Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-05-21

| that city they made the most efficient
and reliable officers, which induced him
| to suggest the increase of that character
of men, and that to-day a large proper
| ton of the well-orgsnized force of the
metropolis is composed of Californians.
| In Justice to the race to which the de-
posed officers belong cannot help call
| ing the attention of my fellow citizens
land also of the newly arrived Commits
sioner Mr.. Dexter to the history of our
| State during the last fifteen years. In the
executive and legislative departments
of orr State, in the judicial and all other
branches of our county governments,sn and
| in the various municipal and township
organizations, Spanish Americans have
filed and are now filling positions with
great ability, and in and out of Office
have enjoyed the respect and affection
of their fellow men. And still the major
| ity CT the Police Commission of Los Au-
geles City have said by their late action
! that this class of men are not even
worthy of being police officers of our
municipality. AS l am Spanish Amer
lean citizen, feel deeply the insult that
has been 30 unjustly offered to my race
and recognize that my further efforts in
behalf of the city cannot be of any avail.
1 consider that the public interests de-
mand perfect harmony in all depart
ments of the city government, and as it
could not exist in the Board of Police
| Commissioners as at present constituted,
l hereby tender my resignation to take
effect Immediately.
| REFUGIo BILDERRAIN.
Los Angeles, May 20, 1889.
After the Clerk had read the above
there was brief reign of silence. No
one seemed to know what was just the
right thing to say and when the Clerk
was about to take up something else,
Major Bonsall rose and said he had pre-
sumed that some one would make mo-
ton to have the resignation accepted.
Continuing, he said: Mr.. President
Those of you who have seen the English
opera of Gilbert & Sullivan, entitled The
Pirates of Pensdnce, will remember how
| forcibly the poet and musician bring out
the idea that the life of policeman is
not happy one." This is not sung by
by q grand chorus of twenty-four stalwart
policemen, the pink of perfection and
military discipline. l think they might
with equal truth and propriety have in
cluded Police Commissioners and Coun-
cilmen. The office of Police Commits
sioder is certainly not an envi-
able one. They have their sworn
duty to perform, while we, as Council
men, take solemn oath to perform ours.
The difference is that we are elected by
the people for term of years and our
responsibility is direct to them, while
the Police Commissioners are appointed
by us and we, therefore, become respon-
sible to the people for their acts. This
is the only legislative branch of the city
government and it is our sworn duty to
see, among other things, that an eff
Gent police force.is given them. The
police question in this city has been the
stumbling block in the path of munich
pal legislation for many years past, and
it was supposed that the new Charter
would remedy this by the appointment
of Commission, SO that the Council
could devote its time and energies to
other business. l submit, Mr.. President,
that our fond hopes in this regard have
not been realized. The present condition
of the Police Department is demoraliz-
ing in the extreme and disastrous to the
interests of good government. We owe
it to ourselves, gentlemen, and it is a
solemn obligation to the people that the
force e at once organized upon basis
of the utmost efficiency, so that our own
time can be given to matters of import
ance that should engage our whole at
tention, instead of everlastingly found
ering around in the mire snd bog of
examinations and recriminations over this
police question. Measures fraught with
great responsibility await our action,
and if this Council should be memorable
for any one thing more than another, it
] should be that of being working Coun-
Gil. Yet this police question has been
upper most, and will continue to be, I'M
less we change the plan Of dealing with
1t. We have not been elected to grand
debating society on the police question,
! and gre not expected to put in our whole
time n the subject. Cheap oratory on
this question won't build sewers, tunnels,
streets or parks. This Council will be
judged by the net results. In this
day and generation the man who
thinks he can mislead or fool the
public by fine speeches is only fooling
himself. For myself, l accept it as
fact that the average citizen OF intelli-
! gence is about as smart as the average
Councilman. Let US, then, look to re-
suits. Let us try and harmonic the
difficulties in the police department, and
forever get rid of the subject, if possible.
We're standing here as representative
icf my political party, / would plead for
harmony. would recognize that even
a political party had rights that its rep
resentatives should feel bound to re-
spect. But as Councilmen our allegiance
is to the whole people, irrespective of
lparties, and there is no question about
our duty in the premises. Let every
thing be done in the interest of good
government, and with perfect good feel.
!, ing, making personal sacrifices, if neces-
sary, for the good Of all. If the
four members of the present Commission
resign, let their places be filled by
four of our foremost citizens. Let them
be selected without their knowledge or
consent, and let the people declare it 8
public duty for them to accept. In con-
clusion, l offer the following resolution
for your approval:
WHEREAS, Numerous and frequent
! changes made in police force are pre-
judicial to the interests OF good govern
ment; are demoralizing and destructive
to the efficiency and discipline of the
,, men themselves, and,
WHEREAS, 1t ia the paramount duty of
the Council, (the only legislative branch
of city government), to see that proper
force, on a permanent basis, be estab-
llished, and that removals be made only
| for cause, therefore, looking TO this end,