The evening times., 1900-01-27
What Chicago Needs.

Although Chicago has not gone so far
As 10 adopt the plan of offering rewards for
the pelts and scalps Of house thieves aud
highwaymen the municipal authorities
continue TO consider drastic measures for
the suppression Of crime. The demand for
unusual punishmeuts is not in the least
RbatCd. the inOffensiYe and law-abiding
having become so thoroughly aroused by
the operations OF thugs that there will
probably be no end TO the clamor for Ie-
fern until something radical has been
done
The latest proposition is FOR the revival
Of the whipping post. This has been put
into the form of an ordinance. and, if Il
becomes operative, the convicted burglar
or highwayman will receive. in addition 10
his Jail sentence. thirty Iashes a day dur
ing his term. Chicagoans contend that The
present penalty embraces no especially dis
agreeable conditions for the offender mas
much as ne is merely housed comfortably.
fed az the expense OF the community for q
given period and then turned loose upon
the city 20 continue his plunderng enter
prises. The i~lignant citizens 20 so far
social parasite who steals prefers 70 20
into retirement in a clean. sanitary Jail.
where he will be shielded from the chilling
blast ana provided with substantial food
without the necessity Of exerting himself
TO procure It.
The plan Of Offering two hundred dollars
for every dead burglar, which was recently
submitted as a remedy for the suppression
Of fragrant and persistent offenders. wa1
the violent outbreak Of public feeling which
had long been accumulating force. Fortu-
nstely for the reputation Of the city. IT was
not resOrted to, a sober second thought re-
vealing the dangerous and desperate posi-
bilities Of such a mea~ure. But the recon-
mendation that convicted thieves be
whipped systematically is sOberly proposed
by a property owners and business mems
association. and endorsed by some of the
local newspapers.
The people are evidently determined and
bitterly in earnest in this crusade to relieve
Chicago from a condition of affairs that has
Trade the city notorious But, In their ex-
element. which is only natural under the
mOrtifying and distressing circumstances.
they have apparently overlooked the Iogi-
cal and most effective way OF dealing with
the criminal problem.
Judging from the comment that has ap-
peared in the ChicaFo newspapers. there
are two important reasons why this par
ticular species Of crime is so prevalent in
the city. Although hoIdups and burgIa-
ries are aggravatingly frequent. few cap
lures are made. according TO reports
From this it is apparent that the police
system is either radically defective in
numbers OF managenen or it is distinctly
incompetent Why it does not do what it
ought TO do is question for the citizens
who pay for it to decide II is likewise
evident. from recent local comment that
the offences OF highway robbery and house.
breaking in the Western city are not Sc
verely penalized. the sentences being short
snd the prisoner most considerably treat
ed while he is the guest OF the Common
wealth.
The natural impulse in other cities. if
a remedy for the suppression Of such
crimes were demanded, would be to first
demand In no uncertain tones reform in
the police department, calling upon the Of
ficers of the law TO increase their vigilance
and bring in the rufisns who have terror
ICED the municipality. Common sense
would also dictate the necessity OF either
q reform in the criminal code, providing
extraordinary penalties for the malefac-
lions now epidemic, or a second demand
upon the judicial authorities for the en-