Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-11-29

Greene and Russell A. Alger. former
secretary of war, year ago to organ
ize a police force in Havana along
American lines. He spent three or four
months in that city, and before leav-
ing 1000 uniformed policemen were
patrolling the streets of the city very
much as the New York police patrol
that city.
Chief Cardenas, who succeeded the
first chief installed by Mr.. McCullagh
several months ago. was dissatisfied
with the system and has determined
to transform the department into
military organization, in which men
will be required to enlist for n term
of two years. The department will
also extend it's jurisdiction to include
the entire province of Havana, instead
of the city alone.
81 expected it would come before
this" Mr.. McCullagh said the other
day. THE men down there are vain,
and they are full of the military spirit.
They know nothing better than TO car
ry n rife and bayonet. and to wear
fancy uniforms, while the officers are
fond of swords and take particular de-
light in being saluted and admired.
The spirit of militarism was one of the
greatest difficulties l met in organic
ing the department. The inhabitants
have become so accustomed to it that
they feel that any police system which
does not include machete, bayonets
and swords is quite incomplete and
consequently inefficient.
''In organizing the department 1
fought the military idea at every point.
1 wanted to establish a modern system
and to make it as simple as possible,
and at the same time as American as
could. l am confident that a chief OF
police who is self reliant and firm will
always be master of any situation
which might arise in the city with
1000 men under him. The Havana de-
partment seems to have stood well the
test of the first nine or ten months, and
the change will not necessarily alter
the system to any great extent. The
men will carry rifles and bayonets in
stead of night sticks and 'billies,' and
the officers will carry swords instead
of canes. In organizing the force 1
found it better TO grade the officers as
captains, lieutenants and sergeants,
instead of having sergeants and rounds
men, as we have here in New York.
Thus the department has been from
the start on a semimilitary basis. At
least. it had the military color, so to
speak. The extension of the chiefs
over the entire province of |
Havana is probably the result of the |
of American troops from |
the island.
when the department was first Or
ganized. the territory outside the city |
was in the hands of American soldiers,
and their police work made it quite IN
necessary for us to consider that part
Of the province. think this extension
Is a good one, judging from distance.
I believe in giving a chief of police
power over Il large territory. Then
he has the entire situation In his own
hands and can handle the criminal
classes to better advantage than il his
power is limited to a single city or viii
age. One central bureau, with a good
nan in charge, will check the criminal
element more effectively than a num-
per of bureaus each in control of a sep
lrate man."
As for the order compelling men to
enlist for terms of two years each, Su-
McCuIlagh said he was
as to the reasons for this
,rder.