The evening times., 1900-01-27

Although Chicago has not gone so fa
a. 10 adopt the plan of offering rewards fo-
the pelts and scalps Of house thieves aut
highwaymen the municipal authoriiie
continue to consider drastic measures TO
the suppression Of crime. The demand fo
unusual punshments is not in the leas
abated. the inoffensive and law-abidinl
having become SO thoroughly aroused By
the operations OF thugs that there vii
probably be no end to the clamor for e.
fern until something radical has beer
done
The latest proposition is for the revival
of the whipping post This has been put
into the form OF an ordinance and, if l.
becomes operative the convicted burglar
or highwayman viii receive in addition 10
his Jail sentence. thirty lashes d day dur
ing his term. Chicagoans contend that The
present penalty embraces no especially dis
agreeable conditions for the offender. mas
much as he is merely housed comfortably,
fed at the expense Of the community Tor a
given period, and then turned loose upon
the city 10 continue his plundering enter
prises. The i,,liguant citizens 20 so far
as TO assert that. in the winter season. the
social parasite who steals prefers 10 go
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 iagrant and persistent offenders was
the violent outbreak OF public feeling which
had long been accommodating force. Fortu-
nstely for the reputation of the city, il was
not resorted to, a sober second thought re-
vealing the dangerous and desperate posi-
bilities of such a measure. 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 condition OF affairs that has
nade the city notorious. But, in their ex-
citement, 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 Chicago newspapers. there
are two important reasons why this par
ticular species OF crime is so prevalent in
the city. Although boldups and burgla-
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 or management, or it is distinctly
incompetent Why it does not do what il
ought TO do is a question for the citizens
who pay for it to decide. 1t 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 a 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
ized the municipality. Common sense
would also dictate the necessity of either
O reform in the criminal code, providing
extraordinary penalties for the malefac-
Hone NOW endemic or a Second demand
upon the judicial authorities for the en-