The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-14
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"A
It has been thoroughly demonstrated
that no police can justify It's cost and
serve the end for which it is created ifithas
first to be dragged through the wire oil
ward politics. The experiment has been
tried at great cost, in large cities and in
small, and nowhere with satisfaction. We
have seen how it works in Wheeling. Men
who aspire to be at the head Of the force
seek roles wherever they can find them'
frat in their respective parties to secure
the nomination, then in both parties to
gain the election. They are not always
above making promises Of place to un-
worthy men, and of iavors to other men
who live by breaking the law and must
have police protection to make their BUSH
ness safe.
The Chief Of Police who is Obliged to
pay election debts with places on his force
enters upon his administration bucked
and gagged with obligations which serl-
ously interfere with the efficiency OF his
force. The man who can control dlVl'
sion is not held to strict account, and the
man whose influence spreads over ward
will always be master Of Chief whose
ambition weakens his resolutions. The
strongest are hardly likely to Withstand
all OF the demoralizing tendencies OF q
political police force,
There arc Democrats who now make tho
point that the police force wOs no better
under Republican administration than it
is now. II this be true there is oil the
mora reason why radical measures should
be adopted to reform the police force. The
entire city government OF Wheeling needs
to be remodeled SO that executive respon-
sibility and power shall be brought in
closer relation and, ifpossible, centered in
one head. But this ia more than can be
accomplished at once. We have, how
ever, in our several public Boards fair
examples Of what can be- accomplished,
and success with these departments sug-
gests what can be done with the Police
Department.
Mr.. L. Edwin Dudley, Secretary OF the
Citizens Law and Order League, OF Bos-
ton, gives in the Century some account OF
what has Just been done in that city.
There they found it necessary to remove
the police force entirely from local con-
troll and place it in the hands OF Board
OF Police consisting Of three Commission
ers appointed by the Governor with the
consent Of his Council. In our own case
Board appointed as our existing Boards
are appointed would serve the purpose.
1t would not be difficult to secure three
good men, one OF them minority repre-
sentative, all OF high character and amen
able to public opinion. The Boston Com
missioners are appointed for five years.
They appoint the policemen and may re-
move for cause.
This important reform was not easily
secured for Boston. Mr.. Dudley says:
1.-THE representatives of the alums, backed
by powerful lobby, made determined
fight against this bill. Their real reason
for opposition they could not state, and
they fell back on the statement reiterated
by every opposition speaker in every
speech, that it ives an interference with
local self-government." Even this OBJ
lection could not be made 10 apply in
Wheeling, for it is not proposed to e1k the
Intervention Of the State authorities.
1t might be objected that the right Of
the people to elect their own Chief of
Police ought not 10 be taken away. The
people do not administer by popular vote
their Water Department, their Gas Depart
ment or their Department OF Public
Works. The Superintendent Of the Gas
Works is not elected by popular vote.
Laws, except amendments to the consti-
tuition, are not adopted by popular vote.
The people have wisely seen lit to dele
gate TO their servants certain duties and
powers which experience teaches can be
better exercised in that way.
In the matter Of the police force, what
the people demand is the highest eff
cheney and economy. In Wheeling they
have long tried the method of a popular
election with what result everybody
knows) Now let us try the other plan.
We cannot possibly lose anything and
ought to gain very much.
II the change were TO be made now the
Democratic Council would choose Board
composed Of majority OF Democrats and
the Chief OF Police would probably be a
Democrat. Let it be 80. We would ex-
pect the Chief Of Police to be a reputable
Democrat, ct for his place, bound by no
partisan obligations that would interfere
with tho discharge of bis public duties.
We would expeCtto see force OF men
selected because they would make good
policemen and not because somebody
happened to be indebted to them for
political favors.