Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-02-23

VI luttnftiNtHs A HluHl tOuitho lnht
am entirely unprepared to snnetio
any legislation so mischievous in il
tendencies. and so antircpublican i
its character, and which is calculates
to uproot and destroy the deares
principles and privileges Of the people
which underlie the institutions Of on
wei regulated Commonwealth. Jus
tice and the dictates of sound publ
policy require that the citizens 0
every political and corporate division
however grcat or SMALL should b
permitted, as an inherent right Of sci
government without "oflicious inter
meddlihg" from any quarter, TO man
age their own local affairs in thei
own way, through officers selected a
the ballot.box by themselves
In remarking upon this subject
have elsewhere said, "The great prin
ciple then upon which our free insl
tutions rest is the unqualified and ab
solute sovereignty of the people; anC
constituting, as that principle does
the most positive and essential featur,
in the great charter Of our liberties
so it is better calculated than any
other to give elevation to our hopes
and dignity TO our actions. So long AZ
the people feel that the power to elect
their own officers and administer theil
own government abides in them, Sc
long will they be impressed with that
sense of security anJ of dignity which
must ever spring from the conscious
ness that they hold within their owr
hands remedy for every political
evil, correction for every govern
mental abuse and usurpation Thi.
principle must be upheld and main
tained at all hazards and every sacri
fce-maintained in all the power and
fnllness-in all the breadth and depth
ofits utmost capacity and signifcalion
IL is not sufficient that ii be acknowl.
edged as a mere abstraction, or theory
or doctrine, but as u practical, sub
stanlial, living reality, vital in every
part"
The city Of Philadelphia in order "a
pay the necessary expenses OF mel
government, of her new, important
and extended improvements, and the
interest on her immense debt (now
greater than that of the Common
wealth. is not ina a condition TO increase
her liabilities, and ifshe does, it ought
TO be with a perfect understanding
for what purpose and TO what amount,
The salary of the mayor, who nov
performs all the functions that are
proposed to be placed in the hands OF
this board Of police commissioners, Is
four thousand dollars, while the sala-
ries of the six commissioners, at three
thousand dollars each, one clerk al
uitcvu uuuos-h t-ii--. - -ss,s -
thousand dollars, a committing mag
istrutc at the Central Station, say
three thousand dollars, and clerk at
fifteen hundred, and that of the exam
lining physician, three thousand dol
lars, amount TO the sum Of twenty
cight thousand dollars, TO which may
be added rents, stationery, printing
and incidcntals, at least twenty-five
thousand dollars more, making in al
tho sum of fifty thousand dollars fol
salaries and expenses for the oflicia
department alone.
The bill says "The said board shal
have entire control Of all the police o.
the city, and shall have authority t6
increase the force ofpatrolmen, should
they deem tho same necessary; anc
| IL is hereby made the duty Of The
select and common council to appro
pirate sufficient moneys TO meet the
expenses of the board and said force.
This is in every respect the mos
perfect surrender Of plenary power'
of the many TO the few that havt
ever witnessed Absolute control o
/ the police, power to increase the nun
Der at their pleasure, to Fix the wages
at any figure, without being su6jeci
4 to any check or supervision from ANY
source Such powers are not exer
cised by the Autocrat of Russia. Th,
city councils and the people seem t'
be entirely ignored by the bill, eNcep
that 'the board shall from time {,
time, submit TO the councils their esti
mates Of the sums required for ih'
payment of official salaries and ex
penscs, and for the maintenance o
1 ihe police furce. There is no checl
or audit prescribed, and no matte
what may be the sum required, th,
councils must provide and appropriate
the amount. and the people, already
overburdened must meet largely in
creased taxation TO supply tho council
with the necessary means to satisfy
the demands OF the board. And ate
paying the fifty thousand dollars belor'
mentioned TO set this "Troian horse
upon its legs, and introduce IL into
Philadelphia, no one can estimate th
increased expenses, and no one is Z,
bc responsible for the damages tha
may occur after its machinery ha
been fully set in operation.
The police force is also to be pu
upon a war footing Every applican
is TO be submitted to an examination
by "a properly qualified physician,
aud If mot found entirely competent an,
under fhe age Of foriyJfUe years, h
must be rejected. Why shall trusty
able bodied and experienced polio
officers be excluded from the force
without regard to past services o
present efficiency, merely becaus
they are over forty. five years Of age
II is probably the first time IN th
history Of the State that man il
civil life, who is otherwise suitable i
every respect, shall be prescrbe
when he may have served his eountr,
faithfully in her armies and attaincl
the age Of forty.fvc years. This ]
monstrous ininsticc, and an ostracisn
which | trust will mover meet th
sanction Of, or be tolerated by, a brav
and generous people.
have not had time 90 call you
attention TO the provisions of this bill
as fully as ] could have desired, but
think / have pointed out ,utiirien
wrongs, in this attempt 10 creat
such a force, appointed by conccn