, 1875-06-30


TIE NEW POLICE REGIME.
Tho abolition Of the Police Doard. and tho
entire irresponsible Doard system, was the
alleged purpose Of adopting the charter Of
1872 but after the charter was assumed to
be nlopted tho Law Department Of tho city
gave It's opinion that the Council Ind no au-
thority to abolish tho Boards. This opinion,
however, did not suit the present purposes of
the Mayor md Common Council, SO the latter
body proceeded Monday evening to disregard
it. An ordinance was passed providing for
wipiug out tho Board OF Police mud Fire Com
missionera, and placing the control Of the
Police Department under City Marshal, md
that Of tho Fro Department under Fire
Ma.shal, both to DO appointed by the Mayer,
with the concurrence Of tho Council,
for two years. While tho concentrating of
the responsibility in the Police and
Fro Departments Is much to be desired in
general way, tho action Of the Council ut this
ti1no only contributes to the inc1tricabls CON-
plications Of the present City Government.
It is done, in the first place, in opposition to
tho advice Of the Law Department, and whom
tho action is contested, rs 1t will be, new
set Of lawyers will have to be employed In
tho next p'ace, tt ia wholly void and illegal If
the Supreme Court shall hold. as 10 believe
It will, that the charter Of 1872 was never
adopted. II, in tho meantime, tho City
Marshal and Fire Marshal are appointed and
proceed to tho discharge Of their dutios rs
doaaed In tho recent ordinance, oil their acts
may subsequently, be declared illegal, and the
Police and Fire Departments will hive been
got into such confusion as to engage courts
and lawyera for years in the attempt to
straighten matters.
But there is also serious objection to the
ordinance which the Council hns passed, ovon
Il 1t had right to pass It. An amendment
was adopted which will hays tho etfoct Of do
floating tho very purpose Of the change, viz.
the concentration Of responsibility. Having
abolishod one Board, tho Council Immediate
1y created another, consisting Of tho Mayor,
City Marshal, and Superintendent {the latter
corresponding TO the present Deputy-Supcr-
intsndcnt), who aro to try oil ofEcnses in the
Department, md a majority OF whose votes is
necessary to tho conviction Of a policeman
upon my charge brought against him. The
Mayor will hive to pass several hours cvery
day In trying petty charges against man,
bers Of tho force, and the one.man
responsibility is lost altogether. The
Mayor and Superintendent can combine ut
any limo To defeat the plans Of tho City Mar-
ahail, and 10 on. When there is complaint
Of abused, as In tho continued failure to
prosecute the gamblers, bunko and confidence
men, thieves, pawnbrokcrs, "fonces," etc.,
tho City Marshal can Blield himself behind
this new Board, o. tho Superintendent OF
Police has been shielding himself behind tho
old Doard. The only relief offered Ia TINT
the Mayor has tho power Of removal, unmis-
takably given him In tho charter of 1879, and
the public md tho proas may properly hold
him sesponaibls for any abuses under the new
System.
The purpose Of tho now ordinance wastwo-
fold, viz, ~ To get rid Of MAnk SHERIDAN,
because he refused to enter into the corrupt
compact for carving tho charter OF 1872 by
fraud; and (2) To put JAKE RKnM into tho
Office OF Chief Marshal, the moro thoroughly
to hayo political control Of the city. It ia
not unlikely that both purposes will be do
feated. Marx SHERIDAN ia an obstinate man
and desperate fighter; ho will not give up
until he Is forced to do so by the courts.
Nor does 1t appear how JAxz REHu can law
fully be appointed City Marshal, or serve In
that capacity for SEQ. II, Art. VI, Of the
charter Of 1872, unasr which the Council
claim to be acting raads'
No po,aon shall Be ellaibs u kny ofnoe Who Ia not
..nko ~ nAt%..