The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-01
METROPOLITAN RoLICE.
Governor Tillnan Gives His Ideas on the
Proposed New Standardization Es-
pecial1y Aimed At.
Especial to Atlanta constitutional

Especial to Atlanta constitutional
COLUMBIA, S. c., October 26.-The
opposition Of the officials and people of
the cities end towns in this State to the
dispenssry law and their lukewarm-
ness in enforcing its provisions, even
when violations are known to them
and to everybody else, has led Governor
Tillman to determine to try and take
the police appointing power out Of the
hands Of the municipalities and place
itin the hands of the State auth critics.
His scheme has been widely discussed
in the State for some time, and is meet
ing with violent opposition on the part
of citizens of the towns. It cannot be
denied that in the country the dispen-
sary has the support ofthe greater part
of the population.
The Governors position is that where
the local authorities not only decline
to enforce the law, but permit and even
encourage the violation, then it be-
comes necessary to have officials who
will enforce the law and over whom
State will have control. He says he
would prefer the cities and towns en-
forcing the law and maintaining peace
and order if they would, without State
interference.
He believes that they have not done
that, and that in Charleston the people
are apparently in rebellion against the
State authorities in connection with
the dispensary law. He says that he at
one time asked Mayor Ficken, of Char
lesion, to have the chief of police en-
force the law, which he claims the
chief could have done more efficiently
than the State constables. The
mayor refused to comply with the re-
quest. Governor Tillman claims that
practically the same thing occurred in
Sumter and other cities of the State.
As the dispensary system depends
for it's success solely upon its being
monopoly, Governor Tillman is deter
mined to do everything in his power. to
have the law strictly enforced.
His plan is to have the police ap-
pointed by commission to be chosen
by himself or by the legislature. This
commission shall be instructed with
the appointment of the police, and the
police shall be amenable to the COM
mission for the proper performance of
all their duties whether in connec-
tion with the dispensary law or not.
Under the commission it is to be
so that these policemen can be
removed at any time for refusal
to. do their duty or for neglect or
ineficiency. The police so appointed
are to be treated and paid by the city
just same as if they were appointed
by the city councils.
Inc ABOVE Is general outline OF the
Governors ideas on the subject, but
the details of the plan must be ar
ranged by the legislature.
Many people in South Carolina look
upon the scheme with alarm, and view
it as an evidence of further encroach-
ment upon their liberties. 1t is a
notable fact that some of the Tillman
papers are as much opposed to the
plan as the conservative journals are.
Nevertheless, Governor Tillman, il an
interview to-day reiterated his belief,
in the system, and there can be little
doubt that he will exert his vast in
fuence with the legislature in having
the bill passed. A hard fight will he
made against it, but with what result
cannot be foretold, for the Governor
has large majority of the members
with him.