Year: 1878

To the Editor Of the Gazette:


was spoken to by cne of your sub
scribers who lives up on what used to be
called Quaker Hill, who saidahis, "I read
your article in opposition to the increase
of the police force, and thought very well
of it," "But," said he to me earnestly,
"can't you get the GAZETTE, to come out
stronger in opposition to the proposed
increase, for they are not needed" And
referring me to the city of Philadelphia
how they were groaning under the weight
Of taxes.


And see by to-day's Ledger, that the
rate of taxes is fixed at 50 05 on the 100
dollars and 1 came to the conclusion from
the discussion of these CoHncilmen that
they would fall short at the end of the
year of meeting their current expenses"


And they further said, that they were
driving manufacturers out of the city by
compelling them to seek some place
where the taxes is lower. "Wbere Is
there better place than our thriving
city for them to come to. if we keep our
taxes down, and as crime Is on the de-
crease in the city it is thought by many of
our best citizens that a less number of
police would be better than to increase
| the force. To back this up, was told
] by our States Attorney, the other day in
the court room, that there were very few
criminal cases this term. And what l
said to you in my former letter about the
| morals of our city, 1 now will tell you
why she $50. In reading to-day's paper
saw statement of the number of
churches in New York city 375, of all de-
nominations, one to every 28O00 of the
| inhabitants.


In our city we have about one church
| to every 1000 Inhabitants. No wonder
that New York IS burdened with taxes
| and has to keep such an army of police
to keep the city in subsection. 10 the civil
| powers. And the city of Philadelphia
that used to be called the "Quaker City,"
at this time is not one whit better than
New York. This shows clearly that it is
better to build churches than police sta
tions, and as our city is growing in popu-


lation and increasing in all kinds of busi-
ness we ought to see and shun the faults
that these large cities have run into
| They are groaning under those millions
] of debit; but when we compare the large


amount of the inhabitants of these cities
to ours and look at our debt, we will find


we are coming up on them very fast.
Now in conclusion let me say that 1
think that our City Council had better
make some provision to pay our floating
debt off, instead of the proposed increase
of our police force. For one, am very


much opposed to funding it, and think L
speak the mind of large amount of our


best citizens, for this reason: If this
debt is funded we will Then lose sight of
it, and then run in debt again. And l


believe there is enough moral honesty in


our tax payers to pay this debt off il


Council Will make some wise provision
to do 1t.


One more word or two about the po-
lice. Some people like to see men
dressed up In uniform, and would like to


have one on every square. But this
class generally pay very little tax, and
all OF them would like to have an office
of some kind if they could,get it.


| But the solid-thinkiDg class of people


believe that our present efficient police
force Is able to protect us, and If they
can't catch a robber in the act of steal,
ing, they can catch him in few days,
and that will answer just as WE'LL and L
have never heard any one say that they
were afraid to sleep at night for the want
Of protection, neither do believe we
could sleep any sounder if we had the
proposed increase of our police force.