New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-26
Police Board Matters.


Treasurer Murdock will commence the
payment of the police rolls for May on
Monday, at the Central Department. The
police are to be congratulated. this year,
upon receiving their pay in full, dollar for
dollar. for the first time since the Organiza.
ton of the Metropolitan system, and with
more than usual regularity. From the time
of the creation of the force, in 1868, up to
1874. payments were made in warrant:
drawn against an empty treasury. which
passed into the hands of brokers at dis
count of from twenty to sixty per cent. Ia
1874 the Legislature passed an act proviG-
ing for payments in cash. which was to be
procured by borrowing money through a
fiscal agent. pledgi1g uncollected taxes
therefor To carry out this system. the
membe Of the force suffered voluntary
reduction Of ten pec cent. :oc payment
OF interest on loans. and expenses
connected herewith. Under this act money
was borrowed in advance of the collection
of :axes, sufficient 10 pay nine months OF
the year 1874. As the police tax was co.
lected at the City Hall it was turned over
to the fiscal agen. to go toward canceling
the notes given for money borrowed: but
when the rolls for September were paid.
which was early N January OF TIL. year.
the Police Board was indebted to the fiscal
agent il. the sum OF $4,000. This year the
board deemed it unw;se to attempt to nego-
tiate loans for the payment Of the force.
-. oiv .,t~ = ~t,a
police tax as It came 10. The Legisia
ture. meantime, passed an act, recon-
mended BY the board, constituting the
treasurer the Esca, agent. to whom
all moneys collected fox police purposes
should be turned Over by tue Administra
tor OF Finance. and giving the board
authority. in case the city failed to collect
the taxes as the funds were required to
meet cUrren. expenses. to collect that por.
ton of the tax set apart for police purposes.
through its attorney-a measure Of relief
alike to the police and the taxpayers, which
since been embodied in the recommsnda.
ton OF ths taxpaCe.s association 10 the
City Council.
Stree the opening Of the new yea. colleG
tions OF taxes have been made with satistac.
tory promptitude. under the circumstances.
Current taxes have been collected sufficient
to pay police expenses for four ;nonths-the
force receiving the amounts earned N
fuil-and enough Of the former year have
been collected to very nearly iiquidate the
claim against the board of the fiscal agent
tor 1874. Within sixty days the treasurer
expects to be able to pay the October soll
of 1874.
The expenses Of the board have been
materially reduced during the present year
as compared with former years. and stilI
further reduction has been agreed upon for
the summer months, reduction which
will probably result IN limiting the ex
penses for the year to 100000 under the
apportionment adopted in January.
The Police Board has also adopted new
system. OF making appointments on the
force. All applications for appointment
are fled with the Superintendent: of Police.
and by him referred to the captain Of the
precinct where the applicants reside for il.
vestigation and report. The papers are
then referred to special committee OF the
Police Commissioners, who. in secre, ses
sion. carefully scrut.nizs the character.
record and antecedents Of the applicants.
and submit their report. :avorabiy or ad.
verse!y, to the board.
In the loose manner Of making appoint
ments that formerly obtained. unworthy
characters now and then obtained places on
the force. One case occurred short time
ago where notorious thief was appointed
on the personal solicitation Of a State Sena.
tor. Under the present system such thing
would be rendered almos. impossible.
At recent meeting Of the Board nearly
fifty supernumerar.es were dropped On the
recommendation Of the precinct command.
ers, and hereafter appointments Of super.
numeraries will not be made IL excess Of
the ratio Of one to three patroimeE.