The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-23

pOIlCt
1t has been before since the police com
mission was created more than FIVE years
ago.
There have be IN all kinds Of rumors,
and even some attempts 10 shift respon-
sibllity for the adoption OF the rule; but
the feet Is that the vote adopting IL was
unanimous; and. II is learned on nigh
authority there is little chance that 1t viii
be repealed before Il has been tried.
While at first sight the rule appears TO
many 20 be designed not only 10 force
the higher officials In the police separt-
meat- from captain up TO chief, 20 be on
their good behavious all the time but also
TO force them into politics by making
them electioneer every year II they would
hold their positions. others who looked
closely into the cause ond effect OF the
rule see even more In IL than has yet
appeared.
The belief expressed by many is that
both Chairman Luther. who Is known TO
be a Republican with Independent ten
dencies and Commissioner Gross, who
happens TO be chairman OF the Republi-
can state committee. but Is not poll
tician, were influenced in voting for the
rule solely by practical considerations not
allied with politics
Both have stated that they have given
much thought 10 the rule. and are con-
WINGED that II will be a good thing for
the police department and for the city OF
1~TONlucnfe. Even tOillliNHlbhti i<'NtS
j Pierce the imam who sat at the hear
ing" voted for IL when his colleagues ex-
planned their reasons for adopting II.
The rule cannot actually become opera
tive until Next February. Three months
before that time a general election Will
be held In this city At this election Will
be chosen not only state but city Off
cials not least OF whom will be board
OF aldermen. Under the amended police
commission act this board OF aldermen
will have the naming OF the next police
commissioner. the term OF Col Harold j.
Gross expiring on Jan. 81, next.
II the Republican machine should con-
troll the fall election. II would doubtless
name the next police commissioners, and
he would be such a man as the machine
would have confidence In and the people
would not have confidence In.
IL. however. the people are aroused 10
the necessity OF controlling the police
force and taking IL away from machine
domination. the machine will have little
show OF controlling the next board OF al
This is the view expressed by a promi-
nent citizen. who Is thoroughly conver-
SAINT with police and political affairs. and
who believes he sees in the new Rule 8
far more than has yet appeared on the
surface. Said he:
THE police commissioners may have
buildel even better than they knew when
they adopted Rule s. which SO many peo-
pie believe has thrust the police force
the question as TO whether the police
force IA not already in politics, Would
like 70 call attention TO one phase OF this
question which seems to me TO have es-
capped general notice.
''The fall campaign is 10 be conducted
Yn lines that are strange for Rhode
chiefly TO the he necessity for controiiins the
next general assembly. and possibly los
ing sight OF the necessity of controlling
the city council and executive department
in this city. | have hardly yetheard any
candidates mentioned for local offices.
Yet this fall will be the first time the
people OF Providence will have the chance
for az least Ave years, 10 vote on the
question OF controlling their police depart
ment, or the commission when controls
ALI the police and licence functions. The
board has been under control Of the Re
publican state machine for more than
fve years. and we. have been forced &c
pay the bills and had no voice in con-
Now for purely machine political rea-
sons. believe. control OF the police
board has been transferred from the gov
erior and senate 10 the mayor and board
OF aldermen; and practically al resl con-
troll has been vested In the board Of alder
men. which has been from time immemo-
rial an easy thing for the politicians to
control.
When the machine and Chief Matthews
found II impossible, as II did last year,
20 sway a governor with backbone against
William r. Luther chairman OF the
board and in favor OF a machine candi-
date. Il followed it's usual practice OF TAX
ing from the governor even the nominal
Howers II had conferred upon him, and.
o. the specious plea OF "home rule"
eurned the police commissioners and the
police force over 20 the tender mercies
or the gang OF political pirates who have
always controlled the board OF aldermen.
because even as II Is. under the amended
law, the mayor Is a nonentity, so far az
actual control IL concerned. and can not
name a police commissioner unless with
the advice and consent OF the board OF
aldermen. the board can elect whom II
pleases without any action whatsoever by
the mayor.
This merely emphasizes the necessity
for arousing the people OF Providence to
the fact that, II they would control the
police force and bring IL up TO the high
standard II should attain. they must con-
troll the board OF aldermen. which IN turn
controls the police commissioners
Now what is better calculated to focus
public attention upon this fact than the
action OF the police board In adopting rule
q? You cannot accuse the commissioners
OF playing politics. OF course. because I
do not believe that any one OF them had
political considerations in his mind when
ne voted for that rule: but can see how
their action has had this result. whether
they expected IL or not and, even were
the rule 70 be repealed tomorrow. public
attention has still been drawn 10 the
necessity for controlling the board OF al
dermen and defeating any machine in
tention OF once more getting its grip SO
nrmly on the police commission and the
police department that il cannot be
shaken of in many years
"For illustration. suppose at the fall
election the aldermen elected. with inde-
pendent Republican or straight Demo
cratic mayor. should be able TO control
the election OF police commissioner. Is
IL likely that Col Gross successor will
be machine man? Not on your life And
will the selection of such n man prove
al all injurious to the police Department.
Not AT all
"On the other hand. Is there any doubt
es 10 tho undesirable character and
calibfe Of the man the machine Is likely