The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-02
NaPd Problem OF
Rural Protection,
From the Philadelphia Press.

GPHIS problem of rural insecurity is
ii assuming proportions which will
very soon demand vigorous treat
III ment by the public. The country
is, in q great measure, living un-
der Il police system which was adopted
when the population was homogeneous
and a stricter code of morals prevailed
than today. Then the town constable
with the help he could summon in case
of an emergency was sufficient to pre-
serve order. Nearly every inhabtant of
Il county knew every other inhabitant
and the advent of a stranger was sure to
arouse attention. There were few idle
men and certainly no gangs of dissolute
tramps frequenting the highways and
making life and property unsafe. Now
immigration has destroyed the homo
geneity of the population, the number of
people has increased until few are ac-
quainted with any except their near
neighbors and, worst of all. body of
tramps has grown up that is a standing
menace to society. 1t is plain that the
methods which We're sufficient for the
former order of things are not sufficient
for the later order.
But ii is easier to recognize the Situa-
tion than to suggest a practical remedy.
In Massachusetts where the great num-
Der of crimes committed in the rural
communities has awakened serious at
tention, different ways have been pro-
posed for giving protection to the country
districts. The most obvious plan is q
state police system which would Coop
crate with the local authorities in pre-
venting and furnishing crime. But there
are two difficulties in the way. one is
the certainty Of conflict between the
state and the town if there were two
sets of officials deriving their authority
from two different sources. The criminal
m ia N Cd bo,,
he does now The other difficulty is one
of expense. If a sufficient number of po-
lice officers to patrol country roads We're
appointed a large expenditure which
could be met only by additional taxation
would be necessary AS the cities pro-
vide their own police forces they would
undoubtedly be unwilling to have the
protection of the country districts sad
| died on them and an increase of rural
/ taxes would be the only recourse left.
%
Here are two difficulties which appear
almost insurmountable But it is Just as
| plain that rural communities cannot pro-
| tect themselves alone and that they must
have assistance from some source. 1t is
| true, however, that the country has not
| done all it can in the way of putting
| down the tramp and in protecting life
| and property. There are farmers in
! plenty who in the goodness of their heart
and lodging and SO help support a men,
| ace to themselves and their neighbors.
| The exhibition of llrmer disposition on
| the part of the farmer in dealing with
| the tramp would aid materially in getting
| rid of the latter. Rural districts can also
with a very slight increase of taxation
| increase the size of their police force.
| The knowledge that there is o mounted
police in existence is always a great re-
straint upon the rural criminal, and the
| cost of maintaining a few such in every
| county need not be large. The extension
| also of the telephone over the country
| enabling helD TO be summoned quickly
| should be another protection.
! o.
| Perhaps the most feasible plan would
| he for the state to appropriate money TO
be distributed according to their need
| among the counties fer the purpose of
maintaining a police force, leaving the
local authorities to control the manage
| ment. Whether or not this is the bet
| ter plan it is plain that something should
be done to make life and property more
secure in rural communities than they
| now are.