The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-04-13
MOUNTED POLICE.
M MULTIF1 RIOUS DUTIES AND PRA1SEWORgHY YlCHIEYEMENTS
or canndu's Notable Peace Force.


 The Northwest Mounted Police is a peculiarly western institution, and one Of which western Canada has every reason to be proud The force efficient ly fulf1lls the various duties which 1t is called upon to perform in Canada, and wherever 1t is known the force has earned respect and admiration. To the distinction which the Northwest Mount ed Police have gained in Canada must now be added the excellent impression which the gallantry and soldierly qual- 1ties of those members of the force who served in South Africa have created.
 In the report of the commissioner, which has just been published, 1t is stated that, in addition to the large numbers of ex-officers and men who volunteered for service in South Afri- ca, the police force supplied eighteen officers and one hundred and sixty non commissioned officers and men for ser vice at the front with either the Second Canadian Mounted Rifles or with Strathcona's Horse. Owing to this large number of members of the force who proceeded to South Africa on active
 
 somewhat disorganized and short hand ed, "a large percentage of each division being during the past year composed of recruits. The condition of the horses too, has not been satisfactory, as one hundred and flfty-four picked animals were hold to the militia department for South African service, and this loss, out of total strength of five hundred and sixty-eight, was naturally serious.
 Nevertheless, the varied duties for which the Northwest Mounted Police are responsible have been efficiently fulfilled. Out of 1851 cases entered, nine hundred and thirty-six convictions, about 71 per cent, were obtained In addition to this, every constable on pa- trol Is a quarantine inspector escorts are furnished to Indian treaty pay ments and to treaty commissioners in the far north, duties are collected for the customs department, timber in Manitoba and the territories is patroled for the interior department, for the de- pertinent of justice prisoners are held in guard rooms and are escorted to the penitentiaries, and countless other ne- cessary duties are performed by the men of the force, who are to be found from Roseau river in southeast Manito- ba to Fort Chippewyan in the far north, the Yukon attachments alone covering a distance of five hundred miles from north to south.
 Considering the great variety of du- ties falling to the lot of Northwest Mounted Policeman 1t is not surprising to learn that the efficient training of a recruit requires twelve months, for the mounted policeman must be, among other things, soldier, a police officer, a veterinarian, a farrier, cook a judge of horse and of it's capabilities, and one who Is able to find his way over the prairies and to attend to the com fort of his horse and himself.
 The strength of the force Is now about eight hundred and fifty, and there is an increasing demand for police protection and number of new detachments will have to be established in the near fu- ture. The great influx of foreign inn migrants has widened the duties of the force, and he presence of police among them is recommended by the commits eloner, as 1t tends to prevent them from wilfully breaking the laws, to protect them from the petty tyranny of some of their own people, and to avoid friction among them and our own people, who are often intolerant of their manners and habits, and, in fact, not inclined favorably toward them.
 The commissioner reports that the health of the force has been good and that the general conduct has been ex cellent He recommends that only good horses be purchased for the police, and Is of the opinion that, If the impe- rial authorities establish remount sta ton in the northwest, the kind of horses required for military purposes will be extensively bred. It is also recom- mended that the force be entirely re- as the arms at present in use are generally quite obsolete. Other changes are also recommended by the l commissioner. At present when the re- volver is worn, ammunition for the car bine must also be taken, whether the carbine is carried or not. This absurd state of affairs necessitates an addi- tional and useless load for the horse. The saddle Is also in the commission er's opinion, heavier than is necessary.
 Many changes in uniform have been and came into force at the be- ginning of the year, and these changes are, in most cases, advantageous. Pipe clay and blacking are discarded, which IS particularly desirable inno- vation in force such as the Northwest Police, especially if the change can be effected without impairlng the smart appearance for which the police have in the past been we'll known. Many articles of uniform are to be dis ,arded, including the helmet, forage zap, white gloves and gauntlets, tunic, black boots, cloak and cape, black fur zap, black lambskin coat and moccas- ns. Among the articles to be adopted n their place are the, felt cap, service zap, brown gloves and gauntlets, brown boots, field service jacket and panta- oons, a fur cap of Klondike pattern, ,lk mitts, felt boots and black stock ngs, pea jackets, and slicker and saul vester. The officers uniform will also ,e similarly changed. The report states that considering he varied character of our population, [. he extent of the territories, and the parseness of settlement in many dis nd life and property are as safe as in ny part of Canada and for this very satisfactory state of affairs the North vest Mounted Police deserve much ,adit rNba nnu.uli issiNt1or- r.er~rate +l7o+ '