Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-09
Becomes More and More Manifest
About the Streets of Pittsburg
and Allegheny Every Day.
PERFECTION OF POLICE SYSTEMS
Cited as One of the Principal Causes Of
This Change From the Opposite
Condition Of Years Past
RAPID TRANSIT ALSO PROVES FACTOR.
0ld-Time Resorts of Criminals Of all Classes Com.
pletely Wiped Out

than ever. This is in spite of the fact that
several organizations with such an object in
view have practically suspended operations
during ths past few months. The effect is
noticeable to almost everybody, but the
cause = not se,well known.
Such a com Non of affairs can scarcely be
attributable to any single source 1t re.
suits from various reasons and works out
gradually so as to be scarcely noticed until
all at once it dawns upon the peace-loving
citizen that he is breathing air of highly
moral rarity. Ee almost begins to wonder
whether this is really the wicked Pittsburg
he knew when he sowed his wild oats Such
agricultural pursuits were the common
thing then and occasioned few remarks.
But youthful husbandmen of this later
day are so exceptional and out of
caste that they and their doings, like the
chicken-thief in a country village, are gos-
siped into shame. The old residenter is
glad his crop was killed off by the dry spell
of better judgement and sighs thankfully
over knowledge that his successor in the
field of young manhood has not the oppor-
tunity he had.
Perfect Police Regulations.
The reputation of city for high grade
OF morality as a rule puts feather in the
cap Of its police department, and is taken
IS an indication that the latter is proper
tionately excellent. This applies to Pitts
burg as well as to other places. With police
force inferior in numbers to that of any other
place of equal size in the country this city
is the happy possessor of something very
near perfection in the line of public pro-
tectors. Credit for the improved condition
of things will naturally and quite properly
be given the police to a large extent. But
there are also other influences, not so
potent but Just as good in their wav.
Since the police work was made part of
the Department of Public Safety under the
rev order OF municipal government re-
markable improvement has been noticeable
in the department, and this has had SIM
ilar effect on the moral status of the people
they govern. Places like the Point, Old
avenue, Yellow Row, Jones avenue
and the region about Washington street
where the Owl gang and Dirty
Dozen and a score or more similar collec-
tions of human depravitv frequented, are no
longer terrors TO a peaceful people. The
departure of their old-time glory is as much
attributable to better police discipline as
anything. Inspector McAleese set the e1-
alliIlc anu tlleTS Is no Spullllp llS ItSulls-
Police Superintendent Weir, the present
general of this law-preserving army, in
talking Oh the subject yesterday, said:
Better Than Ever Before.
There is no question but that Pittsburg
is better city than ever before. This is
especially noticeable on Sunday. Every
thing is as quiet and orderly as a rural viii
lago 1t is largely due TO the better police
service. We are endeavoring to bring
the force up to the highest notch
Of discipline. BY doing away with
the political feature, which acts SO
derrimentGllv on the police of many
cities, we collect force of men, selected
and graded according TO merit. The result
is easily seen. Gambling houses are only
matters of history in this city. Speak
easics are virtually wiped out and low dives
where thieves and villains of all sorts were
wont to congregate. have been done away
with There is scarcely place in the whole
city where well known crook can hide any
length of time They know now that they
will be arrested on sight and they stay away
from Town.
Rapid transit b as had a great deal to do
with making Sundays quieter. Those in
clined to be turbulent can ride ont to the
suburbs, where thev will find more safety
aad less chance Of disturbing people. Schen-
ley Park. by providing a place for those
who have nothing to do to go to, effects great
deal of good and keeps people away from
portions Of the city where otherwise temp
tations would likely lead them into trouble.
II is like fire. Scatter it and ii is easily
suhdued.
Assistant Superintendent of Police
0NIara said: ''In all my experience in this
business the city has never been so orderly
and free from crime All the old localities
where murder and robbery were common
occurrences have been done away with. The
cough element is under thorough subsection,
and the few that remain of the old timers
know better than to attempt revival OF
former customs. OF course the Police
Rureau is largely responsible for this con-
dtion Of affairs. -
Allegheny Likewise Blessed.
Over in Allegheny the situation is almost
similar OF late the change for the better
has been so marked as to cause considerable
comment.
The only explanation can give for the
quiet and peacefulness of Allegheny on
SUNDAYS and, in fact, all days" said AS
Ristant Police Superintendent Glenn yester-
dav. in response TO a DISPATCH reporters
inquiry, lis that our police organization is
nearer perfection than 1t ever was IN the
citv's history. will admit that the people,
natives and foreigners, seem to have adapted
themselves more to our laws, and are more
content to observe them than formerly,
IS YOU have suggested, but what has
caused them 10 do SO? What he's
brought about this result? Nothing, L
believe, but a rigid police discipline,
such as Allegheny is, and has been,
receiv;ng since she donned the garb OF
second-class city and properly ORGANIZED
her force cf guardians of the law. The sys-
TEN has been copied largely from Plttsburg.
Every policeman in our city is held respon-
sibIe for whatever occurs on the beat he
patrols, no matter whether it be fight,
robbery. murder, or the opening of dis
orderly house or speak-easy. He must know
who are the occupants of every dwelling in
the district under his care, what their busi-
moss and how long they have been residents.
Whenever anv disorder or crime occurs he
must report Immediately upon his hearing
oF ir and he must make daily reports to the
lia,,reuant OF his district Of the condition
oi Ills heat. II a speake-asy, for instance,
should he in operation and the oiacer Iall TO
rauort of il, as soon as the neglect is dis
covered the officer is summoned before the
chief and an explanation demanded. Ii he
can clearly show, which seldom happens,
th,f it was through no fault of his the re-
mort was not made, he is cautioned and re-
turned TO duty
The Penalty Is Severe.
.sHut If he fails 10 thus establish his strict
attention TO duty he is suspended for from
= or 30 days, or discharged, as the case
merits. The iieutenarts are also held re-
suonsible for the proper conduct OF their
districts. and failure on their part to make
-. ,.a,.o-. of ,rouble therein or failure