Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-08
POLICE PROTECTION
Pre- sident More Suggests Many I'm
portant Changes
TO GUARD THE PEOPLE FROy HARM
He Aasocatss . Limited Number Of Opsa-
Aii-Sight Saieoas-sarseiiiAncs of the
Dsmi-AoRds - Practical kecem-
mendAtons.


The Board Of Police and Fire Com
missioners held its regular session yes
terday. In addition 10 the regular
routine OF business, was q communsca-
ton from the Grand Rapids Firemen's
Association, asking the board 70 pay
the annual dues of the delegates TO the
State Fire Association and the railroad
fare of the delegates. The communi-
cation stated that the association
deemed its services at such . time .
benefit TO the city. The matter was re-
ferred TO the Committee on Finance.
Fire Marshal LEMON reported that
steamer number was damaged IN CO.
ing TO the fire Tuesday night.
President More's Address.
The Office of president being vacant
John T.. More, the senior Commissioners
took the chair and delivered the fol-
lowing address to the board:
"GENTLEMEN-Under the provisions
of the law creating this board. 1t be-
comes my duty to assume the Office OF
president. l trust l shall have your
assistance and forbearance in my earn
est endeavor to fulfil its duties and
responsibilities. shall try to bear the
burdens of the Office cheerfully and the
honors with humility.
The amendments to our city charter
recently enacted have largely increased
the responsibilities of the board. The
the territory and added $4,000 TO the
number OF people entitled to police and
fire protection. Our police force must
be increased sufficiently TO meet this
demand. Very much of the territory
added to the city is in no present need
of protection, consisting mainly OF
farming land. Only that lying south
and east Is thickly inhabited and in
those districts police protection will not
be needed regularly except At certain
business centers and along the principal
thoroughfares, North Canal-st. and
possibly West Leonard-st. may demand
attention.
Mounted Patrolmen.
suggest that the board consider the
feasibility of patroling these outlying
districts with mounted police. Three
or four mounted officers could prob
ably cover these districts satisfactorily.
In the consideration of the suggestion of
President Hawkins, upon his retiring
from the presidency, that police stations
be established in the northern and
southern parts of the city, in rented
quarters until buildings can be pro-
vided. is worthy of careful and early
consideration. Unless this is done, We
must have more patrol wagons or give
very inefficient service. The police
beats should be revised and some new
ones established without delay. The
rapid growth of the city and the extern
sion of the limits renders this impera-
tive.
Detailed for the Parks.
The improvement of our parks to
which the Common Council is giving
careful attention, is fast making them
attractive places of resort for the public.
This board has already been requested
by the council to detail an Office. 20
patrol the John Ball Park on Sundays,
and when the improvement Of that
park is completed it will have to be
regularly patroled during the summer
months. Other parks will coon require
the same protection. The extension of
the city limits will require very con-
siderable enlargement Of our police sig-
nal system. The method of dealing with
the social evil, adopted at the request
of the Common Council about two
years ago against the Judgment of this
board isnot satisfactory, the ostensible
object was the suppression Of the evil.
The board was then of opinion, and
the result has shown that the object
cannot be accomplished and that the
best results are reached by stringent
regulations and careful and constant
police supervision. this subject should
receive consideration.
Controlling the Liquor Tramc.
The enforcement Of the laws govern.
ing the liquor traffic give the police
department. endless trouble. Ii our
license system was so modified that 3
limited number of all night licenses
could be issued IN large cities and the
places run openly under police super
vision, much of the difficulty would be
obviated and better results attained.
The department would then have only
the Sunday violaters TO deal with.
The great majority of the saloon keep
ers obey the law and give the depart
ment no trouble. small minority
persistently violate the law, their
places are open at all hours Of every
day, after hours and Sundays. They
are open to their regular customers and
strangers properly vouched for, but
barred against all others. The difficulty
of securing evidence to CON-
NIT these offenders, and the
leniency of tho counts in
dealing with them makes
1t profitable to defy the law. Ii the
Council had power to revoke licenses
or 10 refuse 10 grant them TO such as
had been convicted of violating the
law and would exercise the power, the
difficulty would be largely overcome.
In the present state of the law. IL is
doubtful il any more effective means
of dealing with this evil can he devised
than such as Are now employed by the
department. The department is dong
It's best 10 suppress gambling. Perfect
success has not been attained and cannot
he. The offence 10 not committed
openly but only behind barred doors
and IA private rooms. inaccessible 20 the
officers OF the law. The city is to be
congratulated upon the prospect OF
having, al an early date, suitable and
permanent abiding place for It's police
department, the plans adopted by the
BOARD OF Public Works are highly salts
factory aud nsufes the elty a bulding
complete ia All rs appointments.
Fire Dspartmsat Needs.
Ii will be necessary for you 10 make
provision for considerable increase IN
Tie number OF men and the equip
Rient OF tne ire departments You