The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-12-10
Scranton CITY Government.

| The law and ordinances are all that
one could wish, but are trampled upon with
utter impunity. In this respect the coun-
ellis are not free from neglect. Indifference
in management and gross carelessness IN
the discharge of duty seems to be the most
prominent feature of the city government.
In fact, it has been pronounced farce.
We might almost accept the term-itI
would be just, though, to say that the
ching" runs itself 1t is a shame, MIR.
President, to be compelled to say that
whisky and beer propels the police depart
ment. This city actually pays salaries
ranging from SO to $3.50 per month to-
enhance the wealth of keepers of whisky,
ale and beer. 1t is fact known to all that
d large number of our police, including the
chief make their loafng places in saloons
and hanging around bars, while in section
IA, ordinance No. 2. it reads, it shall be
| their duty to caution strangers and others
from going into places where idlers and
tipplers congregate. In stead of being on
duty, as the law requires, they are robbing
the city of its revenue, enhancing its crimes
by their idleness, and bringing disgrace up
on it by laziness that is simply too con-
temptibe to speak Of Ny opinion, gen
tlemen, is, that the time has come when
"beer" no longer should be our chief of
Police If we cannot make change, moth
ing but crime will be the record of the city
Of Scranton How long has it been since
the knocking down and almost numbering
Of two citizens at the foot Of Penn avenue.
Two policemen arrived before any Of the
party dispersed. They made no arrests );
told the rufians to go home. These two
policemen should be discharged at once.
1t is certainly required that a policeman
should be temperate man. Section 81,
says policemen shall be Immediately dis
charged from office for intoxication while
on duty OF for violent, coarse or insoient
language yet IN the face of this, the testi-
mony in the Kearney trial is that chief
| Ferber was either drunk or intoxicated :;
also that the most profane language was
used by him beside that of treating the
colored man on Sunday morning We
shall endeavor TO fpd who the parties were
that sold them these drinks on Sunday.
Yet, gentlemen, if this police force had
been sober, and attentive to- duty, we verify
Cured. When the testimony Of the wit
nesses in this case is that this party were
at Nol's, on Lackawanna aVenue at john
Zeidlers at Lorenz Zeidlcr's; through
centre street, and the whole length of Penn
avenue to Dicksons works, and that police
officers, including the chief, was In num-
Der Of these places, and the damning testi-
mony Of his conduct, what else could we
expect. It seems that the fumes OF incar-
cerated poisons secreted in the brain by
the deposit of draughts taken from the
fountains of hell, found no other outlet but
in the life's blood Of Kearney. This poor
man was quiet, inoffensive citizen. He,
in common with our great human family,
had his weakness, probably in drink, but
he in common with Us, expected and de-
mandcd protection from our authorities
But in the hour Of his greatest need our
keepers of peace were under the control
of an element that was an iDstigator
of the crime. Those Of US who have not
yet fell by the hand of r,.e assassin, OF
been waylaid in cur public thorough
fares, cannot contemplate the though of
the dying kearney, pummelled and kicked !
by brutes of the worst passions, gathered |
up like a loathsome animal, taken through |
the heart OF the city IN the hour Of mid |
night, thrown down an embankment an |
hundred feet high and left for dead, prob
ably returned to consciousness before death, |
but not to strength laying alone through |
the dark hours of night with no one to |
commune with but his God, and no watch
man but the stars above him, no doubt he |
thought Of the rottenness Of our police |
force. We say gentlemen if our police
were not directly implicated in this murder
they were indirectly.
Section 10 says, each police must be in
his conduct quiet, civil and orderly. Thank
God some are SO but if others are moth
ing but walking barrels of beer, how can
they keep order.
Again, Section y says, any policeman
who shall willfully maltreat or use violence
toward a prisoner, shall, on complaint be-
ing made, be Immediately discharged.
[ would recommend that the Common
Council, acting in concurrence with the Sc
lect, proceed to the trial of every police
man salaried, who has been remiss in duty
and Incorporate in habits, and, if found
guilty, to Immediately discharge them.
Further would move an investigation
be held by this council for one of its mem
bers being intoxicated and incarcerated in
our city prison.
Gentlemen, this monster must be
robbed of his power as far as the city
government is concerned. The councils
have not searched and sifted the characters
and habits of these candidates for police as
they should. Men of Incorporate habits,
for these posts of life's protection should
never be called into service. ask WHY
not probe the malady at his core, and let
the putrifaction escape? We will then
see life restored and vigilance upon every
side. Gentlemen, l shall hereafter en-
deavor to ferrit out the lurking places of
Sant nic of L. IL