The Forrest City times., 1900-12-21
ST. LOUIS POLICE SCANDAL.
The DeveIopments in the st. Louis Police Department Commented
 Upon by the City Press.

St. Louis, Dec. 19.-Commenting on the disgraceful revelations in connec- ton with the police department of the city, the Globe-Democrat (rep.) says:
 Citizens of St. Louis who intelIigently observe what goes on in the police de partment as now conducted are not sur prised by the direct evidence obtained or the collision of the police with some or the worst thieves that infeSt the city. The largest railway station here has long been the scene Of this gross Villtany, and no doubt there are ramihcations of the crime elsewhere. Passengers arriving or departing are wheedled into panel houses and robbed by women and by rutfians with whom they are in league and who share their booty with policemen on the beat to escape arrest or punishment Most of the victims are ashamed of their own disreputable conduct and make no complaint, those who do complain deal with policemen who are secret partners in the robberies. Nillainy could take no worse form, since the means provided for justice and redress are corrupted and the crookedness ot the police breeds crime in stead of suppressing it.
 So it is for this horrible alliance be- tween crime and the department of pub 'lc order that the citizens of St. Louis are paying SSO0.0O0 a year more for po- lice expenses. The whole force was de- moraltZed when it Was turned into d political machine and a financial feeder Of the Jeff club. It is radically wrong as police. whatever 1t may be us piece of democratic machinery. It's faults are legion. An old trouble is that Eews Of crime has been suppressed, and Chief Campbell is in part responsible for the policy of hiding facts to which the public are entitled. and publicity would tend to overcome the evils. No doubt some members of the force. finding a DOT ton Of their salaries taken from them frequently for the Jefferson club treas ury, think to keep even by exacting a toll from crime. The police system of ot. Louis as now carried on Is an in toierable perVersiOn. A new state ad- ministration is about to come into power. What does it propose to do about the po- nee or this city whose misdeeds are now a public stanch?
 The St. Louis Republic (dem.) says:
 When the conduct of the police au thorities in the present bribery proceed iugs against individual patrolmen is compared with the attitude of the mu- nicipal administration toward the charges preferred by grand jury against the of flee of the commissioner of supplies an estimate can be reached of the compara- tive efficiency of the police department and the city government and of the causes for this varying degree of efficiency.
 The police authorities investigated in- stantly, thoroughly and resultfully using all the machinery of the department.
 Over nine months have elapsed since charges were first brought against the supply commissioner office by the grand lhrN aud everybody in the office still en- loys the ardent friendship and support of the administration
 Let the test be made yet more ex- faustive- Undoubtedly there are other shortcomings in the police force Vigor- ous search for evidence will produce re- suits. Now that the department heads have set the example other persons will be ready to testify. The police board should use the opportunity to emphasize the contrast between the department and l Liegenheinism. Make the investtgat tfon thorough and the dealing merciless Puri- fy the entire force Make the rottenness or Ziegenhenism stand out alone before