox is firm to-day, but unless the Legis
lature, like Joshua, help to hold up the hands
of the leader of the municipality, they may
fall down after the session of the Legislature
is over. Let us then come to Mr.. Fox's
rescue, and we feel sure that he will thank US
and join with us in the good work. If such
bill as that proposed should pass, then would
he be relieved of the responsibility and escape
the condemnation which at present the un-
terrified of the Fourth ward do not hesitate to
hurl against him.
There are many things which combine to
recommend the adoption of the bill. In Phila-
delphia we need permanent police force, one
which shall hold during good behavior, and
one which will be induced to be honest by
policy. AS it at present stands, the best sort
of men will not accept of the place of officer.
They know that by SO doing they secure a
precarious position, which, in all probability,
will be taken away from them in a few
years, and they be left without any means of
livelihood. They therefore do not apply for
the place, and as consequence the positions
fall into the hands Of political hangers-on,
small pot house wranglers too frequently, and
men who are willing to make all they can out
of their positions by conspiring and associat-
ing with the ruffans whom it is their duty to
watch and frequently arrest. Under these
circumstances, is it not natural that We have
an inefficient and frequently corrupt force
The Office is political rev ard, and filed bv
irresponsible men, who are liable to lose it,
despite all their merits, at an hours notice.
However, if it was known that the place Of
policeman could be secured by good men, who
would hold during good behavior, We would
at once see change as amazing as it
would be delightful. 1t would then be to the
Interest of these officers to be honest. They
need not corruptly accept of money from
rogues in order to secure sufficient to have a
little amount on hand. They would be faith
full because it would pay. The admirable
manner in which similar Law works in New
York city is the best argument possible for
its adoption here. We do not put it on parti-
san grounds, we favor it from the higher
standpoint of the public good; and, looking at
it in that light, we urge its passage at an early
day by the Legislature.