New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-05
A Voice from the Ranks.

The outrases inflicted upon the police in
tine past, in the shave" they have been CON
PEELED TO submit to in the matter of thei
pay. are too well known 20 require repeti
ton here. Their condition. and the chanc,
OF all hope OF redress on the par. o
those whose duty ii was 10 see that iustic,
was done the men by strict enforcement
of the law. induced the officers OF the va
.ious precincts TO send delegates to make NJ
& genera! committee TO devise plans 70
their relief. After many con situations, and
sundry interviews with Indifferent. off Gals
they have agreed upon the details O.: bill
to be su omitted 70 the Legislature. accom-
! panied with a memorial. which is annexed
The bill! they propose TO ask the Legislature
20 pass provides for the setting apart by the
! city OF the police tax, the placing o: j: in
| Inent Of cash in lieu OF warrants. The bill
| proposes no Objectionable features what.
ever. while il will. if adopted as I. law. re
sulc IL givin. their pay 10 those WHO earn
II, instead of 20 brokers and :n3ddlemen~-
!. eonsuinmation devoutiy 20 be wished.
! The following is the memorial:
| To the honorable the Senate and the House q: r..
! representatives. of the STATE OF Louisiana:
The memorial of the undersigned dele.
! gates and agents OF the metropolitan Police,
| duly selected to lay before your honorable.
| body their grievances. and suggest the
mode o! relief desired, respectfully re.
present, that since the organization of the
| Metropolitan Police in 1868 they have been
| subjected TO losses which they can not and
! should not longer bear.
| Your memorialists fully realize an,. ap
, preciare the embarrassing circumstances
| which surrounded their organization. which
has, more or less prevented their PROMPT
payment to the present day: that during
| the existence %. said state O.. affairs thew
have been subjected to trials and losses
which. if then surrounded by any miti.
| gatln. circumstances, are at the pEesent
| time wrong, Illegal and unjust.
Your memoIialists would state that expe.
cience has shown, both il the State and
municipal government, that the greatest
! evil the public have 70 endure il the specu.
lation in their obligations: that the tendency
OF speculation is invariably to decrease the
value OF the obi CATION, and effect a corre-
spending increase in the public debt: tina.
pablic interest requires that these obliga.
lions be placed beyond the power of si,ecu.
lation. and that the safety OF the public lies
! III the prompt paymen: OF Us obligations III
cash.
Your menoriaiists would frrtle. repre-
sent that thel: salaries are wei. earned; that
no police in tile United States have more
arduous Ur responsible duties to perform:
that they not only serve as policemen in
the city of New Orleans, but have, in the
character OF ,nilitiamen. frequently served
liz qneiling dissens!ons IN various parts o:
the State.
Your memcriaiists further represent tina,
large proportion OF the police are iuen OF
families: that their salaries are subject 70 i,
discount averaging from twenty 10 forty
iive per cent: that unon their salaries ,hey
rely entirely Tor the support 81 4 heir families.
and the purchase OF their uniforms. that
there - 20 cause .oT the further existence
~ this state o! affairs. as the tax levied for
The sIpport OF the police is now promptly
PAID into the city treasury. and ila. Uvpo-
sl;lon and resistance ~ the Jaws are zap.
ply things o! the past. But while op,,osl.
sItion to the tax for cur support has ceased
to exist. we are still subjected 10 lii. s..G..
losses. i'm positions and fraud.
In order to prevent further speculation az
our expense. and 70 secure the proiupt pay
ment OF our salaries. We hUmbty request !
that the Metropolitan Police tax. imposed !
10. our support. b. collected in money, and |
Sc; apar. Tor the sole purpose tor " nicL it !
was Intended. and rot diverted 20 other !
purpose. for which the law makes Il" pro- |
VISION This tax. ii faithfully collected and |
properly applied. is tall: ample Tor the ou:
poses required. |
With our bitter experience acquired: J.; |
years OF loss amt Injury a. others hands. we ,
Zee. authorized 10 .Ho'n!t - YOUR favorable !
consideration TIE accompanying amend.
ato;y act. which. witt! the ..it: o.. homes, az. !
capable .,aaacier., ". have carefully :,.-
pared.
am IN w Vpt - Il