The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-01
METROPOLITAN POLICE.


Gov. Ttllman Gives His Views to Re-
porter on tho Sunjeos
COLUMBIA, s. g., Oct. 25.-The views
of Governor Tillman on 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 1t ap'
peared to him to be a 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, es,-
pecially in connection with the dispen-
sary law. The city authorities there In
their spite against the dispensaries
even ignore their own ordinance
against selling whiskey without H.
cense and are aiding and abetting the
blind tigers. The Governor asked
Mayor Ficken 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 a 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 It's violation. then
1t becomes necessary to have officials
who will enforce the law, and over
whom the State will have control. He
would prefer the cities and towns en-.
forcing the law and maintaining peace
and order If they would, without State
interfer ence.
The Governors idea is to have sys
tenn of metropolitan police appointed
and operated somewhat after the man
ner in which the system is operated 10
Augusta, Ga, where the city has had
metropolitan police for the last fifteen
years.
The plan is to have the police re-
lieved from political obligations, either
State or local. This can be done by
the appointment Of q commission In
town, composed of good men, regard
less Of their politics, who are In favor
of the dispensary law and In favor OF
the enforcement of all laws. This com.
mission shall be entrusted with the ap.
pointment OF the police, and the police
shall be amenable to the commission
for the proter performance Of all their
duties, whether In connection with the
dispensary law or not. These police
men can be removed any time for re.
fusal to do their duty, or neglect or In
efficiency. The police 80 appointed
are to be treated and paid by the cities
Just the same as If they were appoint
ed by the city councils.
The police 80 appointed would not
be under the influence Of local politi-
clans and would cease to be political
machine, as they are now made to be
in many places. They would cease to
have 10 much influence over elections,
and their only claim to hold their po.
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
feet. The details Of the plan for the
appointment and control Of the metro.
politan police and matters to be ar
ranged by the Legislature.
The metropolitan police system was
established In Augusta upon a petition
of the citizens, upon the grounds that
the police of the city constituted reg
ular political machine, and mainly for
that reason they were inefficient. The
new system, 80 far from overtime wing
local self-government, establishes 1t up.
on firmer basis than before, for by 1t
every one Is made to obey the law.
So the people of South Carolina need
not look upon this thing with 30 much
alarm.