The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-07
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THE POLICE.

TIE POLICE
siThe Metropolitan system is doubt.
less open to many objections, but 1t ID
c csl h1 t 70 this State fhe questions thst
most affect the taxpayer are, whether
the present police system is as economi-
cal as it would probably be under differ
ent management, and whether 1t Is
equally efficient. The record will es
tablish both. The estimate of police
expenses for the year 1876 was 5000; 900,
but the amount OF taxes collected by
the city and turned over to the Treasu-
being only $403,O8l. The esti-
year 1876. is $499000; the probable
amount that will be collected not
more than $335.OO0. In the city of Chi
cage the number of men employed upon
the police force is 800, and the expense
amounts to 100000 The city OF st.
Louis hays $522,O0O per aDnum for its
police. In the city of Boston in 1874
the police apportionmeIit was 1860, 300
the actual cost $797 500. That city Is.
besides the headquarters OF the State
constabulary, comprising over 100 mon,
at a cost of $132.7 per annum, and
who when necessary do police duty. In
New Orleans during the same year the
police apportionment was $780, 900, ana
the actual cost $59a,s13. The last re-
port of the Boston police shows dif-
ference of 1929, 800 in favor OF New Or
leans. The number of arrests made by
the Boston police during the last year
was 1880; by the New Orleans police
80. 4s6. Message de .fdcto Goce''nor.
Neither the finances Of the State OF
Louisiana. nor the proper financial adj
ministration of the city of New Or
leans have been for more than eight
years past under the control OF men re-
sponsible to a just and intelligent public
opinion. A comparison OF expenses OF
different years, SO far AS Now Orleans Is
itself concerned, or of the amount OF
tax for the police force of this city when
contrasted with Boston, Chicago and
st. Louis, and an attempt thus to show
that tho expense of maintaining the po-
lice here under the Metropolitan plan or
political police system, has been less
than what the police force has cost in
other cities named, is inconsequential
and illusory. There is plainly no sufli-
cient data in the message to justify any
thing like critical comparison i'm num-
bers of policemen employed. exact
character and duration of services, the
population and wealth of the cities
respectively named, the extent of police
employment territorially, or the ca
pacity of taxpayers and property hold
ers to meet the burdens of taxation
with the view to protection. Whether
1t cost fifty thousand or q hun
dred thousand dollars more at
Chicago or st. Louis than at
this place is comparatively immaterial,
or whether when New Orleans had five
times the business and double the &C
tive energy and capital that she has re-
Gently been able to exhibit, the city
employed u police force more or less
expensive than the present Metropol-
itan arrangement, is by no means the
question at issue between the Gov
ernor dc .facto and the people. 1t is
quite certain that Boston, st. Louis
and Chicago exercise, SO far as
the police is involved, the rights of mu-
nicipal self government. Neither of
the Governors. and no political party
In Massachusetts, Missouri or Illinois
have thought of invading those great
cities respectively, and first robbing
them of the inestimable right of man
agement of their own local affairs, have
converted two of their most important
institutions into rods of insult and
tyranny with which to scourge them at
WILL and have clothed them virtually
with an authority to tax unrestrainedly
the very people over whom they are set
to watch. and, if necessary, to strangle
and coerce. 1t is not altogether money.
Mr.. Kellogg, though the city would like
to have the privilege of arranging its
own money affairs, and the citizens
think there ought not to be taxation
without representation, but can you
not understand that all the American
people are welded to principles of free
government in States, and particularly
i'm cities? .