The daily gazette., 1883-11-22
Gazette
wLmrNaroN. THURSDAY. Sov. re.
A Muoh-Needed Reform.

A reform that the present City Council
could address itself to With perfect propriety
and much credit, is q radical change in the
mode of providing uniforms toi the police.
The present system is awkward and unsatis-
factory, and should have been abolished
years ago, though for some unac-
countable reason every attempt in this
direction was met by a violent and euecess-
full opposition.
By existing arrangements eaeb1nember of
the police force is allowed flSS collars per
year for clothing money, which sum is
paid to him in person, In semi-annual
instalments. The selection Of clothing is left
entirely with the officer, and If he sees fit, as
is often the case, to use the money for other
purposes and do without new suit, no OBJ
lection can be raised. AS a certain result
1t Is seldom that the entire force is uni
formed alike, as the cupidity that
naturally tempts one officer to
buy slop shop suit of poor fit aud worse
material, in order to save few dollars,
often descends to the point Of doing without
any kind of new suit, in order to save still
more. Thus, while a few officers appear well
dressed, Others have new suits of very indif-
ferent quality, and some appear in uniforms
of positively wretched character, giving
the force decidedly Falstafflan appearance
on occasions of dress parade. This has been
the almost unvarying record of our police in
the matter of uniforms, ever since they were
required by law to wear blue clothes witt
brass buttons.
When the present force went on duty, the
men all went to one establishment and
ordered suits from one piece of cloth, to b
made in one pattern. This was a decide
and commendable step in the direction @
uniformity Of attire, but still the evil Of tn
present system of payment is made glarlngl
apparent by the fact that bu
few of the officers have yet paid for thes
uniforms, aud the contractor, as a last re
sort, proposes entering suit against the cit
for the amount of his claim.
This is certainly disgraceful state o
affairs, though it is not entirely without Pr
CeurnV ..a~s~.J ..
police force, as in times past various pr
decessors OF the present "models" hav
been guilty Of the same discreditable trici
1uuHY bue city iuEulSlsS It's VIII
money for the purchase of new clothc
and the officers, on the strength of Il
credit thus impaired to them by Il
financial ability of their employer, pre-
cure their new clothes, put the money
their pockets, and let the merchant whist
for his pay. 1t is time that q system Whit
affords such an easy method Of fraud to di
honest public officials was abolished.
The remedy Is simple. Instead Of allow
ing the policemen to determine the matte
OF new uniforms, and paying them stip
lated sum per year whether they proau
them or not, let the City Council attend
this matter in the same manner that co
tracts for other city work are manage
Thus, bids would be received from o
various clothing establishments for furnis
ing uniforms for tire entire force. The To-
est and best bidder would obtain the co
tract, perform the work and
ceiye his money. The police wou
be fully and regularly uniform
twice year, and all would have suits of t
same pattern and material. Dishonest /
licemen would be deprived of an opportun
OF fleeing honest tradesmen, ard aside fre
the cheating rascals who make money 0
of the present system, everybody would
satisfied. Let Council try the new syste
without delay.