Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-05-05
TIL E FIRE AND POLICE
COMMITS IONERS.

THE FIRE AND POLICE
COMMISS IONERS.
Acting under authority of chapter
1877, laws of 1870 Mayor Edward Brown
has appointed the following qualified
electors of the city of Mineral Point as
members Of the board of fire and police
commissioners
James Mulhairn for five years;
s. G. Ross for four years.
A. HI. Potter for three years;
Samuel Sims for two years;
Philip Weidenfeller for one year.
The appointment of this board of fire
and police commissioners marks an i'm
portant change in the municipal gov
eminent of Mineral Point. The change
has been made general throughout the
state, in the hope of securing for the
smaller cities of Wisconsin the best fire
fighters and the best policemen possible.
The chief purpose is to provide for the
selection and control of police officers in
such way as to remove them some
what from practical politics, - so that
those whom the laws indite can not
take their spite out of worthy peace
officer at the ballot box. 1t is thought
that the faithful and fearless perform
ance of his duty in cases of need will
commend chief of policesto board of
commissioners having the common good
at heart; while it might register blocks
of votes against him were he candi-
date at the polls.
The success or failure of the new plan
in Mineral Point depends very largely
upon the five worthy citizens whom
Mayor Brown has appointed as the first
board of fire and police commissioners.
They owe it to themselves and to the
community to perform their duties
wisely and well. Especially do they
owe it to Mayor Brown who, because of
his confidence in their ability and char
acter, has selected them to do the i'm
portant work set before them. AS they
succeed or fail in meeting their oppor
tunity will both he and they be judged.
One of the manifold duties of chief of
police is the enforcement of the statutes
and ordinances relating to the sale of
Intoxicating liquors. Mineral Point has
voted for license and it is the duty of
the common council to grant the legal
number of licences to applicants of good
character who furnish bonds. License
should not, however, be granted to
those who do not or will not observe the
requirements of statutes and ordinances
as pledged in their bonds. Upon this
point the chief of police is best qualified
to speak; and he ought to speak truth
fully and fearlessly; and his advice
ought to be given due weight by the
councilmen in determining whether an
applicant is or is not entitled to license.
The Democrat is confident that very
large majority of the citizens of Mineral
Point want a quiet and firm enforce
ment of law. More than that, we be-
heve that a majority of the men who
sell liquor are opposed to selling to
minors and habitual drunkards and in
favor of Sunday closing. They desire
or at least ought to desire-tr be law
abiding in this respect themselves; and
many of them say that they want the
law enforced against those who persist
in violations. Let the law be enforced.
in choosing chief of police the COM
missioners should make no mistake. He
ought to be brave man with good
level head on his shoulders. He ought
to be a sober man. A thirst should
disqualify him. He will represent the
authority of the city, especially on
the streets; and on his watchful care
will in great measure depend the
safety of the streets and the peace and
good order of the community.
So far this article has chiefly referred
to the duties of public officers: Now a
word in regard to the duty of the Dem
ocrat as public newspaper. 1t is our
special duty to commend the good in
local government, and to condemn the
the bad in good strong words. We
would rather praise than blame; and
we believe that with changed condi-
tions there will be opportunity for fa--
vorable rather than adverse criticism.
Constant complaint is tiresome and