Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-14
DAILY RECORD UNION
5KsDAy.......'.. ..FEsauARY IA, 1889.
NEEDED LOCAL RrpekM.

energeucaily. From appearances ii is evil
dent these classes intend TO remain with
us. They have increased in number and
boldness amazingly during the year just
closed, and have piled their business,
with energy worthy a better cause This
scum of society which defies our small
police force have their rendezvous within
the jaws of the miserable dens called dives
These and the "open all the time logger
les are the places where most they meet and
concoct their plans and imbibe courage to
execute them. These holes are their chief
residences in fact and especially in the
small hours of night
Not long ago the Chief of Police advised
the Trustees to close all places where
liquors are sold at midnight, because most
OF the crimes of the class named are COM
mi,ted after that hour. An attempt was
made to pass such an order, but It was so
sweeping in its provisions that it would
have shut restaurants hotels, etc. neces-
iry to be kept open and it was therefore,
defeated. The better class of saloons, those
which do not harbor the thugs or prime
these outlaws to throttle men on the street
burglarize and "stand-up" people who hap
pen to 6e out late. close their doors early;
bui the headquarters of the pirate crew ere
low doggeries, dives and dance halls which
keep open all night. or nearly all night.
The city authorities have the power to
designate the places that ought to be closed
esrly by excepting specifically the business
that may be kept open after twelve o'clock
at night, such as hotels and restaurants
with bars, or without, etc. Certainly the
necessity demands that the authorities
should make some satisfactory order to
resnlste the Objectionable places, and then
see 10 it that the ordinance is enforced.
The city has long enough been disgraced
By the nightly vomit of these pestilentisl
places. Even if there is an excuse
for the existence of the vllainous sinks of
1niquity, which spew out in the night, and
by day notinfrequently, the human wolves
that prey on property and life. and offend
all who pass upon the street, ii does not
follow that they must be given perfectly
free rein. They are subject to municipal
regulation, and ought to be regulated with
Incorporating vigor.
The ail-night dens referred to are public
nuisanees, menaces to the safety of the peo-
pie from assault and their homes from dep
relations, and impress strangers very much
to our disadvantage. If the nuisances were
proceeded against, it would be no difficult
task to prove them so inimical to public in
terest that DEGREES of abatement would issue
against them. For the good name of the
city, If for nothing more these sinks of
crime and debauchery should be regulated
with severity. There are not five hundred
men in Sacramento who are interested in
their being kept open at ALL outside of the
thugs who rally in them or under the in.
Huence OF their rum for nightly raids. Our
city authorities pursue an uneconomic
course by pouring water upon consuming
tire OF this kind, so long as oil is turned on
the flames from other quarters. It is folly.
ntisr folly to set watches and increase po-
dice forces and fill up the jails in hope
less endeavor to put stop to crimes of the
might, and leave the seat and tap root Of
the evil alone.
An old and accomplished detective and
prison officer, who is cognizant of the stu.
alton, expresses himself to us as astonished
that this city takes no steps to close up, at
least at early night hours, the dens that
breed the class that now fairly terrorize the
homes of the city, and makes some of our
chief streets at night boulevard of reel
ng, drunken, vulgar-mouthed and
insulting ruftians. Toe paltry IS a !
IA nth these hell-holes pay the
city for the privilege of existing
Is simply license to blacken the fame of
the town and plot against The peace and
lives its people. II is fully lime that
something should be done in the matter and
first step ought to be one to compel these |
low places, however gilded some of their
exferiors may be, TO respect the quiet of the
night by putting up the shutters and ceas |
Sns business when other people are at rest
and at all other times to preserve at least a |
senlblauce OF decency.
In this consideration no remark has been
rssde concerning the deplorable looseness of |
Local administration that permits the gam
bling dens to run. These are inseparabIy |
related to the other nuisances, to which
reference has been made Where the SO.
cial atmosphere is so noxious, as it always
az, where to existence of gaming bells the
eyes Of the police are al ways blind, into it |
will come the very class that has been de-
scribed, aud for its accommodation the
edoggeries and dives are kept up and open
day and night. The low state of public |
sens tiveness that can tolerate these twin
evils is deplora6le. There is one consola-
ton; the time will come when communi- |
ties viii rise in rebellion against these per-
melons influences, and 60 into house
cleaning that will make dry bones rattle. |
We call upon the Grand Jury now in ses-
sion 10 act promptly and with vigor in the |
direction of local reform il must effect |
lively act, or, by neglect, confess lis inabil |
ity TO see what sill the rest of the oommun-
ity cannot shut from its sight. Let il epply |
the boon in right places. and deserve the |
confidence OF the community.
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