The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-06

During the past year numerous cases OF
burglary. house-bTeakine, and tneii, nave
called the attention OF the publlc 10 Tue ponce
The following tables Show the relative sue
cess OF the department in obtatnlns oonVic-
tions in various kinds OF cases durin@ the past
three years;
1898. 1894. 1895.
sraTy Gran ,dscsST isgsSHy ..%.. ..%" ai9 sss scs
Gamhllns ''.'''....:'''. '.....''' ~ a. on
Bre kim ami entering stores ~ W ~
Bt tcaking and entering dwell
lngs. ..........s.fs. -
Houses Of ill-fsme. ........,... IL - "
Liquor nuisance. ............... 4 e2 10
Amount Of property reported stolen ana re-
covered curing the same years:
1898 1894 1895
Stolen. s3s. .7oO.6l s24.6s5.s sSl.asi.s 90
Recovered lO,5o6.2s s.Vo6.d0 ',Voo'oi
BY resolution of the City Council approved
December D. 1885. the city solicitor was
its january session. A. ID. 1896 for the passage
OF such legislation as viii authorize the Clty
Council 10 elect, in joint CONVENTION, hohIu
of three police commissioner ;. in whom snali
oe vtsteu subject 10 the City Council the
control and MANAGEMENT OF the police depart
ment. While many nelieve thnt the ehciency
Of tho q partpaent can only he Increased ~
tno appointm, mt OF police commission, ! sm
of the opinion that hN leaving the superNlslon
of the police inrce in me hands OF tue Mayor
and Blari OF Aldermen, wi addi' lonal ltgis-
la ion IN regard to appoi tmepis and promo
lions, he most beneficial results may DO az
tained. / believe that lU men elected ~ the
taxpavers, representing each or the warus I'D
the city. competent and AS anle 70
manage this department on AN ofhclent OASIS,
free from politics as three men electcd IN
joint convention and liable to be chosen as
reward for political services, rather than fron
the TACT that they are men OF snhirs ana ex-
perience. Tho appointment OF "A commission
in The manner proposed nec' ssarily lnplles
that while the represan stives OF tine TAX
payers are not to ne trusted 10 appolht pohce-
men, they may he trusted TO appoint those
who have tho abs lutte control ana manage.
mont nf these same policemen. The chl"t OF
police. in my upiGion. should havs the active
InanAgement and control or hls heparui, ~
and ne should he hell To a rigid responslniI-
tn for the enforcement of the law and the
suppression OF crime.
Many find an argument for the appoirtment
of a police commission in the success OF the
commission on fire depaft tment. but tne
cases ara not parallel. Before the app"lnt
ment of the commission on nre dsphrsmen..
that department was not managed directly Wy
the City Council or by any hranch thereof as
il tho police department IL was under the
manage ment and control OF a comuiittee, iour
out OF five of whose members were appointed
by the President OF tha Common tounci,
and one from the Board OF Aldermen. lis ban
agement was an anomaly In municipal govern
ment Besides, the fire department N not
so intimately associated with the every Gay
lite and security of our citizens as u uhe
police department, nor Is there the posslni'
hty or danger to boDe~t government ano
pure ballot IN the management OF tle one ~
experience in many cities has proved TO eAist
1 tho other.
necessary is not 10 give the control OF TINS
great department into the hands OF &C Nls-
sion 80 far removed from the source ol au
thority, hut TO continue it in the represen-
tatives of the taxpayers who are rssponsitie
to them, and whose conduct may he passed
upon annually at the polls. In this way we
recognize the princip pies OF representative
government. The further thought naturally
suggests itself TO the taxpayer, that TX ms
representatives continue to diveststnemselves
of The duties they were elected 10 DISCHARGE,
and increase the amount OF salaries therehy,
is ii not fair that their salaries should 10
reduced by them in the same proportion as
they reduce the labors they We're CHOSEN 10
perform?
The course that would suggest in order
10 have our police force as ,incient as pos
sble would be To apply for such legisiati1n
rs would cause all appointments to be made
In accordance with the United states 'tvil
Service commission rules. Not only Should
this legislation apply to the police depart
ment hut 10 every other department OF the
city government to which 10 may he au'
vantageouslS applied. Let every ci'izen nave
equal footing in the race for municipa'
service Let him feel that political influence
cannot Bssst or retard him In obtaining
position IN tha departments 10 which bis
qualifications Justly eDtitle him. Let merit,
not politicians. govern IN the matter oil ap'
pointments and promotions in the police de-
partment: let racn applicant he compelled TO
PASS prescribed and reasonable medical,
ply steal and mental examinaton: and in this
way. and not. in my opinion, by vesiing the
power In commission far removed from tho
taxpayers, Will the highest efficiency and use
fulness OF the department he secured.
BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS.
The hoard of license comm ssioners at
present constituted is unnecessarily large in
number. and the term Of office oi its members
is too long. There ~ good reh son why
this com mission should consist OF over three
members. nor why one of its members should
not be chosen annually, as IL tho caso with
other commissions know of no COMMISSION
in the manner of whose creation am constitp-
tion is TO be- founo so much that Is wrong In
principle and vicious in politics. | would re-
commend that application b. made 90 have
tho law changed as | have indicated. Tho
charges that are currently made in connec-
ton with some members Of this hoard OF com
miSsioners would seem e. Justify an immeoi-
ate amt thorough investigator at your hands.
IN coNCLUsIoN.
wish TO make due acknowledgements OF the
kindly courtesy shown To me by the retiring
Mayor. Hon. Frank b. Olney. and also. OF the
cheerful assistance rendered me by the vari.
ous heads OF departments.
GrNrLEMES OF THE CITY COUNCIL:
The official duties ON which We enter today
are many, varisu. and difficult. The wish
Of the people of THIS city, a. expressed at the
last election, il Tor an honest ana husiuess-
like management of it's municipal affairs.
While Wa who are specially c osen to continct
the business of the city have upon Us the bur
zen of the responsibility for its successful ad-
m!nistration. vet all good citizens should
assist us in the work impoSed rpOn us. The
era of reform and non'partisan rnpnic pal
government is upon u. All change tri' ing
20 the Improvement OF our city government
will meet with my hearty support. ihs
wishes az our citizens, properly expressed
will 10 given duo respect and consideration.
and we ~ well as all others in the service 81
the city, should realize that we are hut stew.
ards of the people. Following suggestion
recently made in "a neighboring city, I would
advise that we encourage the several rcpre-
sentative business associations TO confer with
us upon all matters pertaining 90 the common
GOOD In the matter of taxation and the
finances of the CITY their advice and expert.
cncn would be OF great ndvantarc. Integrity
of purpose and oarnestness Of effort on our
part viii merit the approval of our fellow
citizens and. with the blessing of Divine Pro.
vidence, we may obtain on behalf OF our be-
loved city happy fruition OF our labofs.