The daily gazette., 1878-11-30
NOV EM BER 30 1875


dence in that body, and we believe the
citizens will appreciate it. This is no
time to give way to thieves and robbers.
1t is no time to largely increase expendi-
lures for a police force, when the Coun-
Gil is looking everywhere for place to
reduce expenses. Are citizens afraid of
petty thieves ? We do not find it so.-
On the contrary, in talking with some of
the Oldest, and others who have much to
lose, we find them ready to declare they
are willing to protect themselves, their
person and their property rather than run
the city to extravaganza for this object.
Shall we put an annual expenditure upon
the city of $1,000 to $4,000 to save a
few hundred dollars that may be stolen
by petty thieves when these petty thefts
are just as likely to be made if we have
five times as many police? Kleptomania
in the rich and educated cannot be stop
ped by the police force nor can the ma
MIA for petty larceny in the negroes and
lower strata of the whites be stopped by
police. How frequently do we find about
our houses some of the most reliable SER
wants for work and household duties
evincing this propensity to such an ex-
tent that the mistress is compelled to keep
a strict watch upon every basket of clothes?
This is not a matter that we feel any
personal solicitude about further than to
satisfy our people. There is no politics
about it. 1t is, or ought to be, considered
as a matter of safety. But who will say
that we are not safe? We must not
mistrust the public intelligence. The
people of this city have large matter at
stake. 1t is not only the S., 900 annually.
1t is vastly more-H is the increase of
your tdres and the decrease Of your prop
erty cdtues no matter how small or how
great that property is, it will sell for
great deal more money if the taxes are
light; and great deal ieSs or not at all,
if the taxes are high. If the taxes are
high and property will not sell, labor
will be diminished because houses will
not be built, and the city will not in
crease and expand, hence lots will dim
lnish and markets will be correspond
ingly poor for all sales of whatever kind.
We must draw population to our city by
pointing to our low rate of taxes and the
wisdom and economy with which we
apply our public money.
The advocates of the ordinance have
no personal end to crafty. They doubt
less want TO reach the best policy, and to
do what the general good demands, and
what the collective citizenship will ap-
prove. This we take to be the position
Of the gentlemen in Council of both
sides. We take it for granted that the
police force are ready to pledge them
selves to the most effective and active
exertions in the matter Of duty now and
hereafter. Their beats have not been
extended in the past three years; and
the demands made upon Council when
the Mayors predecessor went into office
were that the police force should be
doubled from 20 to Az by some of the ad.
vocates of this policy. But the Council
was steadfast and unyielding. We have
suffered no damage by this action of the
Council; but have saved large sums OF
money annually. We do not need an
increase of police now as much as We
did then. The tramp nuisance is moi
now SO dangerous, The public have
more selt-reliance too, and are better
prepared to defend themselver from an,
and all attacks. We have, too, a well
drilled militia.
As to the Mayors recommen dation. al
know that he only seeks the public good
That no man is more willing to cour
ageously do his duty with determine,
alacrity and sleepless vigilance. lie will
not be found stupid from strong drinl
or absent from his post in critical an,
dangerous times. Not bit of it. w,
can rely implicitly upon him. And h
"i'i SiO" bClICl III q
his duty and his knowledge of law an,
his surroundings and the circumstances
His requests emanate not from any Der
sonal desire to be gra,ified by the com
mand Of larger force. He asks this a
matter Of safety, and in the dischare
of duty, that the public may not here
after accuse him of desiring to be fool
hardy in relying upon too small force
All the Mayor desires is that our peopl
Shall be satisfied that he has done hi
duty. If our people are ready to tax
the risk of policing the city for thre
years longer with the same force or an
less than he asks for, no man will NOR
cheerfully fall into line and pledge him
self to do his full duty. Whatever q
prudence he may show is for the publ
good; cowardice forms no part of hi
character. His interest lies in small fore
and low taxes. His property and hi
uU.Ha