New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-15
TIE NEW POLICE BILL,

Police, and settle up its affairs finally. Is
now pending before the House It is
commonly known rs the CITY Hall bill,
having been carefully considered, and. as
we learn, earnestly recommended by the
Administrators. This important bill q
couched in clear and Unambiglous
| language, and every section shows cEi-
dcnce of careful consideration and prac-
| teal knowledge Of the subject.
The first section summarilN abo!lsIleS
the Board of Metropolitan Police.
The second section vests the control
and regulation of the police in the Coun-
| Gil with such restrictions as are expressed
| in section eleven, which creates a commits
sion, to be composed OF the Administrator
of Police and two commissioners, the lat
ter to be appointed by the Governor by
and with the advice and consent of the
senate. The functions. of this board are
the appointment Of all officers and menu
berS Of the police force below the grade Of
chief, the appointment of which is vested
in the City Council. The board will also
have the power to investigate charges, to
try and discharge all persons APP
pointed by it, and to consider case,
of suspension referred to it by
the Mayor. This officer may sim
marily suspend any officer or employe of
the force, and report the case, with his
reasons therefor. to the board. And il
case the suspension shall be made for
contempt or disobedience of his px"cu-
tive authority, the accused can not be re-
instated without the permission OF the
Mayor, or by vote of the City Council.
This almost arbitrary grant of power to
the Mayor challenges some opposition.
and is unque,tionahly Al element of
weakness in an otherwise very excellent
bill. \ complaint OF misconduct on the
part of any policeman by the Mayor or
any Of the Administrators, occupying as
they necessarily will under the law, posi-
tons of high responsibility, will, no
doubt, command the most respectful at
tentlon of the board, and form the sub
Ject OF prompt action, SO that 4 case
would hardly arise in which the exercise
Of arbitrary power by the Mayor would
be necessary to secure obedience to his
lawful orders. Perhaps it would be as
we'll to relieve the bill of this burden. It
viii be quite as etfectual for purpose, of
discipline without it, and would read less
like the articles of war.
The third section contains one of the
most important provisions in the bill 1t
provides that all the taxes heretofore
assessed and not collected at the time of
the passage of the act, shall be collected
and credited to the account of police
on the books of the Administrator of
Finance. and be applied to the payment
OF the police expenses for the year ISL |
This fund will amount to the nominal f,
sum Of 800, 900 for 1859, and $500. D0O |
tor $50 And as the payments of taxes
under the present administration are made |
with unusual promptness We may reason
ably l0oh for a collection Of $500. 900 of |
dis amount in the sixty days given by |
the law for it, collection. The bulk of |
the money will be paid into the treasury |
N the month Of March The current |
expenses Of the. police force for the sixty
LAYS, including all demand, against the
fund. will not, probably, exceed $500. 600. |
has leaving surplus of $500, 600 il the
lau,ls of the Fiscal Agent to be used tempo
,arlly for other purposes, such a, stopping
NE payment of interest on loans from
he Bank of New Orleans The tax
payers Of the city are required by
existing laws to pay within the next sixty
lays, Tor a specific purpose, half million
If dollars more than will be needed for
hat purpose for the time being, At the
anne time that this money is lying idle,
no revenue or income, the
anne taxpayers are paying to one of our
,ankS eight per cent interest for money to
ieiray current expenses, redeem coupons,
tc. We think the projectors of tue bill
how themselves possessed of excellent
common sense when they propose
hat the people shall make use of their
WA Idle money, in preference to paying
heavy sun for the use of the funds of
he bank.
Tie general and ample power given
o the Council to control and regulate
he police given in the second section
viii, beyond question, be used to greatly
edlce current expenses. The present
vstem i, numbered with an army of
Jerks, messengers, porters. etc, requir-
NJ large building to give them desk
nd loating room. The number of police
len is much too great, and possibly the
ay above what it should be- The time
as been when force of five or six hun
red men was not too Large to keep the
t&ce. But this is not SO now. To-day
'e do not hesitate to assert that six hum
red and eighty-fvc officers and men
or the city of New Orleans are more
nan the public safety demands, Two
birds Of the number would be ample,
nd possibly one-half would be sufficient.
IS not cxtravagant to say that a CORE
ponding reduction i'll expenses could be
lade by thus reducing the force
HE leading ideas III the bill are econ
my and greater efficiency. We deem the