The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-01

charges for wine. rooms and ard In
cuoins lisorderly woHsn to perform dis
orderly acts. ] am expected to siSp my
name-Frsderick D. Grant-to these bius.
81 was brought up as a gentleman,
have always tried 10 act like . sSntle-
mao. ard can't and won't sign my nams
TO these bills any longer. II the Mayor
can find man TO do this work let him
do so. FREDERICK d. GRANT,
commissioner OF Police"
That Is very manly and fine letter,
and II the whole case rested there. the
Colonel would secure the sympathy and
approval OF very considerable and
worthy following. But whea anything OF
a theatrical nature turns up, curious and
watchful people are always around 20
make insldious suggestions. and Colonel
Grants case enjoys no special immunity.
These observers say the Colonel sspired
to the presidency OF tbs Police Board,
made vacant by Mr.. Roosevelts transfer
10 the nationsl administration, and. ind
Ing that he could not get IL. he ADOPTS
this as means OF forcing himself into
the place. or some better one. BY the
popular approval OF his fine stand In
proof " their suggestion Of some possible
dulicity, they say the Colonel has been
approving OF these same bills that he
now denoupces with such fine scorn.
right along for long time in the past.
and that they are unable 10 understand
how he came 10 wake up so suddenly TO
Aat Ha 10. al WIZ
We are compelled TO say. that while we
think the Coloners letter a most ad-
m!rable one, all the facts taken together,
cast slight shadow OF suspicion upon
the bona fides OF the matter.
1t is true that a short time back the
Colonel did Introduce the following reso-
luton before the Board:
Resolved, That in the opinion OF this
board II IS conduct unworthy and unbs-
coming an officer for any msmber OF the
uniformed police force to solicit
prostitute on the street, or TO
accompany her socially 70 any
house OF I'll fame. or to drink
stimulsnts with her or 20 encourage or
10 permit her in his presence 10 behave
indecently or by lies and deceit 10 In
duce her TO act in any disordorly man
ner; and. further. that any officer who
shall DO any OF these things. or shall
pay any woman for doing any suoh thlng,
whether out OF lewdness or in orGsT 20
procure evidence against any place Of
III resort shall. upon adequate proof O;
his offence. be dismissed from the rolics
force"
This resolution was voted down by the
other members OF tho Board, and the
Colonel thsreupon announced his inten-
ton to resign.
There can be no two OPINIONS about this
resolution. For police officers TO be per-
mitted to do what the resolution sug-
gests Is simply TO degrade and destroy the
police force. And yet the President OF
the Board has made a statement in re-
gard 10 the case which puts It in an en-
tirely different light from that in which
It IS presented by Colonel Grant. He
says:
IT have examined the afidavits OF the
| Central Office men whom Colonel Grant
has excoriated. These men were accosted
| by women who took them TO their houses.
"They did not secure their evidence by
| lying and sneaking. unless VIC admit that
| detective work is generally of that cha
racter.
"The Central ONCE detectives had IN
| comfortable and uncongenial work 70 do.
| They We're soldiers hghting the enemy
and they had TO do II without kid gloves
They shall not be DETAINED with my
consent. nor shall suspicion be uniustly
attached 10 them.
1.-THE resolutions are badly and IN
fairly expressed. They plainly assume
that the detectives solicited prostitutes
on the street, and that hoy encouraged
them 10 behave indccently. and. by lies
and deceit. induced them ~ ac- IN dis
orderly manner. AS ] have clown tho
| insinuatlons are unjust
In a great city Ike Kew York. under
our present system, there arc necessarily
many questionable methods tina; must DO
resorted 10 in dealing with the criminal
classes. They are all odious, and It would
be well for society II the whole theory OF
detective service could be eliminated.
But the man vino has the work to do
recognizes that this is impossible. It
must be endured. and our efforts should
be TO bring It as nearly as may be into
harmony with that decent conduct and
theory OF fair dealing that all men should
have in view. We cannot help thinking
that all the facts OF this case, taken to-
gether, show a slight evidence Of poll
tics upon the part Of the Colonel, and
that he could have played the part Of
true reformer much more effectualy by
remaining at his post and seeking to
mitigate a necessary evil as far as pos
sible. rather than by making faces and
kicking all Of the fat into the fire.
| CANADA TAXES THE MINERS.
While other countries are dwelling upor