Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-12-17
A PuLlCs COMMlssION.

1ibt WluLef uu tlioib NaS iHdue u
pass police commission bill in the
Legislature. The project. however,
failed, simply because the matter was
not pressed--no one in particular be-
ing interested in it. This winter
another effort will be made, and this
time the measure will be sure to be
successful. The people are disguised
with the way in which the force is man
aged they are tired of seeing men
placed on the force, simply as a reward
for political service. Our people are
beginning to open their eyes, for re-
cent events show the police force to be
in corrupt hands-that it is merely a
machine to serve the interests and
Vaccinations of ambitious and design
ing men.
The chairman Of the police commit
tee. (Schultheis,) was forced to acknow-
ledge in council tho other night, that a
policeman who had been properly sus.
pended, for weeks previous, was restored
to duty by the chief of police, and that,
teo, without the knowledge or consent
of the aforesaid committee. 1t was
made perfectly plain that the chief
(who is 20 be the next Democratic can
didate for sheriff, ignored the commit
tee, and ordered the men about to suit
his own imperious will. But he was
not made to answer for this breach of
discipline, and of course he will go on
and do the same thing over again,
whenever it suits his purpose or jnclina-
ton. Every member Of the force is
supposed to be o slave of the chie.-to
do his every bidding, and whoever
dares to thwart him, is made to imme-
,iiately walk the plank.
The present chief of police is poll
tician--he carries two or three wards in
his pockets, so he says, and We have no
reason to doubt his word he elects
councilmen to suit him, and they of
course, never fail to serve him.
Now what we want is police force,
composed Of young men of good habits,
men who will DO selected foc their
ability to discharge dangerous duty !;
men who are able to keep sober men
who are intelligent; not druakards, nor
politicians. There are men on the force
to-day, and they have been there a long
while, who are totally unfit, because of
notorious bad habits. We can point to
officers who go on regular sprees, when
off duty, and who beg money in bar
rooms to buy their whisky with.
Within month past We have seen
drunken policemen thrust from bar
rooms by their comrades, and although
the chief knew of the circumstances, yet
We have not heard that that officer was
suspended. The chief, however, knows
that he can do just as he pleases. He
is confident of his power. Tho alder
man who presumes to remind him of
duty will be sure TO be defeated at the
next election, aud it is for these reasons
that a change is proposed.
The police should be selected by
commissioners, by gentlemen who will
serve the city gratuitouSl by gentle
men who have no ares to grind; who
have the welfare of the people--rather
than of any political party-at heart.
Gentlemen can be found to do this, and
our representatives in the legislature
must see that none but first class men
are appointed on tho commission,
which, to DO effective, must not be parti
san in character. Certainly no good citi :
zen will obiectto such q change. Ifthere
are any worthy officers on the force at
present, let them be retained, but that
many OF them can give way to better
men, no one familiar with the organiza
ton can for moment entertain a
doubt. The present management is
yeIy rotten, and the stable needs a
thorough ventilation.