The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-29

CRIME IN Nd.

To judge from the public prints and
from the conversation we hear on the
streets, there is a something in this village
designated as a or the "citizens committee.
Who compose this COMMITTEE" we know
not, although some of their names are in
our possession. We are, also, ignorant of
the source of their authority,if any author
ity they have. 1t is perfectly evident,
however, that they have no more authority
than any other three, five or more citizens
can take upon themselves. 1t was stated
on the streets, at the outset, that their OBJ
ject was to see that the law was duly en-
forced and the violators brought to pun
ishment. Such an object ought to have
the countenancc and support OF every good
citizen, and we doubt not that upon pro-
per representation of the matter, the ap-
pointment of proper committee-to act,
of course, in concert with the officers Of
the law-money enough would be forth
coming to clear out all the vile law break
ers that infest the low holes of Rutland
decent part Of the community. But this
committee, if we understand it-and we
only speak from hearsay-haye pad their
attention only to the enforcement of one
particular law The enforcement of that
law is perfectly right and proper what
ever we or any one else may think of the
policy thereof it is law and must be obey
ed. The trouble, as 1t seems to us. has
been in the attempt to enforce the law by
special officers, and TO enforce ii mt the eN-
pense of other laws. In what we have
said and in what we propose to say, we
know that we shall subject ourself to mis-
representation, calumny and personal
abuse, but we care not so long as our mo-
tives are right and we have only the public
veal in view.
There can be no connection in the mat.
ter, but it is most painful coincidence
that, since the time referred to, there Ina.
been most alarming increase of crime in
Rutland Within few weeks there have
been more fiendish and horrible crimes
committed in Rutland than in more than .
quarter Of a century before Commcnc,
with the larceny, murder and arson OF
Forest street and follow along down TO til,
attack on the man in the uptown
GROCERY, Sunday, aud the brutal Outrage
in the bridge Monday, and what city o.
town can furnish similar record Of crime
in proportion to the population Their
must be some reason for this. What is il
Is 1t because attention has been paid to tn,
enforcement of police regulation, as th
supreme court of Vermont calls it, to th,
exclusion of all other crimes ? Is it because
the regular officers of the law are becom
ing lax in the execution of their duties be
cause, in some instances, they feel that the,
have been superseded 2 Is it because "
have all along been negecting and viola
ting minor laws, considering them of n
consequence, and thus bringing up a elias
Of law breakers and teaching them by on
example There is reason for it some
where, but we cannot pretend to say wba
it is or who is responsible therefor.
state of things exist in this village tina
calls for immediate action. If W
drift ON as we have been drifting fo
the past few weeks no mans lii
or property. will be safe, Il seems to I