The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-22
For q State CcnstabuIary.

ONl tst6Cilel COuISlu IOl III y IHo
Wilkes-Barre Times, makes an effective
plea for the establishment Of State
constabulary as a remady for violence
in the case Of strikes. 1t made this
plea before the situation mt Walston,
in Jefferson county. had reached the
gravity which caused Governor Patti
son, at great expense to the State aud
doubtless at no less Inconvenience to
the men, to order out two regiments Of
the Pennsylvania National guard.
This incident would have supplied il
with most vivid iilustration of the
truth Of its contention. that regular
soldiers at the scene of labor difficulty
constitute an essentially un American
spectacle, belyiug the theory that civil
authority issuAicient for all peace emer.
geucies; aud one that is costly, awk-
ward AMI unnecessary.
But there are reasons, other than
those it advances. why the present
constabulary system should be radi-
cally amended The duty of county
con'tables. il properly and ensrSsti,
cally performed, would call for a
standard Of character, firmness and
fearlessnes5 not to be had under the
t,conditions The wisdom Of our
Legislature has taken the regulation of
the chief centers of local disturbance
out of the hands Of the local authori-
ties and vested it in the authority of
the county courts. Under the Brooks
high license law, as passed by
the legislature and interpreted
by the supreme court, the
county constabulary has become
almost the sole legal protection enjoyed
by law abiding citizens against infrac-
items Of the law growing out of the H..
legal sale Of intoxicating liquor. The
meagreness Of this protection as exem-
plified in Lackawanna county is mat.
ter of common remark 1t has been
said by those who pretend to know
that there are not five places in Lacka-
wanna county where intoxicanrs are
sold within the provisions Of the Brooks
law. This may be IN exaggeration
hut it is no exaggeration to say that
the discrepancy which exists between
the seraphic innocence OF many consta-
b!es when presenting their accustomed
returns III court, and the actual con-
ditions, as exhibited in thousand
plain direction outside that court room,
is something wonderful.
y constabulary thus based 10 many
instances on intentional ignorance,
criminal in efficiency or deliberate and
unblushing perjury is not the kind of
a constabulary that fits the spirit of
the times, 1t may have had its day OF
honesty and usefulness, but that day
has passed. In the busy and rapid pres
ent age it stands as a shastly relic of
obsolete value; an antiquated example
Of the limited necessities OF our fore
fathers, II it'll to have any practical
utility, it must be overhauled from top
10 bottom. The manner in which this
may beat be done is fair question for
debate. a county superintendent OF
constabIes, holding office by appoint
ment under jurisdiction OF state COM
mission, and having under him trained
officers similar to the police forces of
onr cities, Is one suggestion. Others
along different lines readily occur to
mind, The main point is that the
present system is notoriously made
qnate. and the sooner it is got rid Of
IN favor Of something worthy OF the
name, the better it will bs for all de-
cent class.s Of eociety.