The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-23
Isl SENATE.
sATrRAY, March p, 1855.
The Senate was not in session today.
xETR P1LTTAS PoLIcE.
fOnitfed Frfdav

xKTR P1LTrAN PoLIcE.
lOmilted Friday.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tlppecanoe: When
came here, Elk weeks ago. having just re-
covered from aD illness which had Frustrated
meteor mc n ,hs, ! ,und among tkebills warm
ly advocated by my Democratic colleagues
the Metropolitan Police bill, introduced by
the Senator from Vigo Mr.. Schloss). IL it
had been possible for u 10 be present here
Mt the opening OF the session / should my
self have intrr duced a bill establishing a
Metropolitan Police aud Fire Department OF
q non partisan character, merely aiming at
the greater security OF the persons and prop
erty OF the inhabitants of our cities; but
since illness prevented my presence / was
glad TO find upon my arrival here that my
attention had, II not fully, at least in part
been carried out by the introduction OF the
bill we now have under consideration. /
expressed this pleasure TO the author of the
bill, and Senator Schos3 seemed 10 be
highly pleased In having found in me a new
advocate and friend of measure from which
he anticipated the best results for his own
city, as we'll as for the other cities OF the
State. He even seemed to be willing 20
adopt my plan OF extending the provisions
OF the bill to the Fire Department Of said
cities, and to make other changes WhiJh
sug ;ssted. and wich | propose TO offer as
amen dments. I was IN favor Of the bill be.
csuse / knew that a very large num-
Der OF NV constituents, both Demo
Gratis and Republicans, are in favor of
O non.partisan police force and Fire
Department, and | think this bill, If prop.
eriy amended, will effect it, was also
pleased TO find that majority OF the com.
mittee TO whom the bill had been referred
favored its passage, only two members dis.
sentiDg from the majority report. This was
the condition of affairs until, a couple of
weeks ago, sudden and most unexpected
change took place IN the minds OF the advo.
Gates of the bill TIE unfortuuote Metro.
politan Police bill, which until then had
been praised and applauded as one OF the
truly good and important acts to be passed
by tins Legislature, became all at once q
kind OF bugbear and fright, from which all
turned away. not so much with disgust az
with fear and awe; the muchadmired pet
Chi q OF the Ser aior from Vigo had all al
once become sun enfant TERRIBLE" a
disowned child, which neither It's father
nor its go1fatheIs wanted TO rec1g.
nze and protect. To me, who had
favored the bill from the very first from
principle, because it promises 90 give gre Ater
efficiency, value and character TO an import.
ant department Of city administration, this
change appeared incomprehensIbe. Posi-
Dly some great aud unforeseen revelation,
duly appoTtioned in Congressional doses =
andin administer ng them the Ninth District,
am afraid, got an overdose, from which IL
will lot easily Iecover-had enlightened the
minds OF my Democratic friends, aud
changed their admiration to aversion and
dislike. However this may be. and what.
ever causes may have ought about this
very remarkable pheno uenon, for one
deem II my duty to give the reas ms which
induce me to still advocate measure which,
in my opinion, recommends itself to our
favorable consideration, from the fact that
il is strictly non-partisan in its character aud
introduces q most desirable and salutary re-
form in an important branch of the public
service.
Two years ago the General Assembly
passed a Metropolitan Police bill affecting
only the two largest cities OF the State, after
long, bitter partisan struggle, which led to
some most disgraceful scenes on the floor of
this Senate. The Republicans then, as they
are doing to-day, most bitterly denounced
the measure and hesped insult on the DEM
ocTatic party Tor passing 1t. And yet, look
ing at the provisions OF the Metropolitan
Police BILL as il has been III force in this
Slate, or rather in the two largest cities OF
this State, and Judging il In the light Of
strict impartiality, ! consider 1t an act de-
serving the praise and commentator of
every well-meaning citizen.
Now what is this Metropolitan Police bill
what does IL intend and what is its effect!
IL intended only one thing-to take the
diana ont of the bands of politicians and
make il entirely independent of parties and
party politics, and as q necessary result
more efficient and reliable. The police force
OF q city is there to protect the persons and
the property OF citizens; and the faithful and
efficient performance of this duty should be
all that ought to be demanded OF police
man. Now this is exactly what the
Metropolitan Police bill does: and il
seems to me that in nearly every city o.
this State there is q great necessi
tv for such a law as we have now under con.
sderation. Our public officers in cities, es
pecially the members of the police force, In
stead OF attending TO their official business
and duties exclusively, have but too often
been used as willing tools and arrogant, bull
doing electioners in the interest of the party
which put them into power. Before the cleo
tOin they influence voters by either promis
ing them official favor IL they will vote fol
the,T party ticket or by threatening and In
timldatlDg them with official persecution i
they dare vote against the policeman's party
Their acquaintance with saloon keepers anC
the propTietOrs of gam bling roams, who are
more or less dependent OF the good will anC
frlendliness OF police officers and who dare
not provoke their hostility for fear of beinl
prosecuted for any little violation OF the Law
they may have committed or might commit,
make there officers a real power, and theil
abuse OF their official authority largely in
fiuence the result of elections. at every city
election the candidates for the Council sr'
beseged by q crowd of loafers and idieTs
who offer their votes and influence whatever
that may be, for an appointment on the DO
lice force and the fire department.. Thos,
candidates who are too honest and too re
spectacle TO promise these appointments L
worthless and unit applicants are spotted
and butchered st the polls and nine Ii ne
out of ten their opponents who ar,
less candid and less scrupulous concern
ing their promises of appointments ar,
elected. In this manner, frequently, mer
utterly incompetent and unit to sit in tn,
Council were elected, and on the other hand
the protection Of the persons and propert,
OF our citizens was more than once entrusted
to unworthy, and sometimes dangerous, in
dividuals. On election day you often coulC