The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-12-01
POLICE, THEFT, OPIUM.


its issue Of the 26th, at the inability
of the police force to grapple with
the petty stealings which have be-
come so rife of late, and says,
among many other timely remarks,
that the =" inetficiency of the police
IS a standing reproach to the King
DOM" Similar observations have been
made from time to time in the
columns of the BULLETIN, and will
likely be found necessary to repeat
only too often again. We are always
ready to put in our word in any
agitation raised for the advancement
of the public welfare. There is no
mistaking the fact that efficiency,
among the police, is in very sickly
condition. What method of treat
ment is best to revive the apparently
dying energies of the men with the
buttons is a question that ought to
command the immediate attention of
the authorities. 1t is quite possible
that Honolulu policemen are very
much like other men. At all events,
it has never yet been proven that in
vestiture with nickel button is CO.
incident with radical change in
mans character, principles or dis
position. 1t is not unlikely that
laziness, as well as activity, can
thrive as we'll under button as
without one. Nor should it be ex-
pected that the piece Of nickel plate
is capable of transforming an honest
into a dishonest man, or the reverse.
1t may fairly be accepted as truism
that Honolulu policeman's eff
cheney or weakness depends upon
the instructions he receives. 1t is
utterly useless for the public to
spend their time denouncing police
men. Protests, to be of any avail,
must be made to tell al head
quarters. 1t is with the masters and
not the servants the public have to
deal. Full instructions from their
superiors with peremptory orders
to attend to them wonld wake up
the police force to realization of the
fact that to earn their pay, they
must work for it. This seems to us
to be the only plain, common sense
remedy that can be effectual. The
men with the buttons are not SO
densely stupid but that they can be
made to understand their duties,
nor are they so reckless Of their
own interests as to disobey orders.
The whole matter of police efficiency
thus lies in a nutshell. The men,
not instructed, can well afford to be
ignorant of their duties: and when
not under specific orders, can sub
sist very comfortably on doing
nothing.
The advertiser, however, ignores
, the fact that police inefiiciency is
proof positive of inefficient manage.
70 ment of the force. The taxes pait
by the citizens are placed in thu
hands of the authorities to be uset
by them, among other purposes, fo
the maintenance Of good order. Ant
it is their duty to see to it that tn
money is applied in manner t
give satisfactory returns. That il
this particular, at least, the manage
ment has proved an egregious failur
is universally admitted. But ou
contemporary, instead of goip!
straight to the mark with his argu
ments, suddenly flies off at an angle
and the next place we find him j
foundering in muddle of reason,
ings intended to clear the way for |
free opium crusade. s. We blame,
says ourcontemporary, "the hypocri
tical law of moral pretense-th'
anti opium statute-for the ute
decentralization of the whole force.
We rather blame the hypocritica