The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-04
POOH-BIH POLICY.
COMMENTS ON THE LATEST PO-
LICE PRONUNCIAMENTO.
An OutspOkeB Member OF the Force
Tanks There's Another and
Better Way.


you ?" asked an APPEAL mau yesteI-
day Of one OF the brightest, most ei-
ficient and most fearless members Of
the Police Department.
"The standard Of the force should
bs raised he said, "and that may be
the way to do it, but OF all the ill-ad-
vised amateurish methods to come
from a man OF affairs, it strikes me as
the most miserable"
"In what way?" was asked.
ain every way. 1t locks to me very
much like an effort to appear TO want
to do a great deal without being will
ing or anxious TODD anything. 1t is a
hair triggered, impraclicAble sort Of
thing, unwor by Of man of Mr..
Hadden's experience. He stats out
by saying that ten men a.e to ba
drOpped Iext year. Why say ten, or
specify any pumOtr? 1t the whole
force ID good, keep them ell; If net,
make a clean sweep. III ten men on
the force ale worth ess, which is the
inference, why keep them Tor eight
months longer, a drag on the depart
ment? II President MADDEN ana the
Commissioners are really anxious to
do something o increase the etficienCy
Of the force, why don't they call Chief
Davis up and ask him to name the
men who are inefficient, and put
others in their places? He knows
them all by their back, aud this
thing of keeping Ialy won't do.
! Why. some oil these fellows will 20
around like WOW s, seeking whom
! they may devour, under the impfes-
! sion that the man who makes most
arrests will be given the highest cred
it,. 1t is no. pT c,icsl common sense,
aud it will lead to all sorts of compli-
cations. The thing for the Commits.
sioners 10 do is to get good men for
! the heads of the various departments
if the present incumbentj canno. be
trusted, aud hold them responsible.
Did you ever see the MikddO' Well,
now, President Hadden is a regular
pooh. Bah" AS that awful individ-
ual says, it is his degrading duty to
serve this upstart city as First Lord OF
the Treasury, Lord Chief Justice,
Commsnder-in-Uhisf, Lord High Adj
miral, Mester of Buckhounds, Groom
OF the Back Stairs, Archbish.
op OF Tltipu and Lord May
or, both acting and elect,
ali rolled into one, and at a salary A
"Poo-Bah" paid for bis services. tire
volts him but ne does it. Now, l am
convinced that no means it all for the
good of the city, but it don't WORK out
that way. 1t all comes OF the sort Of
Japanese government which results in
dia ogus between him and callers at
his Office. something after this style:
is the Mayor inT'
eyes"
President OF Commissioners"
yes"
president of Board Of HEALTH"
eyes"
City Engineer?"
Yes"
Hospital Physician?"
eyes"
CITY Carpenter"
Yea"
"Chief Of the Fire Department."
HYes.n
"Chisi of the Police Department ?''
"Yes."
"Can see themP"
eyes; which one ?"
"All OF them"
"Step hight this way" he says, aud
leads the visit Or into his private office
aud shuts the door. He will spend
two hours settling a row between
neighbors about their hens scratching
up each others seed, a hole in the
Sidewalk or broken crossing. In the
Police court In the morning he gives
orders to a crowd OF negroes and few
police which should go to the Chief
Why, the Chief rarely ever hears any
thing frat hand. He and his captains
are nothing more than GRAND
boys for President Hadden, who
has by that means nearly de-
stroyed the Chiefs usefulness. Take
away from the Chief his power
to act under the law, in a general way,
as hs sees b est, and let it be under
stood that any man under him can
wa k over his head to the President
aid he becomes mere figure
head. / blame the Chief, too, for not
displaying more courage. He is one
of the best men aud best officers who
ever donned uniform, and fully able
to run bis department fit was tune
over to him, as it should be. He has
been looking TO Mr.. Hadden for orders
about trivial matters 80 ing, however
that it will take him some time to get
into shape again. He would be ra.tled
il re knew there was a member OF the
ioic5 talking to newspaper man thle
way, but little rafting won't hurt
hlm. / am his friend and I bate to
gee him imposed on. Don't give me
away, or you will get me fred but
you can put it down that If Mr.. Had
den follows out his present Pooh-Bah
policy he will worry himself into al
early grave, and 50 emasculate every
Chief he has that none OF them viii
be worth their feed by the tiny hi
term is out"