Omaha daily bee., 1883-04-14
CHANGING THE CoNsrELLA-
TON.
The Police Force Undergoing a Reor-
ganiz alton, But Not With
out Some Trouble.

Some changes in the police force
have been contemplated for some
time, and there has seemed to be some
reason for bringing about more Of.
%fectiveness in this branch of the city
government. The time has drawn
near for Mayor Bowman to announce
the appointments which are to be
made annually under the charter.
This naturally gives him an easy way
of making such changes rs his de, Tres,
and as II has btceme known that some
of the old force will not be appointed
there has been much aux.
Lefty on the part of those
VIII, wear stars, and much curiosity
on the part tf citizens generally. The
d flculty of making any changeB Ia ap-
parent. Every man has his own circle
of friends, and Ia bringing what IL flu.
ence he can get to bear in his favor.
Then those who anticipate removal
will desire to have some cause az.
signed, and 1t seems as IL they we're
entitled to some good reason II
changed. If the reason assigned In
any case should be that Of neglect Of
duty or suspicious conduct, or any
thing Of that sort, the officer thus
effected will naturally deny all
charges and demand proof, which
may lead to other complicati ms.
II charges are made for political
reasons, this could hardly be acknowl.
edged by the mayor. In fact the
mayor finds already that he has quite
q task On his hands, and he will doubt.
less be as relieved when 1t Is over as
will be the men who secure appoint.
ments.
One of the two policemen already
appointed IL the we'll known colored
man, Charles Warner. There has
never been q oolored man ON the
police force before, and naturally this
appointment has caused no little com.
ment. Ali agree that Warner IL q re.
liable and worthy man, but there
crops out with many the old
color prejudice, while others
not so prejudioed ex press themselves 80
fearful that Warner, en- account OF this
ace prejudice will meet with much
opposition aud encounter more than
the ordinary adventures In the per-
Torrance of police duty. 1t Is claimed
that many v~iolaters of the law who
would allow q white policeman to ar.
rest them with ordinary ease, would
be foolishly inclined to raise a row
aud start q fight If q oolored police.
man attempted the same thing. The
experiment of having a colored man
on the force, is therefore, being
watched with much interest, not because
of any doubt as to his performing his
duties well, but os to how the police
will act In recognizing his authority
and obeying his orders.
There seems to bs a desire on the
part of Mayor Bowman to have what.
ever charges are made, as quiet as
possible, and with As little fuction 40
can be-. Some will DO allowed time to
secure other positions, and will then
slip out by way of a resignation.
One thing bias been apparent for
some time, and that is the jealousy
which has marked the police force;
but that Ia common TO all such forces
In all cities. If one officer gets onto
any scheme does some clever bit
Of work or makes an important cap
ture, there arc Others who grumble
because they were not let Into the
secret information possessed In bring.
Ing the work to q successful end.
Whatever ill-feeling has existed In
the force has been increased by the
prospect OF changes, and the oonse,
quent discussion of individual merits
and prospects. Mayor Bowman hopes
to do away with much of this mutual
jealousy and ill-feelipg, but he will
have hard work, indeed, to stamp
this all out by whatever changes he may
make.