The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-01-22
REPORT OF OHIEF OF PnLInR.

The Chief Of Police has issued re-
markable manifesto, which contains
vast amount Of food for analytical
thought lie tells the public. who foot
the bills, that IN the year 1879 there
we're nearly $500 arrests made for
various ofieuses in this city, Of which
l,255, or half are charged directly to in
toxication. OF the remaining charges,
such as abusive language, assault and
battery, assault with dangerous weap-
ons, assault TO kill, disorderiy conduct,
fighting, driving faster than a walk over
q bridge, driving fast IN the streets,
employing women In bar-rOoms, aud
vagrancy, We confidently assert that Et
least three-lourths are At least indirectly
chargeable to the same source. After
the Chiefs exhaustive array Of facts,
from which We draw the above con-
clusious, he favors the public with the
usual steTeotyped suggestions, which as
plainly mean "How not 10 do IT," as do
all the plans Of circumlocution which
have ever been put forward for a like
ostensible purpose since men aloue have
[ had dominion over the earth.
There is not one word in this mani
festo in reference to suppressing saloons.
That would be attacking the evil at the
root and it would be bad policy for the
police to kill the goose that lays its
golden egg. Indeed, the voters Of the
city-the owners OF the goose-would
not permit such an innovation upon
their Individual sovereignty. But,
/ fortunately for the Chief Of Police, there
is class who like the Mormous whom
the preacher We read Of was permitted
to attack, "haven't a friend in town."
Aud Of this class the couservator OF the
city's morals proceeds to make seape-
goat after the most approved fashion.
This class has no vote and no visible po-
Itical power; yet its members have
physical necessities equal 20 those Of the
voting classes, and quite as much right
10 frequent saloons as they.
Let no one misunderstood us. We
agree with Chief Lappeus that women
ought not to be permitted to "loiter in
Oh around saloons" or ego in or come
out Of them" But the mothers Of men
would 90 yet further il they were Of the
I law-making classes. They would de-
mand the same rule that he demands
for women TO be applied to both sexes.
They would go further yet. They would
demand the suppression OF all places Of
evil resort which DOW entice both men
and women to destruction, and which
flourish everywhere under the present
regime, in direct conformity with man
made law.
BY all means, let the Common Coun-
ell pass the ordinances recommended by
the Chief Of Police. Bat when it is
passed, let it be so amended as 10 Include
all persons. Under the present ordi-
nance, this evil cannot be reached. But
/ We are fully convinced that, If such a
policy were inaugurated aud enforced,
the saloons would receive their death
blow, as they can receive it in no other
way. To borrow largely from the report
before Us, although it might reduce the
revenue TO the city in great degree, it
would prove less injurious to the public.
At this date, there are rs places IL
censed where liquor IS sold by the drink" ="
Vow, The uon-votiug classes Insist
that the voters have no more right to
"loiter around these places" than they.
II it is wrong ,and We say it Isl for one
class 10 entics another into temptation,
then it is far worse for these places Of
temptation TO be allowed TO exist to en-
/ tice any body to do evil Aud It is in
f1itely worse than this Tor any discrimi-
nation in law aud custom to be fostered
which makes it a crime Tor one class to
commit an olIense which another may
indulge with impauity.