The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-04
OUR PRECIOUS POLICE SYSTEM


That the police administration of ST.
Paul is rotten to the heart was shown
in the case of the circumstances attend
Ing the removal of certain Offenders
from Jackson to upper Third street; an
infamy which, though fully exposed
and well understood, has been sane
toned by the head of the city govern
ment That it is thoroughly incompe-
tent was already notorious fact. at
tested by carnival of housebreaking
that wanes only when the enterprising
burglar ceases burgling of his own free
will. But there is still another side to
the picture, made manifest by many
complaints that have been received,
and explained in detail in a case which
is published in the G o b this morn
ing. Since the police force are not
obliged to deal with law-breakers as
they ought, they must find some other
outlet for their activities Otherwise
the revolver would rust in the pocket,
the club decay with disuse, and the
stand wide open day and night. This
is prevented by system Of arrest and
detention for innocent and inoffensive
parties that serves to break. the monot-
ony Of police, AfeY under ssthe present
regime, and to keep the*lAembers of
the force in lnirthfuf nloodefS, g ~
1t seems to be 'abundateIy demon
strated now that man who observes
the decencies of life and the ordinances
OF the city is not safe from arrest and
detention, if the present police officials
hnd time hang heavy on their hands.
we have here the case Of a man who.
without the least apparent fault on his
part, is arrested, locked up and held
until friend comes to his rescue; and
then is induced to keep the outrage
quiet in order that the story Of it NAV
not bring his name before the nuhIic
IN the police court records. And how
1ar this thing has gone heaven only
knows. There are a good manv in
stances already within our KNOWLEDGE
Where the same thing has occurred.
ana strangers in st. Paul have been
SUBJECTED to this hideous injustice in
the name Of law. AS we have seen.
also, the proceeding is varied OCCASION
ally, by finding man dangerously in
Jured and locking him up In q nolico
cell TO Ole from want of proper medical
attendance. The whole story makes a
record Of disgrace and infamv which
we believe that it would be hard to
parallel in the history Of any city in
This country. Incompetence is bad
enough, and the public is deprived of
It's rightful protection when the officers
Oh the law are unequal to the task as
signed to them. But far more heino1is
than immunity for the guilty. is MN
lshihent Tor the innocent. The name of
this city, and every business interest
within it, are being damaged incalcuJa-
ply by the report which is going abroad
that St Paul is not a safe n1aca foy,
any stranger who does not want to
take his chance of being run in for a
confidence man and spending the night
in felon's cell. It~has begun to an
pear, under our present precious police
system, that the only safe policy for a.
hberty-loving citizen is to commit
some serious breach of the peace or
offense against law and decency. That
Is passport which will secure him
from moIestation. Unless he can pre-
sent it, it is only a question of time
when he will be run in" We might
spare a little time from Armenian out
RACES just now to devote to a studv of
police administration in ST. Paul.