St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-04


Bracket speaks of the discipline Of
the force as having been improved in
the past year, although a few officers
have brought disgrace upon the de-
partment. He attributes the city's
freedom from crime to the practice of
railrOadng known "crooks" to the
workhouse, whether they have done
anything or not. AS a whole, the de-
partment is praised. Then Bracket
turns to the demoralizing effect upon
she department of some of the judg-
ments rendered in law cases, to which
officers have been parties, and grows
TighteOusly indignant. thus:
"Of1icer McKenna arrested man for
selling bogus railroad tickets. He is
brought before the municipal court, with
necessary proof to establish the charge.
For some unaccOuntaDle reason, pos
sibly the otfense being considered
trivial, Judge MahOney discharged the
man with a reprimand. A few months
thereafter suit for damages III the dis
trict court is commenced against Officer
McKenna for false Imprisonment, and
the jury brings in a verdict of one cent
damages, throwing the cost on the de-
PENDANT.
"Officer Mcnamara, passing through
best business blocks after midnight,
discovers a man whom he believes to be
a burglar, attempts to ascertain that
fact, when he is assaulted with a knife
and so badly wounded as to render him
unfit for duty for weeks. but with the
assistance of another officer he captures
his man. The man is put upon trial
for aSsaulting an officer with a danger
GUS weapon and the jury brings in a
verdict of acquittal, influenced, per-
sumo, by the ingenious plea of the de-
PENDANT that he took the officer for a
fOOtpad.
81 presume it will be necessary in the
future, in order to protect the lives of
our officers and not invade the personal
TightSand liberties OF the criminal classes
for each patrolman to carry headlight,
and when entering alleyways to an
nounce in loud voice: Il am an officer
of the law. make way and allow me to
pass through this alley in safety"
He says he wouldn't be surprised If
Cummings, the man who stabbed Nc
Namara, were to sue for damages alleg-
ing false imprisonment. The officers,
he thinks, should have better protec-
ton.
The detective force is complimented
On its work for the past year. likewise
the detail of mounted officers. He
thinks the mounted men should be pro-
Vided with boxes so that they can re-
port at headquarters and recommends
that the telephone system be extended
80 that every officer can report at least
once per hour. The Relief association
Is mentioned and it is recommended
that the legislature be requested to
enact pension law providing for the
retirement on half pay of officers who
have served continuously for twenty
years or who have been disabled while
In the performance Of duty. He makes
other recommendations as follows:
An ordinance prohibiting all sales
of goods or merchandise on the
streets and sidewalks, and only allow
Ing merchants occupying stores to dis
play (nOt to exceed three feet from the
front of their store) their own goods.
An ordinance prohibiting all heavy
teams from travelling on Nicollet and
Hennepin avenues between Second and
Eighth streets, except for delivery on
SAID avenues. Prohibiting all parades
of whatever nature Except funerals)
without first obtaining a written permit
therefor from the mayor, and said per-
nit should designate the time
and the streets over which said
parade should pass. Prohibiting
on streets all public meetings,
political, religious, Salvation army,
etc, without first obtaining a written
permit from the mayor stating time and
place. Licensing junk men who run
wagons or carts, and requiring from
them report on suitable blanks fur
nished by the police department of all
purchases of metal, under heavy pen
atty. Requiring all prisoners committed
TO the work house by the municipal
court to be returned upon expiration Of
their time to the central lookup and be
discharged therefrom. Licensing the
carrying of concealed weapons. Licens-
ing newsboys ard bootblacks for nom
inal sum, making said license more a
matter Of register and control oyer them