The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-02-03

fI8nt fODpery, ana we truss that such OF
our legislators as feel any responsibility
to those by whose means only civil
government is sustained in South Caro-.
lima, will bear in mind that 81, 1000, 600
has already been forced from that GLASS
OF our people. and that they will per-
sistently refuse to authorize an additional
levy. Of even one mill on the dollar for
the current fiscal year.
The Charleston Metropolitan Police Bill.
The Charleston delegation in the
House OF Representatives, to whom was
referred, as special committee, the bill
providing for the establishment. ot me-
tropolitan police district in Charleston,
reported upon one of the bills, yester.
day, recommending that it be passed.
It was hoped and believed that the
reference to the delegation, which, in
the main, is very conservative. and in
intelligence and ability far above the
average OF their oompeers in the House,
would result in total quashing OF the
iniquitous scheme. The result, how
ever, is otherwise. The best they have
done has been to confne their favorable
report to the bill which is said to
possess the least Questionable features.
There we're, we are informed, three
different bills, having the same main de-
sign in view, that we're submitted to the
consideration OF the delegation. The
one they have recommended is entitled
"a bill to establish metropolitan police
district and to provide for the govern
ment thereof" It includes both the
County and city OF Charleston in the
police district. There are to be three
police commissioners elected at every
general election OF County officers; and
until the next election. the bill provides
for the appointment OF r. B. Arston,
Aaron Logan and 81. G. Minott to act in
that capacity. These commissioners are
to appoint clerk, one superintendent,
two lieutenants, four sergeants, eighty pa
trolmen, six watchmen. four gate-keep-
ers and one hostler. The commissioners
are to receive salary of $1,000 per
annum each; the uperintendent 81, 500;
the clerk 81, 200; each lieutenant 81, 200;
each sergeant S720, and private police
men 5000. A court. too, is to be estsb-
lished, to be presided over by til rec
Justices, who are to be elected by the
Legislature. The Office of city receiver
is to be abolished, and courts of trial
justices are to be superseded by this now
court. The Mayor OF Charleston is re-
quired, Immediately upon the organiza-
tion of the new police force, to disband
that which he has now in operation, aud
to provide suitable quarters and arms
and equipments fer their SUCCESSORS.
The abolisliing Of tho courts OF trial JUS
tices. and the payment OF 800, 900 by tie
County Treasurer for the support and
maintenance of the new police force and
police court. which the bill requires, is
claimed by its author. Mr.. Bowen, to be
OF great advantage TO the city OF Charles
ton. He maintains thai it will effect an
annual saving TO the city OF $50. 1000.
But it is manifest that the prime object
of the measure is not to provide moro
economical or efficient police regulations
for Charleston, for there has been no
complaint against Mayor WAGNER and
his Board OF Aldermen on that score.
On the contrary. many wise changes
have been made by him and great re-
duotion in the expenses OF the police
department, as compared with his
Radical predecessor Gilbert Pillsbury-
effected. 1t is only a move to divest
tho present municipal administration
OF their most important function-the
controi and management OF their police
force, upon which the peace, good order
and sanitary condition of the city 30
much depends. It is designed, further,
to deprive them of oil power and super
vision in the conduct OF elections, and
to restore that power to the corrupt
hands from which the people have but
recently wrested it. We ore inclined,