New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-20
TEE METROPOLITAN POLICE BOARD.


Our position is very easily stated. Iht
city government contends that in order tx
lessen the expenses of the corporation, the
! present police arrangement must be &c
altered that the cost of Sustaining the force
aud the power of determining It's strength
shall be left to the Administrators. We
favor this suggestion. The Metropolitan
Police Board replies that the cost Of the
police, as at present organized, is bu,
little greater than it was when the city
did control the force, and that thA extern
sion Of the corporate limits and the con-
sequent increase OF patrolmen Will account
for the excess Of expenditure. Besides,
the Police Board insists that the number
of policemen was not objected to a. the
proper time by the city, and that there
fore the board is not wholly responsible
for maintaining the force at its presen.
standard. And, furthermore, as the spe-
cial tax that is collected by tae city for
the use of the board is u specific and sepa-
rate revenue. the support Of the police
can not be counted as genera! charge on
the city treasurer, and therefore the Ad-
nlinistrators are not responsible ior its eI
penditure.
This pleading is special, ana !: IS weak.
In the first place, the Metropolitan Police
law was passed in order 20 effect rid
dance to the city Of the very force which
cost SO much and which was so effectively
despotic in the year 1897. "a the next
place, the law was passed in oc-er tc de-
termine and close out certain baneful Pc
!itical combinations that existed to the
detriment of the city, in the historic period
known as the Monroe era. The members
Of the Police Board know this to be so,
and they further know that they were sls-
tanned in some rather exceptional proceed
ings, in their earlier organization, because
it was thought better to endure their mild
rather than to fall into evils
Of greater magnitude. In fact, the sys-
tem was adopted as an ultimate remedy
against an outrageous evil, and as an ex-
pertinent as to what result it might pro-
duce. All this is and was understood by
the board, and they should have appreci-
ated the fact that a time would come when
The system would have to undergo discus
sion, preparatory to its continuance or
suspension. In this argumen: the man
lgement OF the board and the confidence
Of the. public in the city authorities
night well have been accepted as the
oasis OF future conclusions.
The present city government: has the
public confidence, and this is the solution
If one branch of the argument. In the
lext place the failure Of the Police Board
o do the best it could in reducing c.
oendi:ures is the solution c. the O:he: end
If the argument. The board has Main
aimed an excess Of patrolmen and ietec-
ectives in the service, and IN the second
olace it has kept up an expensive ests.b-
is1nen: in the way Of Offices and en-
,loyes. 1t is furthermore costly arrange
nent throughout. the organization OF the
,oacd. the machinery Q! it, movements,
md the retinue Of its clerks being w.
necessarily expensive from: tie :ac: that the
ystem was adopted and Sc: il motion by
! Legislature more directly engaged in
al evil than in devising
permanent arrangement. The legislative
mind vas simply bent upon providing a
ubstit4te for Monroe's police. and its
main objec: was to create a power tina:
would support the officers Of TIC State n
the enactments O: :'e law.
making power. And the -e:erert. Of the
'oard to the old police system is de-
ense ofpresent impropr;etios :: therefore
inguiarly unfortunate. since :: w:s
@ &c away with the evils tina: then existed
M: the present force was organized.
n the matter OF expense and TIE e..
mption Of the present city administra-
ION tLCI, tIlc plpttSt ~ IIC As
lot admissible, The Administrators are
eld responsible for all tie taxes they assess
gainst the community. and the very gist
! the municipal protest is that the city
) compelled to levy this tax IL order to
aeet the acquisitions Of the Police Board.
he city desires to regulate the expense
! the police force herself because she |
that one half OF the tax tina: is
ow levied might be made to cover the
n.;re outlay. And of one thing We are
ertain, that the return O. the police to
he control OF the city would q: once dis
Ass small army Of employees who now
ubsist CT the patronage o: the board.
,esides. the city could regulate The ex-
ense s,.,, lower i: the mater became
ressing. and it would be cptiona! with |
er to employ men. as good men can be
lnployed, at less rates :!.an a-e low pre-
c.ibed by the law.
For these reasons it is easy @ see WY |
II position is so easily explained.
'rT SANITARY AND TERT!TTo-'-, HCK. !