, 1873-02-16
Gbp Gb1faun W2ibn11e.

Ubp Gb12agn Wfibn11e.
Sunday Morning, February 10, 1873.
TIE VOTE IN THE COUNCIL TOMORROW
N1GHT.
The Common Council consists of forty meHl-
bcrs, who are supposed to represent the wishes
and sentiments Of the people of Chicago, and
whose duty is, by. their official action, to govern
the city wisely and carefully. In important part
Of the government Of large city is its police
force. Upon the fidelity and efficiency Of that
force the public must rely for the preservation
of the public peace, and the protection OF life
and property. To maintain an efficient police,
there must be responsible authority on the one
hand, and subordination On the other. As we'll
undertake to conduct the operations OF an army
in the field without officers and without
subotdination, as to conduct the police
fuainess Of great city without any
responsible head, and when each man is law
QO[O QlI1EtA- AAo 13A Va NAAAe@t3o 40 - 49,"
placed in supreme control Of the Police Depart
meut Of Chicago, and, to enable him to exercise
that control, he is empowered, by law, to re-
move any person, whenever, in his judgment,
the efficiency Of the police force demands it.
The Superintendent Of Chicago, lawfully ap-
poiutcd by the Mayor, acting under the advice
and direction Of the Mayor, undertook to 70
organize the patrol police force Of the city.
Against this there was general remonstrance
BY tho. men on the police force, who owe their
appointments to local influences, and who, while
wearing the uniform and drawing the pay OF
policemen, understand that, in fact, they are
holding political Offices, and that their duty is
to manage ward politics, and not perform police
duty. These men appealed from the Superin-
tendent and the Mayor to the Police Com
1nissioners, who are not, and never have been.
anything else than Board to distribute political
patronage among the ward loafers. This Board,
indignant that any person should undertake to
reform the police, and thereby necessarily expel
from it one-third of The members who are mere
pensioners upon the public, forbade the execution
Of the superintendent's orders, and then under
took to dismiss tho Superintendent. The issue
was forced upon the Mayor whether he would
,sbendon the City Government to the keepers Of
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and their friends on the
police and in the Board, or whether he should en-
forco the law, have an efficient police, and estab-
lish official responsibility As the legal head of
tho police force, there was no alternative. He
could not betray the public, and finding that to
enforce authority he must remove the
Police Commissioners who were OBJ
+etructing the execution OF the law and
inBtigating revolt and insubordination on the
police force he removed them, and has noni
mated two citizens to take the places Of Klokke
and Reno.
These nominations require the approval Of
the Common Council Tomorrow night, the
forty Aldermen, each for himself, Will have to
choose between the law and revolt against
authority. He will have to say whether the
Mayor and the Superintendent shall direct the
police force of the city, or whether the old Police
Board, aud Nike Mcdonald, the gambler, shall
govern the city That is the plain and direct
question q. issue. There is no conflict Of law.
The two men whom the Mayor has removed
from Office we're appointed by him The
pretence that there is any question Of
law involved is weak invention. Each
Alderman knows that fact, and each Alderman
:! knows that tomorrow night his vote against
these nominations will be given in order to per-
iPotunte Nokke and Reno in office, that through
chem may be retained scores OF drunken, worth
less creatures now On tho force, and through
them to give indemnity and protection to the
gamblers, and to largo class Of other open
end ayowcd law-brcakers.
Ths action Of the Council on thess ncmina-
tions will bo Watched with anxiety by the pub
Lie. How many Of these Aldermen have enough
respect for aw, authority, and the public peace
aud order, to vote against the clients
OF the Police Commissioners How many
of these Aldermen represent the pub
1c,. and how many recognize no
constituencies save those interested in
worthless police force, and a flexible Board Of
Police Commissioners? The answer to the roll |
call tomorrow night Will show precisely in |
which List these Aldermen choose to enroll their !
names.
The revolt OF the Police Commissioners and |
<he consequent Generalization Of the police |
force has 1ad its effects. The burglars and |
thieves OF the United States hayo had their At |
tention drawn to tho unprotected condition Of
Chicago. The fact that the double police force |
put on patrol from 10 to o'clock, each night, |
has been withdrawn, and the city left, during |
the burglars hours OF professional occupa-
tion, without proper protection, has been
discovered. Burglaries nre once moro !
a safe md paying business in Chicago. During !
the dangerous hours OF the night few police !
men are scattered through the streets, hut 1. |
proper guard does not 60 on duty until after |
The burglars and the incendiaries have got |
through.