Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-10-11

AT the meeting of the league yes
terday afternoon the subject of po-
lice cooperation was taken up at
first, in order that the body might
reach the discussion of the subject
early in the session and have full
time for such discussion. The paper
prepared by the superintendent of
police OF Lafayette, George A Har-
rison, was read by c. W. Gem, sec
retary OF the league. The paper pre-
sented a plan for systematizing the
police service by cooperative police
plan. The plan includes county
superintendent of police and state
superintendent of police. The argu-
ments presented were strong
and logical. The expenses OF the
system were to be borne by the state
and county. One strong point
brought out in the paper was plan
Tor the watching of paroled prison
ers. Under the present plan all pa
rO.ed prisoners from Jeffersonville
reformatory and Michigan City are
under no supervision except that of
the chapiains of the respective insti-
uutions. 1t is expected that he will
look after all the paroled prisoners
sent home by the board of pardons
from the respective institutions un-
der the indeterminate system. These
are scattered about in various parts
IF the state, and it is impossible for
o man, no matter how vigilant he
may be, to keep his eyes upon the
actions of such persons. The new
proposed system would invest the
county superintendents of police with
the duty of looking after such per-
sons. The warden of the prison
would ascertain the destination of
the paroled prisoner, and notify the
superintendent of police of the county
to which the man was going. A
quiet, unobtrusive watch could then
be kept on such men, and the very
knowledge that the system exists
would have a wholesome effect on the
order of the communities. The plan,
which was an ideal one on paper, and
which promises totally to annihilate
crime, was somewhat the worse for
wear by the time Nr. Mellett of Ell
wood, and Mr.. Downey of Aurora
had got through with it. Mr.. Dow
ney presented indisputable figures
that proved the new plan to mean an
increase of at least $500, 600 to
81, ,0OO, 900 more per year in the state
of Indiana than the present system
costs.
The discussion was continued for
some time The question of santa
tion was also briefly discussed.
At the session of couucilmen last
night and also at the league session
that followed numerous questions of
oil IF
siderable Importance, were taken up
and discussed by the visitors and
local members of the league. Quite
u number of the visiting delegates
had had trouble with telephone COM
panies that issued franks for official
business over their lines and then
collected the usual fees besides.
President DUNCAN stated that he
thought there was legal recourse
from such treatment, and that the
remedy should be applied.
The question of the right of cities
to have shade trees trimmed at the
expense of abutting property owners
who refused TO do so was also
brought up, and it was unanimously
decided that cities and corporations
have such right.
The question of expense for tap
ping water mains was brought up.
1t was found that people in Rich
mond had more to pay for that privi
leye than those of any other town or
corporation in the league, by about
$50 to 800 per cent. The question of
charging a minimum rate for water,
whether such amount of water was
used or not used by the consumer,
was discussed; also the matter of
meter rent. The sentiment was gen
eral and decided that water com
panies had no right to charge for
water that was not used. and that
Richmond paid higher meter rent
than any other city in the league.
The advice of those in better circum-
stances along those lines was: BE
more careful in framing your fran
chises hereafter, and own everything
YOU can in the way of electric light
and water works.
Mayor DUNCAN sprung one of the
principal things for which the league
is formed and in which it may be
made most useful-to establish a
uniformity of ordinances for the
cities and towns in the state. The
purpose of this is economy in time
and money spent annually IN hti-
CATION. For instance, If the city of
Richmond has an ordinance on a Ger
tain subject and test case under
that ordinance arises, the decision
of the supreme court will apply not
only TO Richmond but TO Columbus,