Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1908-01-21
FORCE OF FIFTY
IS RECOMMENDED
CONGRESSMAN PROPOSES PER
MANENT BODY UNDER CON-
STABULARH LEADER.

The bill for policing the State that
is favored by Congressman George A.
Bartlett and considered in the special
committee yesterday provides for a |
troop of fifty men to be established
under the superintendency of al
trained soldier. Mr. Bartlett told of
his recommendations in the follow
ing interview in the Carson News:
MY own Judgment is that the
body of special State police consist
ing of not less than so men, should
be organized under the control of a
superintendent of State police, who
should be appointed by the governor.
| or by a board of State officers, con-
sisting of the governor, the attorney
general and the secretary of State;
the special police to take oath of Of
| fee as such and be authorized to
make arrests and prevent rioting and
violence in the same manner as ordi-
nary police, sheriffs and constables
are now empowered These police
would work with and cooperate with
the sheriffs and constables of the
necessity might demand their action.
| The special police should be thor
oughly organized and disciplined, and
be subject to immediate call by the
superintendent, who, in his discre-
ton, should distribute them in sever
al parts of the State, wherever in his
judgment possibilities might arise for
their use in preventing disturbance OF
violation of law. The State police
should be paid by the State a nomin
al salary, say about $50 per month
each, and when called into actual
service in any particular county
should receive IS per day in addition
to such salary, the latter amount to
be paid by the county where such
service may be required.
Fifty dollars would be small
salary. but in the meantime the po-
lice could pursue their ordinary vo-
cations, taking only portion of their
time for drill and discipline. The adj
vantage of this system must be APP
parent, as well organized body of
men is much more effective to pre-
vent troubles and loss of life than
an unorganized gang of deputies Sc
lected in the sudden turmoil of 4
pressing emergency, who would prob
ably be most likely selected because
of their gun-fighting tendencies, and
who as an unorganized body would
be more apt to be reckless and care
less of human life and infinitely less
able 10 cope with unusual conditions
Some objection is made to this
plan because of the expense, but the
cost | think should be minor con.
sideration. The material considers
ton before the people of Nevada to
day is the maintenance of law an(
order and the protection of persona
and property rights. Nevada is chal
lenged before the world as being un
able to protect her citizens or he
property against violence and de
struction. She is able to do this AM
= to maintain and compel the respec
of her sister States, and the question
of expense in maintaining this re
spect seems idle and puerile in con
sidering her first and higher duty.
1T is very probable that Nevada
mineral production during the pas
year would have been three times a
large had we taken hold of cond
tions in the south sooner. and pre-
vided protection for the interests nc
only OF our own people in this Stat
but the interests of people through
out the United States who have bee
pouring money into our mining di
tricts for the development OF ou
new discoveries.
1T has been stated in some paper
that previous TO my election ] ha
stated my opposition to militia organ
izatlons. but that since the calm
OF the special session | had change
my view. This is absolutely untru
and whoever wrote IL to the Sacri
J mento Bee was misinformed. al
} stin positive In my opposition
state militia. as they. In my Opinion
would be no more ~ to suppress VIZ