St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-12
MINNEAPOLIS
Additional City News on the Fifth Page.
A CASE OF BURGLAR.

The fact that while occasional arrests
are made the burglariouS epidemic
shows no signs of abatement may we'll
be taken as an indication, either that
the burglarious gang is unusually bold,
OIL that it feels it has no reason to fear
police interference. The latter horrible
intimation already has some currency
on the streets, though, of course, it is
gross calumnv of our brave and tried
police force. None but an unbelleylng
cynic could be so lost to decency as to
charge anything that could be construed
into reproach of our noble band OF
blue-coated conservators of the law, or
our patent, gilt-edged system of police
control, for which Gen. Nettleton is
believed to have filed a caveat. But in
the meantime the burglaries flourish
and increase. Every edition of every
paper contains the account of some new
invasion of house or barn and the loss
of portion of their valuable contents.
The thieves seem to have a penchant
for good harness, but will not lightly
overlook other valuable trifies that m ay
come in their way. In the past two
weeks nearly two score OF these rob-
berries have been committed, some OF
which have been reported to the police
and made public and others borne in
silence. The police seem helpless, or
tired. They are probably so busily en-
gagged in constituting some of the cast
iron rules laid down by the commission
that they have no time for anything
else. These rules do not include the
prevention of small matters Ike mar
ness robberieS or the arrest or small
game like barn thieves; they deal more
in the ethics of police discipline ana
describe with minuteneSS the style with
which a patrolman shall wear his belt or
salute his superior officer. How can a
policeman be expected to run down and
capture horse thief while his mind IS
surcharged with matters relating to his
attitude as a corner statuette, his style
in assisting pretty girl across Nlcollet
avenue. or the line Of beauty INTO which
he shall curve his chest while on dress
parade?
But meantime the burglarieS con-
tinues. and by and by the time will come
when this fact shall reach tile ears OF
the police commission. That august
body will probably never learn that
many people believe some OF the I'M
maculate ''stand inn with the depre-
dators. or if it does, will scout the base
idea as preposterOuS. Owners OF mar
ness must learn to eXpectits loss calmly,
and when it comes bear it with ltSlgna-
ton. Just at present there are Saloons
to be kept closed, fast girls to be slowed
down and bad gamblers to be checked:
In its turn the burglary question Will
come up and receive due consideration;
The detectives will discover clues, and
thus appease the public demand. They
won't get the thieves or the harness,
but the clue will be the next thing to 1t
The police commission must go.
Suppose-if ones imagination can
compass so wild a flight-suppose the
people should demand reform in this
line, and should make up their minds
to punish those whom they deemed re-
spOnsible? How would they set about
it? The police commission is respon-
BILE, but not to the people, for the people
did not appoint it. Each council is
responsible for only one commissioner,
and one commissioner cannot bear the
burden of the boards action. If one
head, such as the mayor, were entirely
responsible, the people could then eX-
press their condemnation at the polls,
but noW-they are helpless. The party
in power has played dark sOrcely with
the partisan prejudiceS Of Legislature.
They worked the spell, ami now cannot
exercise the tiend they have raised.
The police commission must go.