New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-05

Change. Inc SecOnO ana cOuILO DlStIiCtS
will be left just as they are, but the First
will be the Third. and the Third will be the
First District.
Mr.. Campbell: have no objection to the
amendment. l move the adoption of the
section as amended.
The section was adopted, and section
four, to be section three, was read.
Mr.. Campbell: Mr.. President, [ under
stand there are some objections to one of
the Administrators becoming a member of
the Metropolitan Police Board, but after a
conference with the city delegation last
year, it stands exactly as it il, and the
compromise was made in order to prevent
any interference between the city autbori
ties and the police, and it was admitted
that this man being member OF the board,
and repres enting the police In the City
Coancil, would better represent the inter
ests of the police, and hope that the Sec
ton will be left just as 1t is.
Mr.. Bacon: Mr.. President, Twill say that
in reference to the Waterworks and pub
lie buildings, it has been suggested to me
that it has been found in New York and
elsewhere that the subjects OF waterworks,
drainage and health are so united together
in their various relations with
one another that it was found
well to have some one to look
out for these interests and to manage them
together. The administration OF the pub
lie buildings might be given to the Admin
isrator OF improvements just as well as
to the Administrator Of Waterworks, and
it would be more advantageous to place
the drainage and health under the au-
thority OF the Administrator OF the Water
works, and this department might become
exceedingly useful, as it has proven to be
in New York. ! propose to strike ouG
public buildings,' in line eleven, and
to add these words in line eight, after
the word Improvements" and in line
eleven to insert the words drainage and
public health after the words water
works"
Mr.. Campbell: Mr.. President, if the
Senator will allow me, | would suggest
that any change may necessitate q change
in the whole bill, and it would be better
to let il pass just as it is; 1t has been d.
gested very carefully. l hope the Sena-
tor will withdraw his amendment.
Mr.. Bacon: will Withdraw it; we can
take it up afterwards.
Mr. Antoine: Mr.. President, am sorry
to say that must differ with the Senator
from the Second District. | am very much
word "seven," and inserting the word
six" SO as to have only six admins "a
tors. If the gentleman's reasons are
good, that the city ought to be
represented in the Board of Metropolitan
~. L., 1, = L.. IL.
to be represented. TIL effect of the Met
ropolitan Police act, according to my IN
Outstanding. was that the police should be
entirely independent OF the city. The
Metropolitan Police DistrictcOmprises the
three parishes Of Orleans, Jefferson and
ST. Bernard, and do not see the necessity
of giving the city OF New Orleans any con-
troll at all in the management Of the police.
For that reason | am opposed to the Ad-
ministrator Of Police, and move to strike
out in line five the word SEVEN and in
Sert six.
Mr.. Braughn: Mr.. PresidenA1 hope that
the section will be adopted just as it
stands. The reasons assigned by the
Senator from the Second District are cor
rect. This section IS virtually copy Of
the section reported by the Committee
proposed by the city delegation last year,
and that provision was inserted, as he says.
in order TO satisfy the gentlemen. who
waited upon Us that some cOnciIiatory &C
lion was necessary in regard TO the Metro
pulitan Police system. 1, is very true that
the Metropolitan system is entirely de-
tached from the city government,
but the Senators are fully aware
that up to the present moment
the city has not been able fully to
recognize that important fact, and great
deal of trouble has arisen 10 consequence
thereof. It may be argued that this is
wrong, and that may be true, but the
that the City OF New Orleans is taxed
the entire expense of the Metro
politan Police system, and it is
nothing but fair, to say the least, that in
the popular election they should be per-
mitted to choose one member of that
Police Board ia order to represent the
people of New Orleans there. 1t seems
to me that this is but fair and just. But
another and more practical reason why
this section should remain as it stands is
the whole philosophy Of the bureau sys-
tenn, that, when the seven administrators
sit together in council, each and every one
of these administrators should practically
know the business and requisites of his
particular and peculiar department. The
great drawback to the present system in
both branches of the present City Council
is that, with the exception of the chair
men OF the committees, often not siugle
member knows what he is called upon to
legislate upon; therefore the advantage
with the bureau system is this: That the
legislation will be done by the heads of the
different departments, each and every chief
of bureau knowing what can be and what
should be done. Therefore, | think it
necessary that a representative Of the
police department should have seat in
the Council, in order to furnish advice and
counsel as far as that department is con-
cerned.
Mr.. Campbell: Mr.. President, I have but
one word to add to what the Senator has
Just said. In answer to the Senator from
Caddo, | am under the impression that it
will really be in the interest Of the Metro
politan Police to have this administrator,
and l will give my reasons. As it stands
now the city of New Orleans has not paid
a single assessment of its quota to the
Metropolitan Police, and it seems to be an
anomalous system that the Police Board
should have the power to assess taxes
without q single word in favor or against it.
on the part of the city, but the system
was forced upon US by the peculiar
circumstances with which we were met,
and it has been wonderful and disas-
trous fact that the metropolitan force has
been supported upon paper or checks
known as Metropolitan Police warrants,
which have deluged the city, damaged its
credit and starved the police Now, [