Year: 1870




HARRISBURG, March 3.-Mr. Billingfelt pre-
sented petition from citizens against the new
Police bill


Mr.. Henszey reported a new Police bill, with
amendments which were made in committee by
himself. The bill is as follows


An Act Supplemental to Act 10 Incorporate the CITY


of Philadelphia in Reference to the Poce Of said


City, and Prooidin9 for Board Of Police Commits


Be it enacted That for the better preservation Of
the peace OF the city OF Philadelphia and for the
purpose OF securing permanent police therefor,


from and after the ASS OF rs all Sas %
delpha in relation to the appointment organization
and discipline OF the police force OF said city be and
they are hereby vested IN nve commissioners, to be
whom shall be the Mayor of said city, who
shall be er o65ctO the president OF said
quorum for the transaction Of business. Four OF
said commissioners shall be elected by the Select
and Common Councils of said city, in Joint conven-
tion assembled within twenty days from the passage
of this act at least one OF whom shall be OF the
political party as the majority of said convention,
but shall be OF the same political party as and shall
be nominated by the minority OF said joint conven-
ton: and said commissioners elected shall hold
their ofce until the first Monday OF January, A. D.


Section 2. That at the general election to be held
on the I'd Tuesday Of October A. D. 1870, there shall
Philadelphia four commissioners to serve In said
board, one OF whom shall hold ONCE for one year.
four years. from the first Monday OF January, A. d.
1870 said terms of office to be decided by lot upon
organization OF Balu DOaTQ anu IN Lne presence
of the president thereof, which shall take
place at noon on the Monday succeeding
said election, or as soon thereafter as
thereafter there shall be elected by the qualified
electors Of said city commissioner to serve for the
term OF four years from the first Monday OF January
next succeeding said general election All vacancies
occurring in said board shall be filled as follows:
the vacancy occur In the commissioner whose term
January, the Select and Common Councils Of
said city shall I'LL said vacancy within twenty
thirty days or upwards before the next general cleo
tion in the office Of q commissioner whose term
would not have expired on the @ Monday Of the
said city shall, within twenty days, elect commits
sOner to serve until the first Monday OF the next
January. The Select and Common Councils of said
a commissioner to serve until the
electors Of said city SHALL on the next election after
the happening of said vacancy, elect commissioner
to for the unexpred term OF said vacancy who
shall enter upon the duties Of his ONCE the said
first Monday OF the next January after said election
II vacancy shall within thirty days OF gene
Ta whose term In woTd SaSe e1ed oa @
first Monday OF the second January then
next following, the Select and Common Councils
shall in like manner elect commissioner within 30
days, to serve for the said unexpired term II q
vacancy shall occur within 80 days OF general
whose term would have continued beyond
the first Monday OF the second January then next
following. The Select and Common Councils shall,
Il
until the first Monday OF the second January then
next following, and the qualified electors OF said city
shall at the general election TO be held before the
second January elect commissioner for said uneX-
pired term who shall enter upon the duties OF his
office on the first Monday OF the January succeeding
| his said election.


Section g. That before entering upon the duties Of
his office, each commissioner provided Tor by this
act excepting the Mayor Of said city, shall be duly
uualihed In the presence OF the courts OF SAID city
by one OF the Judges OF the Court OF Common Pleas
in said city, to well and faithfully discharge the
duties OF his office to the best OF his Abilities


| Section 4. The qualifications for commissioners
under this act shall be the same as those prescribed
| for members Of the House OF Representatives OF
| this Commonwealth; and no person shall be eligible
1 date for election or appointment to any national,
county, or municipal ofice OF trust or pront other
| than those of Police Commissioner; ana the menu
bers OF the police to be reorganized and appointed
| by said board shall hold office during good
behavior and shall be liable to dismissal only for
violation of rules established by said board for the
| government of the said force, and alter public
hearing before said board provided that any police
| man who has been tried and sentenced Tor any crime
| or msdemeanor by any criminal court, may be sum-
mariy removed by the said board, and therefore Is
| Section s. All contested elections OF members OF
| the BOARD of Police Commissioners snail be com.
| menced and prosecuted IN the same manner as IL
now provided by law for contesting the election OF


SeCtion a That the Select and Common Councils
of the city OF Philadelphia shall 1x the salaries OF
the commissioners and OF the clerks OF said board


They shall also fix the NUMBER OF pollcemen and


ofcers OF the force, determine their rates OF com


pensatIon and provide for the payment OF all sala


ries under this act They shall also furnish suitable
| Recommendations for the meetings OF the board, AND


provide for the payment OF the same and al neces
] saTy expenses thereof Provided, that nothing con