Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-05-13
THE CITY.
M 70 M HIS
Thursday EveniEE, May Is, 1876.
Police and Fire Ordere.

AOAACc huU TITO ONueEhs
Yesterday the Commissioners promul-
gated a series Of rules and regulations
for the government of the Police and
Fire Departments. Among the orders
issued to the police are the following:
Section IL. Every member of the
police force is entitled to entertain his
own political opinion and to express the
same freely when such expressions shall
not concern the immediate discharge of
his official duties; and his right to vote
at all elections for such candidates as
be may prefer will be deemed sacred and
i~nviolate. But no member will be per
mitted to belong to any political club or
organization, or TO participate in any
political or partisan convention, or pub
lie political meeting whose purpose il
the n%smination Of candidates to any
political Office, nor to solicit or make
any contribution in money or other
things on any pretext tn any person,
committee or association for any politi-
cal purpose whatever. Upon the days
of election for public officers each mem
Der shall, whether especially assigned to
attend the polls or otherwise, do all in
his power to preserve the peace, protect
the integrity of the ballot box, enforce
the rights OF lawful voters and prevent
illegal and fraudulent voting. But he
shall not actively interfere for or against
any candidate, challenge voters, di.trlb-
ute tickets or act the partisan, under the
penalty of immediate dismissal.
Sec. II. Patrolmen are strictly fo,-
hidden to enter any drinking saloon or
gambling house, or house of ill-fame, or
other disreputable place, for any pur-
pose whatever, apart from the strict per
formance Of their duty.
Sec, Is. No patrolman shall smoke, or
drink any spurious liquors, while on
duty or in uniform. Any member who
becomes intoxicated, on or off duty,
shall be dismissed from the force.
Sec. l9. Patrolmen, when on a tour Of
service, must not, except when on duty
together, walk or talk with each other,
or any other person whom they meet on
any parts OF their beats, unless it be to
receive or communicate information ap-
pertaining to their duty, or to answer
civllly, but briefly, questions Of stren-
gers or citizens really requiring as
sistance or direction. They must not,
under any circumstances, unless in the
discharge of their duties, stop at the
corners of the street, or linger on the
routes, or enter any house, but are ex-
pected to constantly patrol their beats.
FIRE ORDERS.
The orders issued to the FIRE depart
ment embrace instructions as to the du.
ties of each officer and man. Section Il
of the police orders, with reference tc
politics, appears as section "a in the Ere
orders, except that portion of it with re
ference to the duties of a policeman at
the polls, to protect the ballot-box anC
prevent illegal veting. The FIRE districts
are-No. l, that portion Of the city north
of Poplar street; No. 2, between Poplar
and Madison; No. 3, between Madison
and Beale; No. 4, from Beal south to the
boundary line of the city.
Sec. IL. Persons not members Of The
company shall not be permitted to fire.
quent, meet, or loiter around the engine
houses; MOI shall any card playing in
the houses be permitted; and it shall be
the duty OF any member on watch to en-.
force this rule.
Sec. IA. Racing to and from fires il
not allowed under any circumstances
under the penalty of dismissal, etc.
The orders, rules and regulations is
sued yesterday by the Commissioners fol
the government of the Police and Fire
Departments, will be published in pam
phlet form, and each policeman ant
fireman will be supplied with one so tina
they cannot plead ignorance of theit
duties. The Commissioners have deter
mined to enforce the orders in a stric
manner and make the departments 81
efficient as possible in the protection o
life and property.