The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-10
A river at my gardens end;
A terrace walk and half rood
10 Ia,,l cne .,,< - x,ta ut n uyond
POLICE AFFAIRS.


changes in the police force in prospect this month!
RumOrs are in circulation that important
changes may be made and that many officers and
men may be allowed to leave the service. 1t seems
that the responsibility for transfers. removals and ap
pOintments will rest almost entirely with Commits
sioners Frye and Ballard, who, IL circumstances be
not altered will have 1t in their power to better the
force and originate plans for even satisfactory
results.
No doubt the force which is now superior in dis
cipne and efficiency to former bodies, is neverthr-
less susceptible to betterment The Republic does not
believe, does the partisan Globe, that the salaries
Of patromen and officers should be decreased and the
numerical strength Of the force be diminished. On
the contrary, The Republic is convinced that the sala
res should not be lowered and that, instead of redu
cling the number Of patromen, there should he in
creases in the force from time to time, require
ments would demand.
Advancement cannot be accelerated by declines IN
compensation and numerical strength, for either of
these declines would affect both discipline and eff
cheney. But advancement be accomplished by
putting aside all considerations except that of merit
The betterment, in order to be real and lasting. must
take an ethical FORM
The Republic has previously stated that there are
incompetent men and Incompetent officers on the
police force. Not few past appointments have been
made solely on political grounds Some capable,
scentious officers and patrolmen have been restrained
from doing their whole duty account of political
entertainments. Promotion has occasionally been ef
fected by political preferment. Now and then dis
mssais have been brought about by political intrigue
All In all, the force is efficient, its work plainly
shows 1t compares more than favoraby with the
forces Of other large cities is not much better OF
worse than the average metropolitan department; but
it is as good any. At this moment the local de-
parment is far better than 1t has BEEN every
respect 1t Is worse politically than competitors
and influence is no more potent here than elsewhere
Yet. the department does not fully meet the
pectntions of the people. The citizens of ST. Louis
would like to have removed altogether from poll
tics They would not and could not object If patrIl
men should make voluntary contributions to party
campaign funds for this is the privilege of any and
every citizen; but they would protest against
pulsory contributions On the same principle would
they protest against appointment removal transfer
and promotion for political reasons
The Police Department should be beyond party
discrimination, personally and collectively in the dis
charge of duty. An applicants party connections
should neither aid him In obtaining an appointment
or promotion nor bar him therefrom; although gen.
orally speaking. a man who yearns to be politician
is not qualified for SERVICE and such IN applicant
should be rejected.
Whatever politics there may be in the department
should De eliminated. Whatever outside influence
may apply in the departments affairs should be sep
arated Should the betterment Of the department re-
quire the dismissal of some officers and men, they
should he dismissed. If the department can be i'm
proved by reductions in rank and transfers both
should be made In brief, appointments promotions.
transfers and removals should be made with regard
to merit; discipline should be e1aced Of ALL politics
and influence should have effect. Merit should
govern the board In its work Of Reorganization and II
should govern the officers in their management of the
department. The Republic repeats that the depart
ment has been made very much better in the past
few years and is better than it has been at any
time. This betterment shows what can be done and
all changes should be in the same direction.