The age-herald., 1898-11-20
COMMISSIONER GARRETT
the Assault Upon the Police
 Department.

mission, In discussing the proposal to aool- ish the police commission, said:
 'This assault upon the police commission seems to come directly and exclusively from the board of mayor and aldermen that is the city administTation-and 1t is generally understood that a large number of the aldermen have no sympathy with tue movement So it is really only part of the administration that favors the doing away with the police commission. It is safe to say that a vast majority of the property owners. taxpayers and responsible citizens of Birmingham are heartily in favor of no change in the law under which the police department of this city is con- ducted. They have seen the police force built up, within the past few years, from an undisciplined, partisan political body, to point of discipline, efficiency and non- partisanship in politics that makes it easily number of men. payroll equipment and facilities considered) the best police force in the country.
 This may appear a broad claim, but it Is fully justified and sustained by the reports of the department published monthly on file at police headquarters and open to in- spection, and examination by any one who may desire to do so.
 'I do not merely mean to intimate that the police commission and the police de- partment are non-partisan and non-politi- cal, but l mean to say empha atically that they are non-partisan and non-political It is true that each and every member of the board of commissioners, and for that mat ter I suppose of the police force, is a straight democrat. but so far as the con- mission as a body and the policemen, as a ar or tisan and non-political. Commissioner Lesser testifes such to be his experience during his two years connection with the department. MT. Lane and MT. Fox the same in their one years experience, and I assert it respecting the period of nearly five years 1 have been a member of the board.
 The truth is that whatever of politics that has been in the police commission for at least four years past has been forced upon it from that element in the board of mayor and aldermen who are opposed to the police commission, because they want to get control of the police department themselves This community knows very well how potent factor in politics the po- lice force skillfully manipulated can be made.
 During my connection with the police commission, especially since the summer or fall of 1893, there has been very little frc- tion between the two bodes absolutely none at all of the seeking of the commits sion, which has endeavored to execute the law in the interest of the property owners, taxpayers and law-abiding people of Bir- mingham, The fact is that most of this gabble about friction and antagonisms be- tween the respective boards is tommyrot If those members of the aldermanic board who have so consistently fought the police commission had spent the same time and talent in aiding to build up the police ser bot I,nrr tx .,t., organize and tear 1t to pieces. the city might have even better department than 1t now has, The charge that the chief of police spent much time in Montgomery at the last session of the legslatur in an ef- fort to prevent the repeal of the police commission law. and drew his salary for that time, Is no doubt true; but from whom does. criticism come for that? Only from certain aldermen who are anxious to have the commission abolished. When the facts are remembered. the criticism does not come with good grace from that source. Briefly stated, those facts are: The police commission law was passed for the purpose of taking the police department out of pol itics. It was out of politics A part of the board of aldermen sought to have the law repealed and the police force restored to the control of the board of mayor and al- dermen. At least two of the high salaried members of the city administration spent much time in Montgomery. and devoted much energy and talent to having the law repealed. Likewise committee of infiuen- tial gentlemen appointed by the aldermanic board were sent to Montgomery to work for the repeal of the law. I believe 1t is not denied that the city subsequently, paid the expenses of this committee to, at and from the capital. More than 2,000 property owners, taxpayers and respectable citizens of Birmingham petitioned the legislature not to repeal the law. The salary of the chief of police is largely paid by the taxes collected from these citizens. No hue and cry has been raised by them that his salary was paid while the chief of police was in Montgomery. The very pleasant gentle the council meeting Wednesday evening would do well to compose himself until he corrects abuses nearer home.
 "The records will show that in propor- ton to the amount and efficiency or work accomplished the expense of the depart ment as managed by the commission is considerably less than when the depart ment was under the control of the mayor and aldermen.
 "Whether the effort to repeal the law will be successful, cannot tell. A part of the present city administration is evidently making very determined assault to &C., complish that purpose If the friends or the law wish 1t to remain intact they will have to act promptly and determinedly to that end.
 .'The real purpose of the rresent agita- tion against the police commission law is plain. I refer you to what appeared in The Age-Herald this morning from MT. Emil Lesser. Read between the lines. It appears that one distinguished gentleman likes the mayors office and wants 1t. Another no less distinguished gentleman may also want the job Now, the question Is how to ad- just the probable situation satisfac ctorily to both Political sagacity suggests that the police commission be abolished and have