Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-22

4 NATTER OF PuBLtC CONCERN
u do not know Con Gallagher intl.
mnicly, and know nothing OF his record
except that he has been postmaster and
Is at present deputy In the customs
house have done some business with
him aud always considered him capable
aud intelligent anu though he has no
experience IN the police department. yet
I see no reason why he should not soon
become familiar with the duties, and
know OF no reason why hc should hc
associated with or partial to any people
in our city who are not law-abiding. |
hope hr may have without prejudice u
fair opportunity to show what he can
do. And | hope that both hc and the
police commission will put aside all pol
tiles"
This Is the exact language used by II
prominent business man when asked his
opinion OF the appointment of G. V. Gal
laghcr Ms chief of police. While 1t is de-
cidcdly at variance with the general
sentiment of the business community, we
quote IL tu show how readily men OF
standing are led to acquiescc in an act
which threatens to intlict the most Seri.
Gus disorders upon the city in reckless
disregard of the demands and interests
of the taxpayers.
The city of Omaha Is entitled to the
most ample police protection which the
proceeds of the taxes levied specially
for police purposes will afford. The
members of the police commission who
control the expenditure of the police
fund are pledged under oath to make
only such appointments and promotions
In the force rs will promote and insure
it's greatest efficiency. They could not
live up to that oath without selecting as
the chief of police the most competent
and experienced man available. If a
police commissioner had to choose be-
tween his oath of office and an order of
Governor Holcomb in palpablc violation
of the letter and spirit of the law. he
should have either disregardcd the law
less instruction of the governor or ten
der him his resignation.
Under monarchical governments the
king can do no wrong. In n republic the
chief executive of the nation or the state
is as much bound by the laws as the
humblest citizen in the land, and when
ever he oversteps the law no subordn-
ate officer has the right TO obey. Neither
Governor Holcomb nor the police com
mission will contend that in the ap-
pointment of Chief-elect Gallagher they
had in view solely the best interests of
the service and We're not actuated by
political motives. They cannot even
pretend that Gallagher is possessed of
any qualifications whatever for reor-
ganizing, directing or disciplining the
police, or for protecting the city and citi-
zens from professional criminals
Would any prudent business man
jeopardiZe the success of an establish
ment that requires technical or profes-
sional skill in its management by plac
ing at its head a man who had never
been engaged in his line of business?
Would he entrust the supreme control
of a factory, a mill or a railroad to Il
man who had never seen the inside of Il
factory or a mill or had never been con-
nected with manufacturing or railroad
ing?
Yet business men thoughtlessly eX-
press a willingness TO let the city expert.
ment with Il man as chief of police who.
at the age of A, has yet to serve an ap-
premiership in police work. They reck-
lessly consent TO expose the lives of their
wives and children to the assaults of
thugs, thieves and housebreakers and
leave strangers invited to visit Omaha
at the mercy of gamblers. swindlers,
and professional confidence men of all
descriptions. Without knowing Gala
CHER except as deputy surveyor of Gus
TOMS they blindly assume that he will
not play into the hands of the .lawless
classes, when if they made inquiry, they
would find that Mr.. Gallagher was made
chief at the instance and through the in
tluence of the keepers of disorderly and
lawless resorts and the shyster lawyers
whom they retain on their pay roll. They
would discover that in selecting boss
politician for chief of police, the gov
ernor and the police board have made
'h' IoiiNN hoiNt IL pHiL VI thN I'ii'i''il
machine which is to be used in forcing
contributions from all who come under
police surveillance.
Instead of being Il matter TO be passed
over with Indifference as harmless eX-
pertinent, the selection of man of the
stamp of Con Gallagher for chief of
police is n matter of grave public con
Germ, especially when, in view of the i'm
pending state fair and the forthcoming
exposition, the city needs the best police
protection the money at its disposal can
command.
DEFENDING THE CONSULAR SERVICE,
A short time ago an American consul
whose term had expired gave out an in
teryiew in which he defended the CON