The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-06
METROPOLITAN POLICE BILL.
Caucus Measure I'm the HOuse-Its Ma
terial Provisions.

Representative Packard introduced in the
House yesterday the caucus measure abol-
shing the present Metropolitan police COM
missions and establishing a new system.
The bill is the same as that introduced by
Senator Early in the Senate and is meas
ure prepared by Senator Early. AS there
has been much misunderstanding about the
provisions of the bill the material sections
are given in substances: Section 1 provides
that there shall be a board of commission
ers of three members appointed by the
Governor in each city of more than 10000
and less than $1,000 inhabitants, no more
than two OF whom shall be of the same
political party. The commissioners are re-
quired to take oath that they shall not
appoint nor remove for political reasons.
Section provides that the police force
shall be equally divided politically and fixes
the compensation at the same rate as the
present law. Section provides that one of
the commissioners shall be elected as an
eX officio member of the Board of Health
and provides for the selection. of secre-
tary and property clerk. Section 4 gives
the commissioners power TO prescribe
rules and regulations. Section gives the
commissioners entire control OF the police
force and the property belonging to the
ponce department ana dDOllSneS all eAlSllllS
boards of police commissioners, police Off
GERS and police forces. Section gives the
members of such police force constabulary
powers. Section makes 1t the duty OF the
City Council to provide for the maintenance
of the board.
Section is the portion of the bill that
has caused most misunderstanding. 1t
reads as follows: 1.-The members of the
Metropolitan police force shall have the
exclusive power, and il shall be their duty
to serve all process within such city issuing
such city, and all the duties now performed
by the city marshal or his deputy in serv-
ing Writs, executing orders of said courts,
attending said court. conveying prisoners
TO and from the county jail station
houses of such city for arraignment on trial
before said court. or conveying prisoners
to the house of correction or workhouse,
reform school or county jail. or other place
of punishment and imprisonment under
of said court, shall be performed by mem
bers of said Metropolitan police force: and
the office of city marshal of such city Is
hereby abolished; and the duties of such
Office shall hereafter be performed by the
superintendent of the Metropolitan police
force of such city, or by the CAPTAINS or or
shall be the duty of the police force hereby
created, when directed by the mayor OF
ders and resolutions of the Board
of Aldermen and Common Coun-
ell of such city as shall have two such
boards. and of the Common Council of such
city when but one of such boards exists,
which pertain to the enforcement of the
ordinances of such city, and shall serve
all notices issuing from the office of the
city clerk and other city Offices and shall
report, through the superintendent OF
police all street distractions and danger
Gus excavations and other defects in the
streets. and shall make all such other re-
ports and carry out all such other orders
pertaining to the enforcement of the city
ordinances and resolutions as shall be di-
rected by the Board of Aldermen and Com
mon Council of such city when two such
boards exist, and of the Common Council
of such city when but one such board ex-
| lists. Any failure to carry out any of the
| provisions of this section shall be. as
against any officer or member of the police
! force hereby created, good cause for re
moval
| The remaining sections provide that mem
| bers of the police force shall not receiV,
| witness fees, declare interference with the
duties of the board or the force misde
meanor. enable the commissioners TO swear
! in special patrolmen. declare il unlawful
| for patrolmen TO solicit votes and provid,
| for the bond TO be given by officers. The
| hill has an emergency clause