The record-union., 1897-01-20
INTELLECTUAL PURSUIT.

The Stockton Independent" says:
If a State constabulary is needed the
Legislature might get one without any
extra expense by making all Sheritfs
State officers and giving them equal
powers in criminal matters in all parts
of the commonwealth.
Not So and we think we can prove it
easily. 1t will make no sort Of
difference whatever if the plan Of our
contemporary is adopted, because we
viii have no better system than now
practically we have no system; it is
every nan-jack for himself so far as
Official pursuit of criminals in concerned.
What we want is system operating
under one competent head, with not less
than four experienced trained lieuten-
ants. Such a force can then use the
Sheriff and police forces, the Constables
and Marshals of the State to excellent
advantage and at small cost to the coun-
ties.
What earthly good will be conserved
by authorizing all peace officers to act
in any part Of the State if there is no
method and concert in their action?
Would our contemporary do private
business on such a basis? VIII our
neighbor please explain how the 500
Sheriffs and deputies. Chiefs of Police
and Marshals are to meet their ex-
penses? Who is to foot the bills? How
will such a plan as our contemporary
suggests be carried out without ex-
pense?"
If 1T knows how to make 1t possible
then the Independent" has found the
philosophers stone. Is each county to
pay any cost it's Sheriff may see fit to
put upon it for chasing over the State on
wrong scents, or viii division Of eX-
pense be made between the counties?
Who viii determine the mileage each
officer may travel in pursuit Of a Grim
inaI and the employment Of money he
may make In such pursuit? What man
under the sun can tell where pursuit
may lead, and what the cost may be
under the independents" plan?
But the overshadowing reason against
our contemporary idea is found in the
chief value of a State constabulary Of
five. namely, the speed with which the
chief can communicate with his lieuten-
ants and formulate a systematic plan
Of pursuit, or Of cutting off escape. ADD
to this the value of such system be-
cause of the communication the chief
Will have with the heads Of all prisons,
police and Sheriff's forces and Marshals
throughout the land; the accurate know
ledge he and his men will have Of the
criminal class and its movement, and
the ease with which he and they can
Systematically direct pursuit.
As+o the cost. the five men will be sal
aried. the incentive Of reward VIII not
operate with them to cast other officers
off the track, TO lead on false scents OF
TO pocket" criminals to stimulate o1ers
of reward Fifty thousand dollars year
would pay all cost of salaries. traVehng
expenses, publication, communication
and pursuit That amount VIII De prac-
tically saved to the State ana much
more. besides repressing crime, by max
ing the capture of criminals more GER
tain.
The San lose Mercury declares that
in one case in that county the unsuccess-
full pursuit of a noted criminal has cost
the county thousands of dollars ana
wrecked the private fortune Of a Sheriff
The reason every one knows. 1t has been
frequently set forth in these columns
and It is needless to repeat it.
LET onr contemporaries and legislators
who doubt the wisdom of the constaou-
larry proposition, which, by the way Is
nv no means novel or untried, give Us
the reasons for the following fairiy re-
cent California record:
September, '93. murderer Barrett es-
eaped after killing police ofiicer IN 'he
open street