New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-10
POLICE EXPENSEs.

An estimate OF the expense and appor'
tionment of the police force for the yea,
ending September 80, 1872, will be found
in another column. This estimate ispub.
lished in accordance with section two, Of
act No. A, approved Feb aaly ~, 1869.
As the expense of the police force is q
matter which has occupied great deal Of
public attention, We consider this . proper
occasion to state some facts for the in
formation of the public. The Metropoi-
tan Police force was created by an act Of
the Legislature, approved September IA,
1868, and provided for the creation of a
police force for the city Of New Orleans,
Orleans, right bank (Algiers), city of
Jefferson, city OF Carrollton, parish Of
jefferson, right bank (Gretna), parish of
Jefferson, left bank, and the parish Of ST.
Bernard. a.
The estimated cost of the police force
for the city Of New Orleans for the year
ending September 80, 1869, was $685.
635, while the actual expenditures were
s764, O27 SO. The estimated cost for the
city of New Orleans for the year ending
September 80, 1870, was s779, 11S 10, and
the actual cost was s725, 357 70. The es-
timated cost for the year ending Septem-
Der 30, 1871 was $500, 932 SO, and the ex-
penditures were about s84S, OOO-the &C.
counts for last year not being complete.
The expenditures for the last year were
much increased by the expenditure Of .
large sum for new Geographic instruments
and repairs, and also the cost of the new
steam launch used by the harbor police,
both Of which expenditures are more than
repaid to the citizens and taxpayers by
the valuable service rendered. The ex-
penditures also include the sum of over
twenty-seven thousand dollars paid for
the thirty per cent Warrants issued by
virtue of Judgments of court, and form no
part Of the legitimate expenses Of the cost
of the police force; and also thirteen thou
sand dollars, amount of fues for about
two years and half, and does not consti-
tute any additional expense, it being de-
Quoted from the pay Of the men for viola
tons of rules and breaches of discipline.
The estimated cost for IRE police for the
city of New Orleans, for the year ending
September so, 1872, as published in an
other column, is s724, 400 80. This esti-
mate is sS5, al So less than the estimate
for the. year ending September 80, 1871,
and s54, 652 20 less than the estimate for
the year ending September 80, 1870.
In preparing the estimate Of expendi-
lures for the year ending thirtieth of Sep
TENDER next, we are assured the Board Of
Police Commissioners have done their
best to reduce the expenses of the force to
the minimum point under the law. Toe
Mayor and some Of the Administrations say
that force Of 800 men is ample for the
city, because St. Louis, with larger pop
ulation, has only 348 men. They, how
ever, forget that the law requires that
s'thefe shall be not less than 500 patrol
men" This II the number Of men est.
mated Tor, and no one ought to ask the
Police Commissioners to violate the law.
Cnder all the circumstances, we think the
police board have done well to reduce the
expenses 80 much. .sl :. II
In considering the cost Of the police
force in conpssison with the cost y her
II WAS il the HI % the city authorities
q must not Sc fsrgoSs IN '1hat the cost "a
working the spelee and fire alarm tie