Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-01-05
DAILY HERALD.
Mr.. HUMPHREYS OPINION.


HV0U3 - 49, 49, ~<N~@- @e@ &f@S
ing Tuesday.
When Mr.. j. +. Humphreys, Presi-
dent Of the Council, took the floor
Tuesday and seconded the nominal
ton OF II. S. PARCELS for Chief of
Police, he made the following re-
marks. which were omitted from the
Council report on account Of lack OF
space.
FELLOW MEMBERs OF THE COUNCIL :
You have all been placed upon COM
mittee work for this city, and / have
no doubt you will take great pride in
doing your duty well. You are now
about to add the third member to a
committee OF three, OF which the
Mayer and your humble servant are
the other two. This committee, or
rather the Board of Police Com.
missioners, is in my opinion the most
important committee within the City
Government. An honest and efficient
police force is the bulwark OF sue
cessful city government-honesty
being the first qualification--especi-
ally in a rapidly growing
city where money is plenty and
made easy, where temptation from
evil doors are very great. Therefore,
upon your selection, to great extent,
rests my hopes as to a satisfactory
administration. / have made no lit
tie effort in trying to find a man in
whom believed the public had con-
fldence, and for whom we might all
cast our ballots; for within this
committee there must be secrets vital
to the city's good. Among the can
didates named, some are strangers TO
me, and more than one are personal
friends. cannot vote for all !. and in
selecting one, do not wish to reflect
against the others, for there are times
when we must say "no" to q brother.
/ therefore have no enemies to pun
ish, or special friends to reward, be-
cause they are friends. Nothing save
that which conscientiously believe
to be to the best interests OF this city. |
believe that the present condition of af-
fairs are such that we should dare to
do right. 1t has been strongly argued
to me that above all things we need a
Chief who is an expert in catching
thieves. Well, this | may admit,
Eve have lots of room for perfect
men.") But suppose we all turn our
eyes upon the poor half-staryed thief
who hast just stolen, say "a worth of
groceries, while this expert Chief
may be gathering in some $4,000 per
month s1ush funds from evil-doers to
shield them from the law. If such in
ducements are possible, then should
we be surprised to hear OF men will
ing to sacrifice a business paying
it is said, 500 per month to accept
this position at only $225! Why,
gentlemen, if all eyes can be turned
toward the small thief above named,
there could possibly be found men
more than willing to accept this honor
without pay. 1t is the old story Of
stop thief.
Upon my entering upon my duties
as the mayor OF an active, rapidly
growing city, few years ago, found
most deplorable state OF affairs to
exist in this department-crimes OF
every nature running full Roadway
in the very sight of her police force,
against which the daily journals kept
up constant warfare and the muir
muring public unsuccessfully trying
to get rid OF them: and the most
alarming feature was, that behind
these self-convicted officials there
stood in the unobserved background
men regardless of politics.
both of wealth and high
standing in the community,
successfully advocating for years the
claims of these bad men to office, and
participating hand IN glove in their
large, ualowfia gains. / ask you, gen
tIemen, has this condition of affairs
ever existed here? Ii SO, will the
good citizens be compelled to take
this matter in hand for sell protec-
ton? Gentlemen, We need for this
position man OF sterling integrity,
with subordinates just as honest and
efficient. We want man that can
stand up and resist temptations, even
though they may be $4,000 to $4,000 per
month. We need men--that, should
twenty-four tan games offer them $50
per month each, or any other sum
that they will be faithful to their
trust. We must have officials here
that will put down crime, and see that
all fines and incomes from raids
through this department go into the
city treasury, and, while the various
candidates named may be just as
honest, and even better qualified for
this position than the gentleman |
now name, yet | am better acquainted
with Mr.. PARCELS, and believe him
to be an honest and sober man OF in
telligence, well qualified to fill the
position and a man in whom the gen.
eral public have implicit confidence.
l therefore cheerfully second the
nomination Of Mr.. II. S. PARCELS.