The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-14


The epidemic OF indiscrimInate fault
fading that seems Just now to be hying
something OF a run in this community,
and the microbc OF which has been dis
covered by conscientious investigators to
be simply the common Democraticus vul-
garis. has attacked the police department.
as II has every other department 81 the
city government.
The case in this instance, as in all other
recorded cases, requires no heroic treat
ment. for il has been observed that the
epidemic simply runs for a shorter or
longer space and then dies out from the
fact that the mlcrobe while seemingly
under the delusion that 1t is destroying
its victim 10 really %devouring itself-s
fact that 1t fails to discover until total
obliteration occurs.
At the same time we deem it our duty
to the public in the case OF the police de-
partment, as in several other cases that
have been called to public attention by
the hosting OF a quarantine flag on top
OF The Journal building, designed TO sig
Nifty the prevalence of pest in city hall, to
present a diagnosis that any fears that
may be aroused may be calmed, leaving
tae microbe to consume itself after it's
usual fashion the while public judgment
may be directed to the fact that the vic
tim Of the attack is in a quite h~eslthful
condition despite the scare bulletins OF
Interested or ignorant political doctors.
We wish to express emphstically and
u~nequivocslly the opinion that in no city
in the country is there a moro efficient
police force than we have In the city oil
Providence and we don't believe o con
trary o~pinion can be backed up by proof.
There is no city in the United States
where the police take a moro lively inter.
est In their duties or where the esprit de
corps 10 higher. Moreover, there Is nc
| city OF the size OF Providence where there
is a smaller force, and II the city was not
well policei it would be a veritable hot
bed OF crime, for there is every opportu.
nifty here for the law breakers. Few
towns are 30 easily reached from larger
centers as Providence, or more easily de-
parted from. Burglars and sneak thieves
can come here from Boston and New
York, do their work at night, and, at al
most any hour, can leave the city by fast
flying trains and in a few moments they
are out of the jurisdiction OF the State.
The city contains many jcwelry factor.
les, wealthy residences, rich stores, all
of which attract the burglarizing frater-
nifty. Nevertheless, as the records show, II
Is only the most desperate, experienced
and daring that care TO come here, al.
though our police are hampered in I he
performance of their work by the old
fashioned laws OF Rhode Island. Take
that fellow WILSON, for instance, who was
known to the police as one OF the most
daring burglars in the United States.
lie was apprehended here with a set of
burglars tools in his possession, bnt had
it not been for a revolver that he also
had be would have gone scot free. AS
II was, he was sent to jail for only 30 days
for carrying a concealed weapon He APP
pealed, gave bail, and left the city. Had
he been caught in most any other town
of prominence be would likely have been
sent 10 prison for at least 10 yesrs.
Many states have what is known as the
Habitual Criminal law, which ia TO the
effect that II a person has been commit
ted three times for any ofiense that person
can be sentenced To state prison for a
term, not to exceed % years. This law
acts efficiently to stow away professional
lawbreakers. In some cities a person can
be sent to jail for being a suspicious PER.