The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-02-19

the power 10 eteC6 tneu Own oxRcots @oU ~
minister their own government sbsdes ~.
them, so long will they be impressed win
that sense ef sscuHA and Of dignity whioh
must ever spring ftcn the CONSCIOUSNESS that
they bold within their own hands remedy
for every political evil. correction for
every governmental abuse and usurPat'on.
The principle must be upheld and main
tanned at ali hazards snd- every saerihee-
maintained in all the power and fullness-
in all the breadth and depth OF its utmost
capacity and Specification. Il is not sum-
Gent that it be acknowledged as mere alb
straction, or theory, or doctrine, but as
practical. substantial, living reality, vital u
every PsTt."
The city Of Philadelphia, in order to pay
the necessary expenses of her government,
Of her new, important and extended I'M
provements, and the interest on her immense
debt (now greater than that Of the Com
menwealth), is not in condition to increase
her liabilities, and il she does. It Ought to
be with a perfect understanding for what
purpose and to what amount.
The salary Of the mayor, Who now per
forms oil the functions that are proposed to
be placed m the hands Of this board Of po-
lice commissioners, is four thousand dollars,
while the salaries Of the six commissioners,
at three thousand dollars each, one clerk at
fifteen hundred dollars and one at one thou
sand dollars, q committing magistrate at the
Central Station, say three thousand dollars,
and a clerk at flfeeu hundred, and that Of
the examining physician, three thousand
dollars, amount % the san Of twenty eighl
thousand aSIlass, to Wkiek may be added
rents. stationery, printing and incidentals
at least twenty-tWO thousand dollars more
4 making IN afl the sum Of fifty thousand dol
lars for salaries and expenses for the oficia
department alone.
The bill says: "The said board shall
have entire control Of al fhe police Of thu
city, and shall have authority to increas'
the force Of patrolmen, should they deem
the same necessary; and it is hereby mad'
the duty of the select and common councl
to appropriate sufficient moneys to meet th'
d expenses Of the board and said force"
This is in every respect the most perfec
|
surrender Of plenary powers Of the many q
the few that / have ever witnessed. Abso
lutte control Of the police, power to increas'
the number at their pleasure, to fix tn
wages at any figure. without being subjec
to anv check or supervision from any source
: Such powers are not exercised by the Au
tocrat Of Russia. The city councils ant
the people seem to be entirely ignored b,
the bill, except that " the board shall, from
time to time, submit TO the councils thei
estimates Of the sums required for the pay
ment Of official salaries and expenses, ant
for the maintenance Of the police force
There is no check or audit prescribed, ant
no matter what may be the sum required
the councils must provide and appropriate
the amount, and the people, already over
burdened, must meet largely increased taxs
: ton TO supply the councils with the neces
sary means to satisfy the demands Of tb
board. And after paying the fifty thou
sand dollars before mentioned to set thi
{" Trojan horse" upon his legs, and intro
duce il into Philadelphia, no one can est
mate the increased expenses, and no one i
to be responsible for the damages that ma,
occur after its machinery has Deen full
set in operation.
The police force is also to be put upon
war footing. Every applicant is to be sub
United to an examination by "a properl,
qualified physician and if not found en-
tirely competent and under tie age 0
forty-6Ue gears, be must be rejected. VIII
shall trusty, able-bodied and experienced
police officers be excluded from the force
without regard to past services or presen
efficiency, merely because they are owe
forty-6ve years Of age2 1t is probably tn
first time in the history of the State that
man in civil life, who is otherwise suitable
in every respect, shall be prescribed whel
be may have served his country faithfully il
! her armies and attained the age Of forty
Eve years. This is monstrous injustice, anC
an ostraeism which trust will never NEE
the sanction Of, or be tolerated by, brav'
and generous people.
II have not had time to call your attention
10 the provisions of this bill as fully as
could have desired, but l think | have
pointed out sufficient wrongs, in this at
tempt to create fuch force, appointed BY
concentration of the peoples power into thu
hands of few men, chosen by Legislator
from every part Of the State, who are fully
4 assured that their own constituents would
not submit to any such mfiction Of absolute
government and taxation upon tbemselve.
for single moment This is the kind o
legislation which. under pretence OF secur
ing the peace, creates discomfort. dissatis
faction and disturbance. It arouses in til,
! bosom Of every man who knows his own in
herent rights the most determined opposi
! ton. and frequently the most uucompromis
] ing hostility to every movement by which
he perceives his liberty is abridged, anC
makes him wage continuous warfare
against all whom be cOnceives to be th'
enemies Of liberty. whether open or con
cealed.
A republican government cannot long ex
! list under partial and unequal laws. AnC
to perpetuste this republic with all the
blessings which cluster around it, the State
Legislature must enact laws, bearing alike
upon all, with equal and exact justice t.
all, without prejudice or Partially.
A majority in the State undertaking t
legislate to perpetuate its power BY the pas
sage Of laws unequal, unjust and oppressive
to the minority, is not republican in form
nor democratic in principle, and must soon
sink into imperialism.
For these and other reasons | cannc give
the executive sanction to this or any Other
act which has tendency to take from the
people any portion Of their inherent rights
The election of every local officer charged
With the duties Of executive authority. OF
with the execution Of the laws, should be
/ submitted to direct popular vote and !
can see no reason why the people of Phila-
delphia should be made an exception to this
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