, 1881-11-27
MORE POLICEMEN INCREASE OF
SALOON LICENSES


and City Council to interpose their authority
aud increase the police force OF the city. The
population Of Chicago has Increased II per
cent since the census If June, 1850, and the
police force of the city has not been i'll
creased for years. The whole force in 1876
was 513, III 1sS0-'S1 it was 5S3. This INCLUDES
rank and file, from Superintendent down to
statlonkeeper It includes all the men enl-
pioyeu at street-crossings, at all the statiol,-
houses, at all the bridges and dep0ts a1id
other public places, and these and the officers
being withdrawn, the remainder is divided
into three forces, which nre OH duty alter
nntely as patrolmen.
The districts have become so large that it
is impossible for an officer to get over half
Of them during his time on duty, and the
men are so far distant from assistance that 1t
is no longer safe for patrolman to go alone
through many of the districts. It is no longer
safe for pedestrians to traverse the streets at
night; men arc knocked down anywhere OIL
the West Side between the river and Union
Park, and persons in the South Division are
habitualy pillaged, while North Clark street
is hardly any safer than Blleravenuc. Gangs
of rufTlalls are to be found in all parts Of the
city who treat with contempt the weak ct-
forts of the inadequate police force. and the
daring Datrolman who tries to do his duty
is unliesitatingly shot down, and the as
snsins invariably escape. 1t Is a COM
mon everyday occurrence for ladies to
be assaulted Oh the streets, and their
pockctbooks or satchels forcibly taken from
them. All tllis immunity to crime is the
direct and immediate result of the weakness
of the police force. An active force Of 150
men on duty at time is utterly inadequate
for the protection Of life and property in a
city Of the wide area and population Of Chi
cago.
Chicago wants now, today, and at all times,
Mt least 200 additional policemen, and even
greater number than that could find dill
gent employment. No person knows this
better than Mayor Harrison, Chief Nc
Garigle, and the members Of tue Citizens AS
sociation. Every taxpayer and every reputable
cilizen is aware of the deficiency, anu this
lamentable state of affairs is also thoroughly
known and appreciated by the gangs oi
murderous thieves and burglars who m;tke
this city their headquarters.
The only rational excuse given for this neg
lect Of duty BY tile Council and Mayor is tho
want Of money-an ins11tciency of revenue
to meet the increase Of expenditure. I1lE
TRIBUNE has repeatedly shown that tins
lnsufIiciency of revenue is wholly due to the
uuwilllugness to collect it, and to 4 moral
cowardicc that is wholly objectionable. The
revenue is available it the Mayor and Cuun-
Gil will impose the duty Of collecting it.
There are $500 snlOonS i'll the city; these
pay license of S52 a year, an aggregate OF
about S1S2,0Oo. This license fee was fixed in
1866, more than twcnty-six years ago, and
when the city had about 1000 population, or
that of one or two wards at present. This
small license rate has never Since been i'll
creased, though the population and liquor
business OF the city }1nve doubled several
times at that time the fees from saloon
licenses were nearly if not quite equal to
the cost Of maintaining Il police force. Itis
now wholly insufficient to pay one-half the
cost Of the present force.
1t is universally conceded that the saloon
license rate In this city is wholly dispro-
portioned to the privileges and the business
enjoyed by the saloonkeepers. The majority
of the saloonkeencrs admit this, and will
gladly Cooperate with tho Mayor aud Council
in increasing the rates. THE TRIBUNE has
urged the Council to discriminate between
the classes of licenses Issued to retailers of
liquor, and has proposed that these licenses
be fixed at the following rates:
L Licenses fur the exclusive sale Of beer,
wine, and cigars, sl0o. .. Licenses for the
sale Of tobacco and all kinds of liquor, i'll
Guiding beer, $780,. This change Of license
rates would probably have the effect OF re-
ducing the number Of licensed establish
mcnts to 3,0oo1 and the revenue from which
would be proDortioned about as follows:
1900 beer licenses, $150,o0o; 1,50o other
licenses, $500, 1000; or a total Of s;5o,oo0, all
Increase OF $40 Co., and I'LL Increase equal to
the pay of $50 additional patrolmen will,
their proper officers. 1t is mistake to as
sulne that this increase Of rates Of license
would permanently drive any great proper
ton Of the saloonkeepers out of the busi
ness We have allowed for the withdrawal o1
one-seventll, but that would only be tempo
| rary. The profits Of the business are simply
enormous, they Averaging frolu 50 to 200 pei
cent No man now doing good busines: