The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-09-25
SAYS CITY IS ORDERLY
CHIEF HALLOCK DiSAGREES
WITH GRAND JURY
Records Show That There Is Less
Disorder Now Than at Any
Time In Past Ten Years.

The report Of the grand jury. con-
tanning reference 10 the alleged dlsor-
defly condition Of the city. caused some
thing Of sensation around town yes
!erday The Jury was criticised In
some quarters for the report. but Il
is thought its reference to city cDndl-
tions was based on evidence presented
10 Il. However. the statement that
drunken brawls and fights occur In the
early hours OF the morning In gener-
ally regarded as an unjust reflection
on the police force of the city. Chief
Hauock was seen last evening by a re-
/ porter and asked 10 express himself on
the subject. While Inclined 10 be ret
icent. Chief Hallock said the report
Of the jury was very much OF a sur
prise TO him. as he considered the peace
Of the city very good.
The records IN the ofhce OF the po-
lice show that local conditions are beuer
than they have been for ten years. :"
said Hallock. and the report OF the
grand Jury has been. must confess.
disappointment 20 me. Our books
show that very few arrests. compare
lively speaking. have been made during
the past three or four months. and the
police officers have been very success
ful in suppresslng disorder Of all kinds
No doubt the grand jury's report was
based on evidence presented to hat
body. but believe the situation has
been mlsrepresented.
"Ot course. fights occur In Astoria. ss
well as In all other seaport cities. A
fiRhi Is not a ngh, until Il starts. and
the police cannot be expected to anti
cipate disorders OF this kind end sup
press the principals before the trouble
begins. However. there are very few
brawls in Astoria at the present time.
and nights which result seriously are
few and far between. Sailors arriv-
ing here from other ports usually
spend their money for liquor. and gen.
orally wind up In jail: but there Is no
way TO stop this. It's the same the
world over. We try as best we
may to keep this class OF people in line.
and the records OF the police depart
ment show that We are very successful
"As to the alleged disorder In the ear
ly hours OF the morning. can only
say that the statement Is not borne out
by the facts That part OF the city
known as 'swilllown' Is almost deserted
after midnight. as a visit will disclose.
Two officers are constantly on watch
there. and the peace is not disturbed
with the frequency which the report OF
the grand jury implies
"It the suggestion OF the grand jury
that saloons be closed at Il o'clock were
put in force. the loss to the city would
be fully $4,000 a year. have talked
with a great many business men about
the matter since the publication In The
Morning As;orIan OF the report OF the
grand jury. and have failed to find one
who agreed with the plan. The sale OF
l!ouor to drunken men and women Is
matter for the saloon men to consider.
will state, however. tina, few saloon
men will sell liquor to intoxicated per-
sons saloons are not resorts for Po-
llcemen and they seldom remain in such
places longer than few moments. 50
We are not supposed to watch the bars
10 see shat liquor is not sold TO min
ors. II there were any fragrant viola
don OF this law, We would know OF IT,
and can assure you that the offender
would be severely deal; with. The po-
lice are constantly on the lookout IUf
minors in questionable parts OF the