Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-16

l. OD " M blDI AL SI1. !
very well satisfied to leave town by the
shortest route possible.
Speaking of the work OF his men, the In
spector said it was done with very>little or
no encouragement from the people. Even
those most benefited were the least demon
strstive in giving the poor credit of COM
mendation. 1t makes the work of a more
exacting character than if the force were
upheld by an outspoken public sentiment
that would encourage the men to obtain for
themselves an acknowledged place in the
esteem of the public.
Busy Life of the Inspector.
Referring to his own duties, the Inspector
says they are OF character that requires
unremitting and unceasing application.
He is on duty all the time, day and night,
and expected to be whenever required no
matter what the hour or how inclement tn e
weather is or untoward the circumstances.
Often has he gone weeks in the discharge of
his duties with less that five hours of sleep
each day. Even then he was aroused four
or five times each night by telephone calls,
or to go to Ere to take command OF the
policemen there.
Speaking of his men as a force, the In
spector compares them favorably in every
respect with any other force in the country.
He next called attention to the building
now used as Central station. 1t is So
years old, badly ventilated, cramped for
space, and anything but a healthy place.
Without exaggeration he regards it as a dis
grace to the city and to the Bureau of
Police. 1t is thoroughly unit for the uses
to which it is put. 1t is also inconvenient
to handle the cases of deserving poor, sick
and disabled, footsore women with children,
and similar cases that come there ior ac-
commodations and who can only be
treated now as if they were prisoners.
Chief Elliot's assistance, in relieving this
Kind OF cases as far as in his power, is grate-
fully acknowledged. In this connection it
is added that there are no means for caring
for the insane or for those suddenly taken
sick. They are frequently thrust on the
hands OF the police by circumstances. They
are obliged to dispose of them, in the cases
of the insane, by Jail commitment prelimi-
nary to a medical examination, and in the
cases of the sick to endeavor to secure a
place for them in one of the hospitals. 1.-THE
West Penn Hospital and the Homeopathic
Hospital" he says, "have dealt literally
with US, and received our patients without
cost to the CITY,"
The Support of Pu bic Sentiment.
INCA leeSe III Te!eTS 10 lIt uul-
sance of people who think they have a
'pull:"
In conclusion, want to assert in the SIM
plest and strongest language at my command,
that good police government, perfectly work
ing police regulations, and the assurance of a
proper regard and respect for law and order, in
this or any other district. can only be perman-
emily secured and retained when, in the dis
charge of their duties, the police officers are
upheld by strong public sentiment which will
rnn ortv p l,of s. @I,of l., nfh nc
office the policeman is serving the public, and
that he is worthy Of the support, and should
have steadily the assistance of every lover of law
and an good order l say to you; .s,.is sir, that
of people who should have been eager to hold
up my hands and help me to make their places
of business and houses safe for themselves and
families. On the other hand have had some
support from the good people of the city, but,
where its manifestation has been made clearly
enough for me to recognize it In one case, l
have had so cases where, to accomplish my
purpose IN preserving the peace and prosperity
of the community, l have had to contend
against the fierce opposition of the very men
and interests for whose chief benefit my work
was being done.
have no failures to report in the admins
tration of the police affairs of my district, but
have to report that a lack of this support OF
which L have just spoken, the magnitude of
the work to be done by me and the multitude
of duties to be performed by myself and my
men have been such that in the results the
success of our efforts has not been in such full
measure as it would be If had been heartily
supported by the people upheld by public SEN
timent and strengthened by perfectly proper
number of officers under my command.
Interfered With by Councilmen-
l have been handicapped at times by the
Vaccinations of municipal politicians who de-
sired for their own purposes to interfere with
the operations of the active work of my de-
partment, and 1 suffered the annoyance of
good deal of councilmanic Interference. to
which should not have been subjected. and
which was barren of results because, as see
it, I am here to do nv duty under the regula-
tions of the Police Bureau, regardless of poll
tics and politicians. general healthy public
support of the honest efforts of earnest officers
to give the city a stable and safe and admirable
government would be worth as much as the
services of % more policemen in uniform in
this district.
The Inspector added that the district is now
in better condition than it ever was, and if still
in command he hoped to be able to repeat that
declaration year from now.
OF the whole number of 10000 or 20, 600
arrests made in the city nearly IL, 900 were
made by his officers. Without an exception
they received his personal attention before
disposed of. The hearty support and CO.
operation Of Magistrates Gripp and Nc
Kenua in making arrest q terror to the
vicious was acknowledged as heavy debt
of obligation placed upon the Inspector.
Some Statistics of Crime.
A synopsis of the statistical report is
given, as follows:
Tnrea hundred and thirty-one disorderly
houses were closed. All of these were speak
easies. The proprietors were fined under citv
ordinances from SIS to 500. Altogether 425
informations were made against these people.
In some cases the proprietors were allowed to
20 on moving out OF the State or district,
while on account of poverty and sickness and
on promises to reform, others were set free. In
a few cases bonds were filed to secure the de-
partment against further violation of the law.
In cases where the disorderly house ordinance
would not reach 10 illegal liquor sellers were
prosecuted under the Brooks law.
Twenty-Five gambling houses were closed:
they were all small games and the proprjetors
paid fines.
The important arrests numbered 62S. These
include arrests for larceny, burglary, felonious
shooting, etc. Formerly arrests of this kind
were made by the front office" men; now the
officers on the beats do the work with such as
sstance as is required from the special officers.
There were l53 fires discovered by officers,
254 accidents attended to by officers and 143 lost
children found by officers. The total number
of arrests in the First district was 1925 as
compared with 954l during 1859, an increase of
8. l84 and 295 cases were sent TO court.
The value of lost and stolen goods recovered
by officers of the First district was S13 573 45;
delivered to owners, Sl2, 1853 70; awaiting claim
ants, s., ,4O3 So