Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-06
EFFORTS FOR REFORM.
Methods of Action-Their Results Else
Where-Organize Hera

Methods of Action-Their Results Else
where-Organize Here.
EDS. RECORD UNION: Frequent mention
has been made in your columns of late OF
the fragrant default of the police of the
city to arrest persons violating openly GER
tain laws of the State and city. All this is
so notorious that the expectations of all
good citizens is eagerly turned toward the
approaching election in the hope that a
change in the police administration will
give the relief that is desired. l do not
hesitate to say that this change of admins
tration can at best only effect this relief in
part.
This defiance of law that marks the
city is wider spread than appears upon the
surface grievouS as it is, and covers other
offenses than lottery dealing and gambling.
Specially is the law against the sale of
liquors to minors constantly violated, and
boys and even girls are coming up among
US debauched by the drink habit in conse-
quence.
Other laws are persistently defed-laws
that do not come strictly within the Grim
inal calendar, yet that have large bear
ing on the morality of the city and its rep
lions of no small weight to residents of the
city, and TO those looking to residence, &C
customed to the fullest protection of law in
these respects in other places. Violations
OF laws of this class are so numerous that
any police force of limited numbers like
our own, at the highest possible state of
efficiency, could reach but few of the vio-
lators. Relief must come in other direc-
tons. The citizens of the city should
be awake to looking for relief in other di-
rections. The police force of the city, such
as it is, should be made as efficient as pos
sible, and the present disgrace of venal
police administration should be wiped out
and an efficient Chief OF Police elected at
the March election, as we believe there will
be. But other remedies are called for.
These conditions of an insufficient police
force, more or less venal, and a large and
strongly intrenched and defiant class OF
Iaw-breakers, are not new in cities, nor the
evils complained of local to Sacramento.
To contest these conditions and to grapple
with these evils is one of the problems OF
city government everywhere. Numerous
attempts have been made TO solve this
problem, the number of attempts made in
cities in various parts of the land in the
last few years, without special concurrence.
is one of the hopeful signs of municipal re-
form.
One plan deserves special notice for its
success. 1t is the plan in operation in Chi
cago, inaugurated in 1877, and successfully
pushed every year since the plan
of " Citizens Law and Order
League to prosecute without IA
vor, and by efficient machinery, every
offender against every law included in the
statutes. II pOstulates the principle that
the enforcement of law is essential to
the perpetuity of good government" and
from this pushes its work against
the more respectable" but no less
dangerous law breakers who cannot be
followed by the police, who, for various
reasons, secure immunity from the poEce.
Thespeciic work fthe Chicago League is to
secure the moral purity of the city for the
protection of the children and youth of the
city, by looking closely to the laws enacted
in their interest. This Chicago Citizens
League has had record of remarkable
success. Its President, |. z. Rumsey, in
his annual report for 1886, says of it " II
has become well intrenched as one of the
permanent institutions of which Chicago
has reason to be proud, and our best citizens
recognized in it one of the agencies for en-
forcing higher morality, a wholesome re-
spect for law and order, and healthy pub
lie sentiment that shall go far to elevate
| and purify our character as a city. II
number, among its Vice-Presidents j. V.
Farwell, 2. S. Armour, George NJ. Pull
man, Bishop Cheney and others of like
note. Its work for September of last year
(1SS7), was as follows, and this is a fair
sample of its regular opeI atoms: Number
OF persons arrested by its agents, 147
number of charges against these, 239
Disposed of follows: Fined, 1872; held over
81; discharged, %; fines imposed, 81, 896
Crime has greatly diminished under its
operations, especially among minors. In
1877, with 420,O population, 1,7S2 minors
were committed to the House of Correction
from Chicago while in 1886, with go 900
population, only l, 428 were committed.
The agents of the League are detectives,
who make the arrests, or cause them to be
made, and work up the cases, supplying
the proof necessary to convict. No arrest
is made without strong proof, and when
the arrest is made the case is followed
steadily and closely to decision. Funds
for the work are provided by large sub
scribing membership. One phase of It's
work has been so successful that, according
to the annual report. "saloon- keepers in
their associations have passed resolutions
that they will admit no one to membership
unless he will sign pledge net to sell
liquor TO minors or drunkards."
Inc practical nature OF ihlS Work, anC
the feeling that if such results as these can
be accomplished in Chicago much of the
need here might be met in a like manner
and the trying character of the need here
has resulted in the formation by a number
of the best men of q like organization in
| Sacramento, and its work will be heard
| from in the months Just coming. The pur.
| pose and hope of the organization is tC
strengthen the hands of the police of the
city, and to crowd down breaking
aims that should have the support of al
| good citizens. LAW AND ORDER.