The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-08
WANTED-POLICE REORGANIZA-
TION

TION.
The point has now been reached in the
administration of the police force when,
1t the police board sees fit to place itself
in a false position before the public, it will
defer action still further on the reorgan-
lzation which the people have been de-
nanding for the past two years or over.
The attitude assumed by the city attor-
ney's office in sustainment of the partisan
majority in the assembly is simply shame
full. There is absolutely nothing In either
law or common sense to sustain it. 1t
will find its sustainment, as it is designed
to find it, nowhere but in the bitter po-
litical bias which finds expression through
a nominal majority of one branch Of ths
city council.
1t Is useless to argue further on what
must appear to any person who inquiries
into it, no matter how bitter his political
bias may BIZ, self-evident proposition.
Let any fairly informed person read care
fully the statement made by Commissioner
Lawler before the committee of ways and
means, and, no matter how bitter his par
usanship may be. he will be convinced
that the opposition which prevails to the
reorganization of the department repre-
sents an overflow of political bile, and is
disgrace to the intelligence of those who
are responsible for it.
The administration, management and
control of said police department shall be
vested in a board of police" That is the
language Of the charter. It is that lam
guage and it's natural purport and intent
which the politicians of the city attorneys
Office have set themselves to nullify. In
their efforts they are forced to Ignore the
decision not yet week old of the SUI
preme court expressly declaring that there
is nothing whatever to sustain their main
contention. They are compelled to set
themselves in direct antagonism to thu
universal will of the people Of the city
that the department shall be reorgan-
lied, and that the occasion OF the incom-
potency. criminal collision, fraud and
general worthlessness which have pre-
vailed for the past three OF four years
shall be removed
Should the police board further delay
the necessary action, the responsibility
will rest with it, rather than with those
who are now so intent on embarrassing it.
They should be allowed to go ahead with
ihair rll1pv rolifioa1
can only be to direct general attention
to the unwilingness on the part of the
political ring which has m1smanaged the
affairs of the city so long, to allow the
most essential reforms which the people
declared for to be carried into effect.
In spite of the entire group-the assem-
bly, majority, the city attorneys Office
and the city comprehensive public will
sustain anything and everything which
the police board may feel called on to do.
1t is body of representative men-in-
Guiding the ablest business men in the
city, as it includes others who in addi-
ton have the experience from which
springs the most complete knowledge of
local public interests. 1t must go ahead.
Further delay is in the nature of a crime
against the good government of the com
munity.
1t is true that under Chief OConnor's
administration. even embarrassed as 1t
has been. we have had a substantial end
ing of the shameful conditions which pre-
vailed up to the beginning of June. But
the public wants more than that The
city wants police force which from top
to bottom shall represent the highest ex-
pression of skill, ability and devotion
which is attainable. The city pays big
money for the sustainment of its police
department. 1t should have cemmensu.
rate results. It never can have such re-
suits until the police board tears up by
the roots the growths of Incompetence
and corruption which abound in every
rank of police administration
The sooner the police board proceeds
10 the root of existing evils and does the
work 1t WAS created to do. tho bitter