The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-05-09
WE might add to the expression

used IN the CHRoNICLE.la last week, that
g the police Of Morristown might al
most pray to be delivered from their
friends" by saying fool" friends, if
the editor Of the Banner" is to have
his way that criticism Of the manner
in which they perform their duties has
the effect of belittling the force. AS
the editor of the Banner" is the cor
respondent of the Newark News" it
| is dollars for him to keep 'inside" on
all news items he can gather from
members of the force. Hence he nat
urally feels that he is the especial
champion and defender of them. No
one wishes to do injustice to our town
officials but there seems considerable
fog in the minds of some people in re-
gard to them and their duties. By
consulting his dictionary our neighbor
will see that the word Police, is
from the Latin word "politia," the
condition of State, government, ad-
ministration, and a Greek word mean
ing 70 be citizen to govern or admin
lister state. The police is defined to
be, " a Judicial and executive system,
for the government of a city, town, or
district, for the preservation of rights,
order, cleanliness, health, ETC., and for
the enforcement of the laws and pre-
| ventiOn of crime the administration
of the laws and regulations of a city,
| incorporated town, or borough
In savage communities might makes
right. The man with the strongest
arm dominates over his fellows and his
will is the law of the community. In
enlightened countries, on the con
trary, the rights Of all are recognized,
the weak having the same privileges
as the strong, and the State and COM
munities guarantee to all the rights
of life, liberty and, the pursuit of hap
piness. To this end general laws for
the protection Of person and property
are enacted, with penalties for their
violation. In separate communities
ordinances are adopted to regulate
minor matters, such as the improve
ment and use of streets and sidewalks,
for protection against fire, ETC., with
penalties for their violation. While
the violation of these ordinances are
not crimes against person and proper
ty, it is to the interest of all to have
them enforced as they are supposed to
be for the comfort and we'll being of
every member of the community. OF
course, these laws and ordinances will
not enforce themselves, In the case
of the criminal laws, courts and proper
officers to enforce them are provided,
and as their violation affects some per-
son or persons, there is always per-
sonal interest in bringing wrongdoers
to Justice and it is usually done with
out delay. In the case Of municipal
ordinances, however, the case is differ
emit. Their violation, while annoying
and injurious to many, is usually not
of a character to lead persons to take
the trouble and time to see that they
are enforced and nuisances abated.
While it is the duty ofevery citizen to
see that all laws and ordinances are
observed andsto assist in their enforce
ment it is recognized that citizens
generally cannot be expected to neglect
their affairs and perform the disagree
able duties that would sometimes be
involved, so provision is made in law
for the establishment of police force,
whereby suitable men are delegated
with the authority of the people and
paid to devote their whole time to
this duty. The fact that they are
thus employed presupposes that they
are suitable men. TIE pay is suffi-
Gent and the duties so congenial that
plenty of men are found DESTROYS of
taking upon themselves this duty.
When accepting an appointment on
the police force a man makes a con
tract with the town to do all he canI
to see that all laws and ordinances are
enforced on precisely the same terms
that he would agree to work for an in
dividual, and in addition takes sol
emn oath that he will faithfully and
impartially perform all the duties of
his position and it is his bounden duty
to do it without regard to conse-
quences. To protect him in the dis
charge of his duties not to secure
him in his position for life-t law
provides that a policeman shall not be
removed except for cause duly proven.
Such being the case, it is manifestly
absurd for the police to wait for or in
sist upon complaint being made for
violation of ordinances. 1t is ona par
with man hired to care for and drive
team insisting on his employers
getting his team ready for him to
drive because he, the teamster, did
not like to clean and harness the
horses. Then again a man hiring
with an individual or firm would ex-
pect to do what was required of him,
and be criticised for failure to do SO
so the police are the servants in a way
of every person In the town who has a
rightto expect the police TODD the duty
delegated to them as the individual