The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-04
IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED.

Assemblyman Bensons suggestion to
the charter commission, that steps be
taken to effect a substantial change in
the control of the local police department,
is worthy of serious consideration. What
ever change may result. the situation can
not be made worse than it is at present
The efficiency Of the force is at present
reduced to the minimum and the only
view which has been advanced publicly
in explanation of it is that the absolute
power Of appointment and removal of the
members of the force does not rest with
the executive ..........
No great difficulty has ever been known
to prevail as the result of this division
of responsibility in the past, at least un-
der Democratic administrations; but the
principle Of the assemblyman's suggestion
is sound The defect of orr- local system
with reference to the police applies gen
orally. If the charter commission is to
consider it with reference to the police,
it cannot well ignore 1t in its application
to appointments in other departments Of
our municipal government.
Political considerations have the most
serious influence on our police admiris-
tration, at least under present conditions
But it can be said that personal consider
atoms have also their important bearing
on the subject From the beginning,
political Influences have operated in the
appointment of the members of the rank
and file of the police force, and they
will continue to do so until the principles
of civil service are in operation among
us. This event is, however, too remote to
receive serious consideration The pres
ent force is not demoralized because of
the application of politics to police ap-
pointment. The operating cause is plain
ly enough the lack of agreement and CO.
operation between the mayor and the
chief of police and their respective polftl-
cal followings within the ranks of the
local Republican party.
Whatever the cause, the city suffers in
good name and in the safety of person
and property as the result. Whatever
changes may be effected in the future, 1t
is a shame that the present situation
should be perpetuated, as it has been for
some three years and a half past. There
was 10 disagreement between Mayor Do
ran and his police administration, or be-
tween Mayor Doran and the then city
council concerning police appointments
and removals. Yet the police administra
ton was just as bad as it is today. But
the situation which existed when a Re-
publican council was determined to en-
barrass Mayer Smith In his admin stration
of the police offers good illustration of
the need of taking the power of inter-
ference away from the common council
The situation as it then existed, bad as
it was, did not affect the efficiency CT our
police department. 1t was then a capable
and efficient body, and it so remained
until Chief Goss was in power for some
short time
The responsibility for police administra-
ton ought to be vested in one head, as
Assemblyman Benson suggests. But be-
fore anything can be done in that behalf
the city's interests demand that some
thing should be done Immediately to Put
an end to the present dangerous and dis
graceful situation in police circles.