The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-21

of the city coucil or any citizen think
such a thing is of such little i'm
portance to this ciey, when every
where in every other city it is of such
paramount importance.
My reason for saying that it is
a welcome for vice and crime and an
invitation to graft and enefT1ciency, is
that such a measure give any man
who was so inclined, the necessary
power so to do, 1t would leave with
him, the power to select men, (regarG-
less Of moral influences or efficiency
as police. 1t would leave the chief
of police absolute master, for good
or evil,) to consort with associates
as he desired, and enslave any man
who dared oppose his will.
1t is a death blow to reform and
civil service, because It leaves nothing
for the board of public safety to offer
as an inducement to any individual
officer who tried to make himself pro-
ficient. (The present board of public
safety has tried to award those men
who has proved their worth with ap-
pointments to better posttions) and
here I will say that the present board
of public safety, is the first one to my
knowledge that has ever held an ex-
animation for the police department,
to show it's worth and benefit ] would
request those who are interested to
look up the report of same in The
the present chief or police is opposed
or at least to the examinations being
made public should know to what
kind Of men Is entrusted to peace
and welfare of the city. They alone
their ability. '''
1t is a prison Of individual liberty
and places feters of Emancipation on
the freedom Of every man in the po-
lice department, because then the
to reward those OF personal prefer
ence regardless OF efficiency or worth.
and I do not believe that his individ-
uallty Is so unblemished from a per-
sonal feeling that it would have no
weight in making appointments. in
fact 1t is a dangerous power for any
one man to possess as / shall try to
show, from the importance that other
cities places upon the appointments
and elections.
AS an illustration I will mention
some of the nearby cities and the i'm
portance they place upon this spb-
ject, beginning with our Deep Water
City the Gem Of the Northern Gulf
Coast.
Pensacola-For election to the de-
partments or appointments. Chief
RECOMMENDS TO In6 DOar0 or puDNC
safety, who elect or reject.
Atlanta, CAL have to advise that
the board of police commissioners and
the mayor elects men on the force
and also appoints to the position of
captains. sergeants and roundsmen
Henry Jennings, Chief Of Police.
Meridian, Miss..-The police depart
ment under our present ordinance are
appointed by recommendation Of the
latsA A& - -
| mayor and boards alderman and
councilmen. The same applied tc
higher offices such as Captain, Lieu
tenants and etc. w. H. Lyon, chiei
of police.
The Metropolitan Of Florida, Jack.
| sonville-Our custom of appointment!
is that the chief recommends all mer
to be appointed to the police depart.
ment to the police committee of the
recommend to the board of bond trus-
tees, who appoint them and sends
them to the city council for confir.
nation, where they must be confirmed
by wo-thirds vote of that body, Of
they cannot be police officers, thu
same course is taken with appoint
ments for higher officers. w. D. Vim.
1 zant, Chief of police.
New Orleans. lathe inspector
of police (not the chief of police
makes all appointments and promo.
! lions, from a list furnished by tn,
board Of civil service commissioners
John s. Boyle, St, Capt. Act Inspec'
tor, police.
Commission government. city o.
Montgomery. Ala-.-CThis city same
as Pensacola until change of govern
ment.) The board of commissioner.
have absolute authority in all ap.