Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-04

Hcii IL 1S CeTldlIly ms privilege, II not HIS absolute duty, to inform the department, so that the violation may be suppressed or punished. But the complainant should assume the responsibility of his charges, in so far at least that they should be made in person or over his signature. Anonymous letters are weapons of a cow ard. They may be, and often are, simply instruments of private malice or per sonal revenge. Many of these are received by the chief of police, but fail to find oth- CT destiny than his waste basket.
 Revision of Ordinances.
 While it is probably beyond the limit of my report, I beg to suggest to the board the advisability of lending it's influence to obtain a proper revision of the city ordinance. This department is con- stantly embarrassed by the number of ordinances which are nominally in force, but practically dead, and of others which are entirely ineffective by reason of their uncertainty. The work of this depart ment would be greatly facilitated were ordinances in the first of the above class es repealed and those in the second so amended as to be operative.
 Suggestions.
 I have the honor to make the following suggestions for your consideration:
 Police Telegraph System.
 The evidence of the need of such sys- tenn as presented almost daily through the inefficiency of the system now used, viz, the telephone. These evidences, in brief, comprise every form of delay and annoyance that can effect the prompt workings of the department, and which serve to show the worthlessness of the present system. There can be no com parson between the two. The Gamewell Police Telegraph system offers definite and positive advantages that do not en- ter into any other system and which comprehend the latest aids to the efii- cient working of police department. By its adoption every quarter of the city can be covered and the citizen, as well as tine management of the force. may know where to find an officer at any hour or fractional part of an hour during the day or night. Every patrol box, in sense, is an officer on guard. By means of it the responsible citizen and key holder can instantly communicate with headquarters, as quickly and more in- telligently than the sending of an alarm to the fire department. Wherever, there fore, there is a patrol box the residents of that quarter can be in instant touch with police headquarters, whether or not an officer is in sight These advan- tages, in case of riot, disturbances, ac- cidents or criminal happenings of any character demanding prompt and sufficient police response, are at one ap- parent. believe 1t to be in the interest of the tax payers. and certainly am or the positive opinion that the adoption of this system will inure to the benefit of the city and prove of vast conse- uuence to the police department.
 Police Mhtron.
 I further suggest and recommend the creation of the office of police matron. During the year just passed great num- Der of females were arrested for trans gressions of the law, and many were, in default of bail, incarcerated. Common decency demands that their attendants should be of their own sex, and with this brief allusion to the subject refer 1t to you in the hope that the great con sideration that it demands will be vouch- safed it.
 Rogues' Gallery.
 This would improve the department wonderfully. A rogues' gallery is an admirable preventative of crime, for good thief does not care to take chances of operating in city where his picture is, as it assists in getting him identified too easily I also recommend that Some provision be made to take the pictures of criminals of this city who are caught, and who escape and afterwards commit crime, to assist the officers in recaptur- ing them.
 Mounted Men.
 The two mounted men have in the few months that they have been so appointed done excellent work. There should be at least four more, and I would recommend that if presently practicable, or as soon as possible, four more mounted men be appointed to assist in the prevention of crime in the suburbs and in the dis tricts where patrolmen are not stationed
 Arms.
 I would suggest and recommend to your honorable body that the mounted men be equipped with Burgess repeating police guns; also that Colts 41-caliber pistols be made the regulation pistol to be used by the patrolmen. These pistols could be purchased by the city at small cost and patrolmen could make deposit to cover the cost for the return of same on his leaving the department.
 Patrol Wagon.
 The patrol wagon in the past year made an average of 225 to 250 runs a month From the number of arrests fol- lowing in this report will say that over one-half of this number were conveyed to the prison in the patrol wagon. I would suggest to your honorable body that one more patrol driver be appointed, and that the wagon be run twenty-four hours per day instead of fourteen hours, as at pres ent. At present the morning men have to leave their beats to convey their priSon- CTS to the prison and thereby subjecting houses on their respective beats to be- ing burglarized during their absence. l will also recommend that the patrol wagon be equipped with the improved hanging stretchers, which consists of four iron hooks and springs to be used when we have wounded prisoner to convey to the emergency hospital. These springs hold the person in the stretcher from the floor. At present the person, whether injured or not, has to be laid upon the floor of the wagon until the sta tion house is reached.
 Patrol Station.
 At the present patrol station there is not sufficient light, both at the entrance and in the interior of the building. The wagon is compelled to turn on the inside of the building, and if lights were fur nished it would save a great deal of re- pairs to both the wagon and the building.
 City Prison.
 I recommend that the present city pris- on be enlarged. The present prison Is in- sufficient to hold the average number of prisoners incarcerated therein, especially in the female departmen. A night turn key is badly needed to assist the night warden at the prison. At present the night warden is alone, with only weak door between the office and the prisoners. If he desires to go inside there is no way