The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-09

Adding to these items the special expendi-
lures, the total for the year is sso,969.17.
Referring to the falling off in the amount de-
rived from fines, the chief remarks that it had
apparently been the custom prior to his advent
to collect fines once month from gambling
houses and disreputable women at the rate OF
$50for each table and $40 for each woman, aud
in that way make the police department what
was called self-supporting, sin other words,
turning the department into legal blackmallers,
fning law breakers for breaking the law and at
the same time taking the fine a license to al
low them to continue to break the law" The
report continues on this point:
Prostitution and gambling have existed from
time fmmemorial, and 1t has been my policy to
endeavor to control the two vices in such a way
as to reduce 1t to its minimum, and not through
system OF blackmail to make them the
financial support OF the police department.
The report says the discipline of the force
during the past year is somewhat improved, and
continues:
While it is true that few of its members
have been unfaithful and have brought discredit'
not only upon the department, but also the city,
our force as whole have been very diligent il
the discharge of their duty, and justly deserve
the commendation OF your honorable body and
the citizens generally. | think it will be con-
coded, even by pur enemies, that our department
has been successful in a large degree in accom-
plishfug the objects for which IL is maintained,
viz. the enforcement OF our city and state laws
to such degree as to insure peace sad good
order in our streets, the safety Of life and prop
erty and the arrest of violators of the law.
During the past eight months our city has been
remarkably free from any serious depredations
by the criminal class, which may be accounted
for by the peaceful inciinafious OF our citizens
and the promptness and vigilance OF the police.
The chief urges the necessity of the detective
department in the following clause:
The detective bureau, as you are aware, was
abolished by the honorable city council in jan
uary last have detailed three OF the patrol
men on detective duty, and in that way have
looked after work OF this bureau, but have
found my self seriously handicapped by the small
ness of the force and the lack OF q head to ii,
and strongly advocate the re-establishment OF
detective bureau, to consist OF one chief OF
detectives and six detective officers, as my ex-
perienee for the past eight months has shown
me that great many OF the details OF the de-
tective work have OF necessity been TO certain
extent sighted on account of the press Of bust
ness in that department.
Among several suggestions. the chief recon-
mends the following:
That the present System of giving special po-
lice authority to private watchmen and individ-
uals be entirely abolished, and that II any indi-
vidual or corporation needs the services OF q
Waterman with police authority, such watch
man be furnished from the police department.
and that he be a regularly constituted police
officer and that the individual or corporation
requiring such services pay into the city treas
ury, on the first of each month, a sum equivalent
TO the pay OF q patrolman Tor such service as
req uired.
Commissioners Guy and Crawford, the COM
mittee appointed to investigate the legality of
the claim of A. NJ. Kent, presented the opinion
of the corporation counsel that the claim for
wages up to June was a Just one, but that there
was no ground for the claim for wages after that
date, a. Kent did not file notice of his illness
within the five days allowed by the rules. 1t
was voted to allow the claim for wages up to
June and the ST. so Kent claimed to have paid
out of his own pocket.
The claim of Mrs A. Tease against Patrolmsn
Jackson was discussed and then laid over to the
next meeting.
Applications of F. B. Russell. T. g. Davis and
C. J. Wallace for positions on the department.
were filed
Bill of Miss Minnie Kelley for SO for services
as typewriter, preparing Chief Rogers report,
WAS allowed.
The board adjourned until the next regular
meeting.