The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-11-02
METROPOLITAN POLICE.
Gov. Tillman Gives Ills Views to u Re-
porter on the Subject.

COLUMBIA, s. G., Oct. 25.-The views
of Governor Tillman on a metropolitan
police system for the cities of the
State, Is of general interest. A Regis
ter reporter interviewed him on the
subject yesterday and publishes the
following:
The Governor did not express him
self as being In favor Of metropolitan
police as a principle, but he said it ap-
peared to him to be necessity, for
which the authorities of certain cities
and towns are themselves to blame.
The situation Is simply this: In
Charleston the people are apparently
in rebellion against State authority, .s-
pecially in connection with the dispen-
sary law. The city authorities there in
even ignore their own ordinance
against selling whiskey without H.
cense and are aiding and abetting the
blind tigers. The Governor asked
Mayor Flick en- to have Chief of Police
Martin enforce the law, which he
could have done far more efficiently
than any force of State Constables and
without cost to the State. This re-
quest Mayor Ficken declined to COM
ply with.
In Sumter the city authorities not
only took no steps to enforce the law
but stood by and saw crowd Of men
and boys assault the States officials,
and keep this up for several hours
without making a single arrest even
for disorderly conduct.
The Governors position Is that
where the local authorities not only
decline to enforce the law, but permit
and even encourage its violation. then
1t becomes necessary to have officials
who will enforce the law, and over
whom the State will have control. lie
would prefer the cities and towns en-
forcing the law and maintaining peace
and order if they would, without State
lnterfere ence
The Governors idea is to have sys.
TEN Of metropolitan police appointed
and operat ed somewhat after the man.
ner in which the system is operated IA
Augusta, Ga, where the city has had
metropolitan police tor the last fifteen
years.
The plan is to have the police re-
lieved from political obligations, either
State OF local. This can be done Wv
the appointment of commission in a
| town, composed of good men, regard
less OF their politics, who are in favor
OF the dlspenSary law and in favor of
the enforcement of all laws. This com
mission shall De entrusted with the ap.
| polntn,,nJ or the police. Hna tie police
| shall he amenablt to the commission
for the proter performances of all their
| duties. whether in connection with thr
i dlspcnsary law or not. These police.
men can be removed any time for re.
| fnSal To 40 their duty, or neglect or in
| efficiency. The police 50 appoint d
are to he treated and paid by the cities
Just the same as if they were appoint
| ed by the city councils.
The police so appointed would not
be under the influence of local politi-
clans and would cease to be a political
machine, as they are now made to he
In many places. They would cease to
have Sd much influence over elections,
and their only CLAIM to hold their DO.
sitions would be the faithful perform
ance of their duties. BY this means
the law would be enforced, and peace
and order preserved and no harm done
to anybody.
The above is general outline of
Governor Tillman's ideas on this sub.
Ject. The details Of the plan for the
appointment and control of the metro.
pOlltan police and matters to DO ar
ranged by the Legislature.
The metropolitan police system was
established in Augusta upon petition
or the citizens, upon the grounds that
the police of the city constituted Il reg
ular political machine, an mainly for
That reason they were inefficient. The
new system, so far from oYerthroWing
local government, establishes it up.
On llrmer basis than before, for by it
every one is made to obey the law.
SO the people of South Carolina need
not look upon this thing with so much
alarm.