The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-01
OUR NOBLE ARMY,
The Metropolitan Police.
Fourteenth September 1853 and 1874

Cesar, in his younger days, spent MS tllne :
in riotous living. He had vast amour. =,
brains and he well knew that fortune anu "''
! would soon vanish if his life was to De al NC,
voted to frivolity. He also had amolton' auo
resolving how to succsed, ne conciuueu -
play the role of demagogue. he sald will
money can get men," He turned pa'iio. ann
to secure popular support, increased MS oeD''
to about S., 900, 900, squandering ireeiy upon
the plebeians. His genius, his liberahty' ms
eloouence captivated the crowd he was
success and reached the highest point OF
mower He became one Of the consuls and
had command of Roman legions Then he
said with men I can get money, and ne,
with his victorious army plundered all within
his reach. With some such ideas our first
Radical Executive commenced his career.
The war was over. There was no personal
danger from the conflict Of arms. but mere
was Louisiana, which opened a grand field IN
which to maneuvre. The first thing needed
to foist himself into power was funds, ana
perhaps he said, as Cesar had said, with
| money can get men," He first resolved that
Louisiana was out of the Union; it was mere
Territory, and as such should have repre-
sentative in Congress. He held an election
and was returned unanimously as delegate,
10, 900 votes having been given him. lie was
friend of the negro, advocated his rights,
and conferred, for the first time, upon the
African the inestimable right OF suffrage
| This was hi, first success. He had friends,
and they kept his reasury we'll filed for him.
On and up he went, and reached the Guber-
material chair. He then had power and the
control of men, and with men, he said, 81
can get money.
| An armed force, well paid and differed,
was the first necessity to hedge in his majesty
and keep himself and friends in power. SO
| bill was introduced in the Legislature to
create metropolitan force.
On the l4th of September, 1868, Warmoth
approved act No. a, which first established
metropolitan police district. The act is COM
prised in just fourteen pages. Two very
| remarkable condolences.
The parishes OF Orleans, Jefferson and st.
Bernard were united, for the purposes OF
police government, into one district called
..The Metropolitan Police District Of New
Orleans, State of Louisiana
| All police powers we're vested in board of
officers called the Board Of Metropolitan
Police. A metropolitan force, with su-
perintendent surgeons, captains, sergeant
corporals patrolmeo, clerks and door
! men was also created. The board were
appointed by the Governor, and this board
appointed all officers and had exclusive con-
troll over the police. The board provided
office accommo cations for its own business,
subject only to the approval Of the Treasurer
and Auditor OF State.
Upon any emergency or apprehension OF
riot, mobs or instruction, the board had the
power to appoint as many special policemen
| rs it may deem necessary. During an election.
special policemen to the number cf 500. at So
each per diem, could be appointed The Lieut..
Governor was the presiding officer; the men,
beers of the police force had the powers Of
constables, and could execute. in any part OF
the State, any warrant for search or arrest
The board appointed its treasurer
Any one who should say damn or "booh''
to any member or officer or patrolman, without
cause, was to be punished with not more than
two years in the penitent;ary, or fined not
more than $500. The board were to make
annually financial estimate of the sums Of
money required. In this estimate was in
cluded the cost of the whole force, OF beds and
Of bedding, fixtures, furniture, and all other
necessary accommodations, secret service money!
bach. and cab hire, and fees Of counsel. There
was no limit to the am cunt Of the estimate.
New Orleans, Jefferson City, Carrollton,
Algiers, Gretna, and the parishes OF Orleans,
Jefferson and st. Bernard were compelled to
raise annually, the sum required. The board
had also the authority to "Set apart Metro
politan Sanitary Police Company" and the
most extraordinary powers were conferred
upon the company. TIE board were given
also exclusive control over the fire telegraph
and appointed all officers necessary to work
the same. This law is still in force, the only
material amendment was introduced in the
act Of February 2G, 1874, limiting the amount
of the estimate to 100000 annually.
The above are only some of the powers con-
ferred upon the Governor, for he was the
head, and appointed and removed at pleasure
the members OF the board. All control. even
the police, was taken from the city, and the
citizens were left without protectors and
without protection, save such as his Excel
lency might condescend to give. Here was
created at once an armed force to guard Rad
lea. office-holders and the people were free to
foot the bill To keep in the traces and over
awe the negroes and to compel them to vote
the Radical ticket five hundred special officers
were detailed to serve at the polls on election
days, and SO great was the intimidation Gre
ated by this armed force. that no negro dared
to vote or act against the party in power.
TIKI -,,S ono of tho oh;acfS Of the pOlice force