The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-20
POLICEMEN'S DUTIES.
They Are Laid Down by the Police
Commissioners.
Mayor steinman Gives the New Force
Little Fatherly Advice-Whnt
the Others said, Also.

Pursuant to Mayor Steinman's notifica-
ton the Police Commissioners gave re-
ceptiou to the members of the new police
force at the City Hall yesterday. All the
members of the force were present to
hear what the Mayor and other Commits
sioners had to say to them, the nature of
which they had been trying for twenty
four hours to guess. That the new May
or's hat was loaded with bricks, none
had any doubt, but there appeared to be a
wide diversity of opinion as to whom
they would be SHE'D at.
The fifteen gallant members of the
force, and the Captain, took seats fronting
the august tribunal, and all looked as if
they were ready for any sentence or in
struction that the Commissioners might
see fit to inflict upon them.
After the roll had been called and all
the officers responded to their names, a
communication from the city Board of
Health was read, requesting the Com
missioners to instruct the officers to
promptly report all cases of violation Of
the health ordinances of the city.
THE MAYORS wAR-TALK.
Mayor Steinman then remarked that he
the first place, he wished them to under
stand that he wanted all officers when on
duty to appear in their uniforms, and not
TO spend their time in saloons or hanging
about cigar-stands. When a policeman
is wanted it should not be necessary to
send the applicant around among the
saloons to find one.
He wanted all officers to familiarize
themselves with the health ordinances
and to see that they are not violated with
impunity.
Furthermore, he wanted the officers to
look after boys who hang around theaters
and other places at night. He hoped the
policemen would set good example to
the boys by not lounging on the streets
nor smoking cigarettes. In short, he
desired them to conduct themselves at all
times in an officerlike manner.
THE SILENT CURFEw.
Chief Rodgers said that a bell should
be rung at g o'clock to warn boys to leave
the streets and go home, unless sent out
on business. If that were done the
officers could easily regulate them.
JUDGE BUCKLEY's REMARKS.
Judge Buckley called attention to the
fact that there were printed rules for the
government of the department, and until
they were amended, or new ones adopted,
the men could govern themselves accord
lngly. These rules require that police
men shall familiariZe themselves there
with, and also with the Criminal Code;
that they must not be under the influ-
ence of liquor, nor visit disreputable
places except on duty. Nearly all the
members Of the present force had had
experience and should have clear idea
OF their duties. The Commissioners had
selected force that should be an honor
TO the city. 1t was the desire of the Com
missioners that they should do their duty,
M for AFf
repay the confidence reposed in them.
he hoped they would read the rules,
obey them strictly, and do their full duty
1t is an easy matter to do this, and it
would be satisfaction to the men them
selves to know ii had been done. officers
should wear their uniforms when on
duty. He had faith that all the mem
bers of the force would do their duty,
and thus discharge their obligations TO
the public and the Commissioners.
CUSTOMS THAT MUST CEASE.
Mayor Steinman again spoke, saying
he would like it if the Chief could see his
way clear to change the men about more
frequently. 1t was hardly fair to officers
to keep them on beats where they had
little opportunity to distinguish or make
themselves useful.
In conclusion, he wished to say that he
not only did not want the policemen
hanging about Saloons but wanted them
also to pay their debts. Some had been
in the habit, he understood, of regularly
selling their salaries in advance, and this
practice must stop.
If creditors of any of the men should
complain to him that the latter did not
pay their debts, he would vote to dis
charge such officer at once. He again
cautioned them against all unofiicer-li q
conduct and expressed the hope that
there would be no cause for complaint.
REGULAR SESSIONS
1t was then announced that the Police
Commissioners would meet regularly on
the first Tuesday of each month, at 10
\. NJ, and the meeting was declared adj
iOurned,