Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1901-05-16

place. no matter how loyal its officers,
commit all sorts of depredations, and
the police would not be able to defend
the citizens.
The first step in this direction was
an order by General Macarthur, made
in June. 1900, wherein he directed:
In order to encourage among the
people the idea OF selfprotcction
against robbers and rowing bands of
with which the country
abounds, department commanders are
authorized to arm the local police in
such towns where. in their judgment.
such action would he prudent and eX.
pedicnt, For this purpose rcquisi.
tons may be submitted to the divis.
ion headquarters for calibrc ~ Colts
rcvolycrs and an adequate supply of
ammunition. This arm will he replac-
at m carly date by n more suit
able weapon
Poverty was the next element To be
%Contended with I'm the development Of
a local police system. outside of Ma
nna the municipalities are, and as a
rule will bc for some time, unable to
adequately pay their local police. To
overcome that condition and at the
same time encourage loyalty and ndel.
ity, Gen. Macarthur, on November ..
addressed a communication to the
commission detailing his plans for the
Organization of the force and request
ing that there be placed ut his dis
posal the sum Of sl5O.O0O for the pur-
pose. among others. Of adding to the
monthly pay Of police. from insular
funds. who should be recommended
ly thnip NInnpinHa ~ sAnunigtnIu for
their devotion to duty. lie argued
that II such could be done II would
encourage all employees to strive for
the additional compensation. and
thereby the efficiency of the force
would be increased. The commission
accceded to his wishes and made the
appropriation.
With. equipment for protection and
money for development, the military
governor set about his task with ear.
ncstness and zeal. lie issued a circu'
lar to his department commanders
stating that "he was DESTROYS of as.
slsting In the maintenance of police,
That he would entertain suggestions
for encouragement of good men by
way of an increase of pay, where in
the opinion of the officer command.
ing il would tend TO increase the Ell
cheney of the force. He desired that
commanders consider II an emergency
matter, and investigate at once and
report to him. Individual cases might
he reported, and they need not wait
for detailed reports for such recon-
mendations.'
District officers on the ground felt
the necessity of exercising great eau.
ton In e|ntrusting arms to untried
men. They recognized the virtue Of
the advantages projected; they real
lied the necessity of an early return
to civil conditions. but the unrest oc.
casioncd by the political situation in
the United States, growing out Of re.
ports circulated there, of a possibility
of n change of policy as the result of
the election, led them to n very con.
sentative course of action. In some
localities the conditions warranted
the immediate armlng OF the local
police. In others the sentiment of
the town "a so nearly evenly divided
that commanding officers withheld all
issue of arms until they became fully
assured of the loyalty of those to be
entrusted with them. In many places
town officials had been acting ms
agents Of both parties. when in the
presence of United States officers
they were loyal. When insurgents
came they were afforded assistance
and comfort.
Later, conditions changed rapidly
by February, 1901. a very decided rev
olution In sentiment was apparent
Localities, where but few loyal per,
sons could be found. soon became
conspicuous rs desiring to embrace
the opportunities afforded for good
government. and the time appeared
to be propitious. for reconstruction,
As a result the commission, In Febru
airy, enacted a general Law for The
organization OF municipal government
In the Philippine islands" In the act
II Is provided hat municipal councils
shall establish, regulate and main
tain police departments" That the
president (mayor) shall issue orders
relating to the police or To the public
safety and as a check to secure
loyal and effective administration OF
affairs generally, IL Is further provided
that until the present military gov,
eminent shall be replaced by a civil
central government Of these islands,
or until the commission shall other,
wise enact. the powers conferred on
the municipal councils of any munich
pality organized under this act To pro.
vide IA police force for the municipal.
ity shall he exercised only upon ap-
proval Of the military governor, or of
the commanding officer of the military
district in which the municipality il
situated; and this approval shall be
necessary to the lawful appointment
Of members Of the police force and to
arming Of the same. In case the mill.
tary governor shall deem II necessary
the police force of any such munici.
pality shall he directly subject to the
orders OF the military governor or his
authorized subordinates."
The work of roconstructing the local
municipalities under the general law
Is progressing rapidly, In the mean.
time the organization of local police
have been fostered and brought TO a
marked degree of proficiency.
The last reports received and filed
at the war department. through the
military governor, contain the most
satisfactory Information as to the eff.
cheney and devotion To duty by the 10,
cal police, For instance: General
Wheaton, for the department Of North.
"rn Luzun, reports. The police
forces where organized throughout
this department are improving Ia Ell
cheney and loyalty TO the United
states, and are now, in many in.
stances, furnishing information. and
are aiding in the capture Of murder.
ers and assassins, To whose control
they have long been subjected. To
this date no arms issued TO the police
have been lost, Surveillance is main.
tanned over the police now organized.
frequent inspections are made by the
commanding officers and the greatest
care observed TO prevent arms from
escaping u control. The improving
conditions throughout this department