The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-10
DANGER AHEAD TO THE CITY.

It is an open secret that the Democracy,
upon the meeting of the Legislature, will en-
deavor to include the fire department in
the metropolitan system, and that number
of young Democrats are counting strongly
upon a place in consequence of that fact.
News.
There should be no mistaking this issue.
The Republican candidates for the Legisla
ture, if elected, should vote for the restoration
Of the right of the citizens and taxpayers of
indianapolis to control such important and
necessary branches of their municipal gov
eminent as the police and fire departments
The metropolitan police bill was passed at the
behest of the blue-cheeked, red-nosed, scorbu-
tic bummers and ward-workers of the Demo-
chieftain, W. D. Bynum, now candidate for
Congress in this district. 1t was the inten-
ton to have the police force of the city in the
hands of such defiant law-breakers as the
Hon. Sim Coy, present chairman Of the
Democra tic county central committee But
the more prudent 'bosses," seeing the feeling
that had been developed because of the high
handed, revolutionary, and almost murderous
tactics pursued in the passage of the measure,
concluded to appoint a board of respectable
commissioners, under whose administration
the principle of the bill might become popu-
larized with the people, and so make the
triumph of the "bummers" the more certain,
although delayed for a time. This has
been done, and with what RESULT Under
the direction of three gentlemen of respecta-
the city has been reduced to the minimum.
Never in the history of Indianapolis-not
even under Mayor Mitchells administration
has the police force been so conspicuously in
efficient, have the laws in the interests of pub
lie morality and order been so fagrantly vio-
lated, with not even the faintest effort to
enforce them by the police board. These facts
are patent to everybody. What protection is
there to the persons or property of citizens at
this timer Is it not a farce9
The Journal does not believe in government
by boards. 1t opposed the old police board
system under the City Council, because it
lacked the elements of efficiency and response
bility. 1t opposes the present State board
system as being infinitely worse than
that having less direct responsible
ity, and, therefore, less efficiency
What the next Legislature must do
is to give indianapolis the right of self govern
ment-a mayoraltY with power, such as the
late Republican Legislature has given to the
city of New York, which has been cursed for
years with board rule from Albany. Indian
apolis is entering upon the road to ruin so
long trodden by New York city, Taxpayers
and property owners who do not want SINH
lar experience to that Of the people of New
York must arouse to repel and defeat the
Democratic freebooters and looters They
mean mischief Down with board govern
ment, must be the demand of our citizens. A
responsible executive head, with power to will
and to do, is the present need of municipal
government. Indianapolis is suffering now
in almost every direction from the evils Of
board government and practically powerless
executive. Give us an executive directly re-