Year: 1860

We publish elsewhere the full text of Mr.. Lewis
bill introduced in the House on the list inst, to
reorganize the Police Department of this CITY, AS
the subject matter of the proposed law is of great
local Importance to the people of New Orleans,
we invite the careful attention of our readers to
the provisions of the BILL The order, security and
comfort Of the community, as well as the good
reputation of the city abroad, all depend in
great measure upon the getting and maintaining OF
an honest and efficient police. Every effort made
to secure such Department should, therefore, be
seconded If it is at all likely to prove favorable in
its results. @f


In this spirit we have carefully examined Mr..
Lewis bill, and in it find many admirable pro-
visions: but while we thus freely admit its ex-
cellencies, we are compelled in candor to say,
that there are few, butvery serious objections,
also to be found incorporated in its sections. To
begin with, we most seriously oppose the plan Of
having a 'Board of Poce,h (for the trial of offen-
ses committed by policemen,) appointed by the
Governor of the State. The theory Of creating
such body by Executive appointment is anti-re-
publican and unjust to the people Of this city. We
Of New Orleans are more interested in having good
policemen than anybody else. We know better
how to suit ourselves than anybody else can. And
for the Legislature assume that in order to have
qualified and impartial Police Board, the choice
Of its members must be left in the hands of the
Governor ii to insult the virtue and intelligence Of
this community, and to repudiate all republican
principles. State authorities have a distinct and
independent province Of duty. They should not
be tolerated in any attempt to interfere with our
strictly local affairs. And it is quite wise and
Just to permit Congress to frame the domestic in
sttutions Of States as to suffer State Executives to
appont the local municipal officers of cities. 1T is
shameless deserton of principle to hold that the
people cannot be trusted with the power Of choos-
ing Police Board-the people who choose Presi-
dents, Senators, Governors Legislators and Judges!
But, even if these considerations were not con
elusive against the creation of Board of State
officers to interfere in our municipal affairs, the
useless expense Of such body should be enough
TO condemn it. The salaries of the members Of the
Board with that of the clerk. fixed at their mini
| mum and q moderate allowance for " contingen-
cies - will involve expenditure of between three
and five thousand dollars per annum perhaps
more. And this, in order to secure Board who,
| if Democracy is not all sham must be inferior to
| the peoples own chosen representatives in the
Common Council There is no need for such an
expenditure. Let the Mayor, as the bill provides,
appoint policemen during good behavior, with
power to remove for cause; and compel him, in
| each case of the exercise of the removing power,


to transmit a record of his act, with full state
ment of the facts and the evidence to the Board Of
Aldermen, and let that body, in executive session
exercise revisionary power over his action with


authority to confirm, or to reverse IT by restoring


the officer who has been dismissed. In this manner
| the peoples own representatives would have the
| power to protect the policeman against the tyranny
| Of the Mayor; and there would be no new Board
| appointed in a manner foreign to institutions


and involving heavy and perfectly unnecessary ex
pense.


We commend that feature of the bill that makes
| the tenure of the policeman to his place las
during good behavior This will prevent sucf
| frequent changes in the personnel of the Depart


ment, and secure to the city the advantage of ex
| perience in the SERVICE We also favor the plan O.


the city's remunerating such unfortunate men al


are wounded or disabled while performing the
| duty. We think the principle might be carries


still further, and that the families of those who LOSE


their lives, under like circumstances, should BIZ
4 allowed moderate pension. There various


other things in the bill to commend, and somt


minor points that might be condemned; and WI
may recur to the subject again.