The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-06
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Concludes Its Session by the Passage
of the Metropolitan Police Bill.
Futile Effort to Shift the Responsibility
for the Failure of the appropriation
Bill Upon Governor Porter.
THE POLICE BEL.


The metropolitan police bill, which has
provoked so much discussion, is now law,
having passed both houses of the General
Assembly yesterday over the Governors
veto. The vote in the House was 81 to AZ.
strict party vote with the exception Of Kes-
ter, Democrat, and Robinson, Greenbacker,
who voted with the Republicans against it,
the absentees being Messrs. Gilman, Greene,
Mccormack Mutz and Smith, of Perry, In
the Senate the vote was &c to 81, the same as
before, Senator Benz voting with the Demo
Gratis and Senators Hostetter and Smith, of
Delaware, being absent The following is
Governor Porter's veto message in full
Gentlemen of the House of Representative
| return TO you with my OBJECTIONS tnere 80
metropolitan police bill.
The bill declares that in cities of this State con-
tanning 5000 or more Inhabitants. according to
the United states census of 1880, there shall be
established Board of Metropolitan Police, to
consist of three commissioners, to be appointed
by the Governor and the Secretary, Auditor and
Treasurer of State One of the commissioners
shall be OF opposite politics TO ths other two.
1t provides that the commissioners shall have
power to appoint superintendent of police,
captains, seFgeants, detectives and such other
officers and patro.men as they may deem EN-
Political parties. The number OF patronen
is limited to one for each Thousand Inhabitants.
No limit whatever Is placed upon the number or
captains, sergeants and detectives. Though they
might be made so numerous. to crafty party or
personal faverites, as to impose most unjust
burden upon the city treasury, the voters of the
city can do nothing to regulate their number
There are but Two cities IN the State, the pop
ulation of which is shown by the census of 1880,
TO exceed $4,000 Inhabitants. They In-
dianapolis and Evansville, the city governments
OF which have been, except during great inter
walls in the control of officers holding different
political opinions from majority Of the mem
bers of the General Assembly.
Fort Wayne, by the census OF 1880, contained
a population Of nearly 20, 900 inhabitants. The
city government OF Fort Wayne Is steadily under
the control of officers who agree with the major
ity of the members of the two houses of the Leg
islature in political opinions. Fort Wayne Is not
included within the provisions of the bill. Nor
are any of those provisions OF the bill Which ITS
advocates claim necessary for good munich
pal governments and fair elections made applica-
Bile to that city either by the bill itself or by
other bill which has been before the present Leg
isature. 1t is evident, therefore, that the design
is for merely party reasons, to deprive the citi-
zeps Of indianapolis and OF Eyausylhe OF the
power through officers chosen by themselves to
appoint their pOllcG
That these are the controlling reasons is placed
beyond doubt by the mode provided for select
lpg the commissioners OF police. Instead of APP
pointing two or four officers. equally divided in
political opinion, TO make the selection, three
State officers differing in political opinion from
the Governor are appointed along with him to
make the choice. These are officers too, who,
unlike the Governor, are eligible under the CON
stituton to reelection at the end of their
present terms, and who, naturally DESTROYS of
being reelected, may we'll he supposed, without
meaning to Judge them with any disrespect, to
be peculiarly susceptible TO party bias.
The commissioners to he selected not
quired to be equally divided in political opinion,
hut are to consist of three persons, one of whom
shall be of "oppOeite politics" from the other
two. 1t is we'll known. of course, from the COM
position of the board chosen to appoint them, of
what politics the majority Of the commissioners
will be, and the member required to be of "oppo-
site politics'' need not, under the terms of the
ha ahar PAM nj M N tvs lead q
political parties. He may belong to any party
opposed in opinion TO the majority OF the COM
missioners, no matter how inconslderaole may be
The commissioners are required, in appoint
ing the officers and men who shall compose the
police, to appoint 'equally between the political
parties"
This fair-sounding phrase will deceive nobody
acquainted with the courses of parties. If men
are to be chosen as policemen impartally, the
men who chuuse them must be impartial, When
careful provision is made that it shall not be
impartial, 1t is easy to foresee what Will be the
real party composition OF the police. Those who
agree in political opinion with majority Of the
commissioners will be bold, aggressive parti-
sans; those who do not will, for the most part,
be likely to be persons of weak political eonvic-
tions, and will be afraid to utter their senti-
ments, lest by doing so they may lose their
places
The citizens of Evansville and Indianapolis are
by thIs bill TO be deprived of the political rights
which belong to the citizens of Fert Wayne, be-
cause majority of their inhabitants chance to
differ in political opinion from majority of the
majority, claiming to be members of party
favoring popular rights, propose to set the
first example in this State of depriving the pe0-
pie of right to regulate their own Local affairs.
They have found out. as they suppose. a better
way of educating the people for the duty of self
government than by oOntiding to them the man
agement of their own local concerns. They
better pleased 1t would seem, with the aristo-
cratic forms which give to others than the peo-
pie the right to determine what is best for the
people. | refuse to subscribe to such views.
The best governments have faults; but the best
government in the long run, is that which con-
fdes to the people the greatest power III regur
latDg their local affairs
The best way to cure the evils of bad local ad-
ministratloD, where such evils exist, is to make
the people aft eted by them feel that they will
suffer from them until they exert themselves To-
cally to remedy them. But especially object
to the bill for several reasons Il is the begin
ming, If it shall pass into law, of party con-
tests at each recurring Legislature TO take cities
itants when q majority in the Legislature differ
from them on party Questions Like
the scheme to renew the old abuse of giving 30
the Legislature the appointment of the trustees
of our benevolent and refOrmaLofy institutions,
its Inevitable effect will be to increase party
wranglfng and frenzy In the two houses, to make
the real interests of the peOple subordinate to
party triumphs, and prolong the sessions of the
Legislature beyond the limit prescribed by tue
constitution for regular sessions of that body.
The present session of the Legislature is an
ilustraflOn of tho effect of this merely partisan
legislation. The constitution of the State gives
to the Governor three days, exclusive of sunday,
fer the consideration of every bill after the day
1t shall have been presented TO him. It is IL very
brief time unaer ordinary circumstances, but
especially is it So when, as during the present
session, party strife has postponed the passage
OF nearly all legislation until the closing hours
of the session. Bills enough my table
properly 10 occupy at least fortnight in order
20 be considered with even reasonable care,
vet, because have not been willing TO waive
my constitutional right TO deliberate for the brief
term of three days upon the provisions of the bill
now returned, the two houses have refused to pass
the general appropriation bin. They have said
in substance, That they will not allow the STaUe
government to be carried on II rht-y prevent
1t, unless coordinate branch of the govern
ment will yield to their will, and surrender q
plaiU and most necessary constitutional ri zht.
1t is believed that, If this bill would become a
law, the city of Indianapolis will not he able, u0
der the levy and assessment it is now allowed by
law to make, to meet its necessary expenses.
The city is now operating under an assessment as