The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-29
Police Matters.

SNASS0 /
created the office of assistant marshal dep
uty marshal is the proper term)and added
the extra pay he gets, making so much
additional expense. We never thought 1t
necessary to deny the falsehood, because
every intelligent man knew it to be afalse-
hood. But, for fear that some ignorant
person may be imposed on by the story, we
quote the following from San Ordinance
regulating the Police of the City and pre-
scribing their Duties"
Is. The city council may, upon the ap-
plication of the marshal, and whenever
they shall deem it necessary, appoint any
suitable person or persons mot exceeding
two) to be deputy marshals, who shall have
power to serve and return for and IN the
name of the marshal, all processes that
may be issued directed to the marshal, and
shall perform all duties pertaining to the
Office of marshal that shall be required OF
him, or them, by the marshal or mayor
and who shall also perform all such du-
ties as may be required of him or them by
this or any other ordinance or law OF the
city.
That ordinance was passed July %, 1885,
more than Is years ago.
Nor was any additional expense incurr-
ed. On the 18th of last March, on motion
of Alderman Copp, it was voted to reduce
the marshal's salary 500 and give 1t to
one of the day policemen who might be ap-
! pointed deputy marshal. Mr.. Mitsch had
= been paid, under Murdock's administra-
, ton, 81 900 year. Mr. Kimball is paid
only 5000
. Mayor Davenport appointed John Bren,
4 nan assistant marshal and he was, on the
e oath of March, confirmed by the council
So that puts an end to another OF the
. Union falsehoods,
In the same ordinance from which VIZ
have quoted, passed in 1857, is the follow
, ing;
q 6. The city council SHALL from time
to time, upon the recommendation OF thu
mayor, appoint suitable persons, and a
"a many as may be deemed necessary, to b.
II watchmen, who, as also the person or per
sons appointed to the Office of deputy mar
shall, shall exercise all the powers, perform
y all the duties and be liable to all the pen
a. alties and disabilities that are or may b.
from time prescribed for or concerning po
licemen, and every person so appointed
the office of Waterman, or deputy marsha
ut shall continue in office during the pleasur
a. of the city council. subject, however, to b
Sc removed by the mayor (who is hereby au
ne thorized for the purpose) for good cause /
&c his discretion, and no officer so removed
a aforesaid, shall receive payment for an
IS service performed thereafter.
The city charter provides that the cour
Gil may designate and name constables {
no Rock Island to be police constables an
AZ prescribe their duties-but this has neve
lie been carried out in practice.
st The officers which we commonly call 'pC
ie licemeu' are those known to the law {
ne 'watchmen, and the law requires tn;
ct they be appointed by the city council c
ed the recommendation of the mayor
= The reason for requiring that the watcl
men be appointed by the council must
apparent to everybody 1t places tn
mayor under restraint and induces him
-. present the name of no man who cann
: command the general confidence Of the pc
- pie as a sober, honest, trustworthy persol
Yet this ordinance has been violated by e
cry administration since it was passed! 1t
:. time that it was respected and compile
- with, and that watchmen, or policemen,
we generally call them, should be confirm
: ed by the council before they are perm
nently employed The mayor can reno
them any time he sees fit, and he must gl
es- his reasons to the council in writing II
council can also remove any one of the
or all of them at any meeting, on motion
,d- for they can hold office only during t
mr. pleasure of the council,
SIS The old and wrong practice of appoint
o a watchmen should be stopped at once.
SIS At the beginning of every new admin
on. tratiOn, somebody moves that the may
re and marshal appoint the policemen
the that is the last the council ever hears
der knows of the business-except to pay t
e&- DlliS. AuuouS IuG SLdIullS CoiHLIIbeCSS'
&C. committee on police, but what in
his world they have to do or what they {
consulted about, we doubt if they can II
Some people may think that the VI
which aldermen pass, every spring, totr
'' this business over to the mayor and N
.rr shal is legal but it is not, and never W
ded The council must first alter, repeal
amend the ordinance, if they propose
ian abandon their control and responsibility
IRA this matter to the mayor and marsh
on- They cannot legally do this by motion
and resolution. The ordinance can only be
ject tered, amended or repealed by passing
hey other ordinance.
lelr This administration Is no more at ia
ons about it than all others-thay are all al
in that respect, and all censurable. A
4;ao it is the aldermen who are at fault r.
ao1 should know no man as an officer until
- name has been submitted to them, as
,r,o quired by law. Nor should they pay ;
w. man who is not appointed according to |
/ Let them begin now, and insist on the
49, servance of the ordinance-or else
III knowledge themselves unfit for their p
tons and retire from the places they can
ulo fill
Fl Mayor Davenport says that it would
J L half his time, if he was to hold for