The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-21
A Metropolitan System.

NhefiDeiS VI the ieBlslatuTe nave DceH
talked with in regard to this matter
and a bill is - he introduced at he APP
preaching legislative session which viii
provide for Il metropolitan system in
Montana's larger cities.
Unquestionably a city can obtain far
better service from It's employees in the
police and fire departments IL these en-
ployes are appointed under the stipula-
ton that they hold their positions as
a reward OF merit and of faithful serv-
Ice and not as "A reward i'm politics.
No business man would for a moment
hin of discharging his entire force of
clerks and bookkeepers after every cleo
ton. Such a course would be ruinous to
any business. Yet that Is what Butte
has in effect been doing ever since IL
went into the business OF being a mu-
~nicipality. OF late years an exception
has been partially mad with respect 10
the fire observation-disclosures may. as a
rule. expect to retain their places dur
ing good behavior. But the police force
is changed from the top almost to the
bottom with every change of admins
tration.
IL needs no argument to show how the
city is handicapped by running its po-
lice force on this political system. With
every new city administration green
hands are taken from the mines. the
workshops, the counting rooms and
placed in charge Of police affairs, to
the great JOY OF the crooks. who are as
sured of a few weeks at least of pTac-
teal immunity. Whatever his quali,i-
cations. no man can be a competent po-
liceman at the drop of the hat. He
must have experience and training. But
when a green chief of police. with green
assistants. Is put in charge Of an entire
ly new force of men. many of them to-
tally unqualified for their positions and
selected rather for their success in ward
politics than for their experience in
guarding the public peace. II is easy to
be seen that the political system great
~ handicaps Butte's police service.
Each policeman knows well that his re-
tention of his position does not depend
on his record. but on his party's con
AihudhN III toHNiol VI MUNICIPAL dlldlIS.
Under these circumstances It is not
strange IL n policeman pays more at
tention TO politics than is for the best
interests Of the community, or is occa-
sionally guilty OF favoritism toward Of
tenders who may have helped him to
secure his position and whose help he
may expect TO receive again.
1t has been suggested that. without
taking on the metropolitan system i'm its
entirety. certain features might be
adopted which would do away with
some of the evils of the present political
system. II has been suggested that m
stead OF the entire police force
being appointed at the begin
ming of an administration. the ap-
pointments be distributed through the
year n each policeman be named
for two years. safe from removal dur
ing the two years except for cause. The
advantage OF this change would be hat
there always will he some seasoned men
on the force. Yet IL n man is a good
enough policeman TO retain his place on
the force two years. why is he not good
enough to be retained three years, or five
years. or ten or during efficiency and
good behavior? Why should not Butte
profit at once from the experience Of the
old cities OF the East which ave adopt
ed the metropolitan system?
1t must be confessed. however. that
the present police force would have to
be very materially changed before II
would be so efficient as to give satisfac-
ton IL established as a permanent po-
lice force under the metropolitan sys-
tenn. There are good men In the police
department at the present time and
there are men who are utterly unfit
for their positions. That has been the
case with the force in every administra-
tion. Butte never had a force worthy OF
being made a permanent force in its en-
tirety. But there are enough good men
in the present police department 20 form
the nucleus of a permanent force. No
mar should be given a permanent ten
ure Of Office or even a tenure for two
the complete satisfaction Of a d~isinter-
ested and non-partisan board that he is
fitted for the office and that he will fill
the position with ability and credit. In
fact. every policeman, no matter for
how long a time he may be appointed.
should first be placed on probation for
such n time as is required to ascertain
whether he possesses qualifications for
the office. 1t would be ridiculous to
take a man who has never seen police
service and who may not be adapted
for the service. and give him a perma-
nent position at once without trial. II
Butte adopts the metropolitan system.
Il should proceed slowly and conscien-
tiously in the selection OF the officers,
high and low. The force should be built
nm gradually and each man. whether on