The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-06
POLICE coMsrrss sroN.

While 1t Is uncertain. as yet. whether or not the present Council win elect a Pcfsce Commission. the necessity for such a body has time and again been demonstrated in this city. Those wAo are opposing Commission do so very largely upon the idea that we have as good a police force as can be desired. and that there is no need for change in present methods of selection. This very largely gets down to personal basis. and great questions should be considered without reference to indi- viduals.
 The police force may be an improve ment on what 1t has been in the past. To certain extent. we are prepared to admit that 1t is. but a more efflcient service can be secured if those who compose the force Knew that they do not hold their positions because of po- htical favoritism or as a reward for personal and political influence. The only question. then. would be one of merit, and every man would be moved to do his level best in order to retain his position. There would be more permanency for first-class men, because they would not be removed as long as they discharged their duties. while. on the contrary. those would have to go against whom there was proof of neg feet or failure to attend to their work. From this viewpoint. e change in methods would be better for city and officials.
 No one will dispute that in times past the police force has been too much in evidence in politics. Many citizens have been asked by policemen to vote this or that way in order that certain persons might retain their places. The lining up of the police force on one side in any local contest means vir- tually victory for that side They and those who are allied with them by per- sonal or family ties constitute a tre- mendous force. and ft is time that steps were taken to prevent this force being thrown solidiy in one direction. It means control of city affairs. effected through an instrumentality looking out for its own interests alone. This ought not longer to be tolerated.
 The question of who shall compose a Police Board ought not to be diff ficult to solve. No man should be member who has any interest whatever. contingent or remote. in the compost ton of the Board. Who will look sole- fv to fba Aant sxtsras+~ oS tha .s4x. anA not what pecuniary or political end can be subserved should be the gov erning motive of councilmen when they come to select. If the School Board could be duplicated in the Police Board. 1t would be happy day for Montgomery. We do not mean that the same individuals should be se- lected. but that men of the same spirit should compose 1t. No one ever hears of any political or outside influence in the School Board. With them. it Is d question of merit, and merit alone: and yet before that Board was established many teachers were selected because of pressure upon Aldermen who had 10 elect. by those who had political axes to grind. and not because of ability of teacher elected. The School Board is blessing to Montgomery. and Police Board. properly constituted of men who do not expect any personal good or benefit from membership on it. will work equally as great a change for the better in this city. Such Board can be selected if the Council will set it's heart to the work and dis regard all other considerations than those of selecting men who desire to make the best interests of the city, and in whom the personal equatlon will have no effect F