The herald., 1898-09-24

cussion, I think the department does not
properly realize what an important adjunct
the newspaper is to the work of the detec-
tives and the police. The daily paper Is q
great deterrent of crime. II you will sup
press all criminal news for a month will
show you carnival Of crime such as has
never been seen in this city. Criminals,
or would-be criminals. are deferred from
overt acts by the knowledge of the public
ity which would he given to them II found
out 1 admit that there are sometimes
publications made which tend to defeat the
ends OF justice, but believe that the ma
jority OF newspaper men would not will.
fully place an obstruction in the way of the
onicers In the discharge Of their duties.
AT the same time there Is a tendency on the
part or the police department to fail to
appreciate this and to unduly attempt to
suppress legitimate news. They should re-
pose some confidence In the newspaper
workers 1t seems to me there should be
some middle ground. If the newspaper man
Is denied knowledge of an arrest and man.
ages to secure a tip he will use every
endeavor to secure the story and perhaps
by publishing 1t he would place an obstacle
In the path Of the detectives.
1T Is not right for the police and press
to be working at cross purposes. The pub
lie should know up to the limit of reason
what Is going ON. The press Is working
with the police, represents the public, and
Is the eye and ear of the masses. Your
work Is for public protection, our work is
for public protection and we must stand to-
gether for the rights of all citizens.
Il am not holding for hard-and-fas lines
but I warn you not to strain your rules too
far, particularly In matter involving the
individual rights Of citizens"
Mayor Snyder replied by saying that 1t
was the desire of the commissioners to ar
rive at some conclusion which would be
satisfactory to both the newspapers and
the police.
The mayor WAS reminded that while the
newspaper men had grievance and OBJ
jected to the small book system, that the
real persons aggrieved and injured by that
system were, as Mr.. Spalding had pointed
out, the people who were arrested and held
In durance vile without a charge being
made against them for days and days.
Mayor Snyder said that the commission
would try and find some way, without de-
feating the ends of justice, to arrange mat
ters. and then Mr.. Meserve was heard. He
defended the small book system.
The commission finally concluded to take
the whole matter under advisement, with
a suggestion by Mr.. Gibbon that some rule
be adopted whereby the newspaper report
ers might get such news as Sin the judg-
ment of the chief and detectives they
should have"
THAT means all the news we can get on
the outside" said a reporter.
Silence gave consent.
The alleged investigation into the small
book system by the commission was a Sc
rious disappointment to the newspaper
men. They were not aware they would
have attorneys. and technicalities raised
by them. to contend with and had conse-
quently sought no legal advice or assist
ance. 1t was supposed that the commission
would summon witnesses II they wanted
them and therefore the men opposing the
small book system were not prepared. The
investigation will probably result. as sug-
gested by Mr. Gibbon in an order that the
chief shall give out such news as he sees fit.