The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-06
POLICE

During the first ten months or the past
year the police department remained as
since it's establishment. under the con-
troll OF city officers. For a portion OF
the time the chief was unable 10 perform
his duties which devolved upon the dep
uty chief l am glad 10 say that the
former has apparently been entirely re-
stored to health I found the condition
Of the force, its management and the
moral condition OF the city extremely In
teresting questions, and while under the
existing laws they remained to some eX-
tent subject TO my surveillance. | gave
much OF my time TO their considera ton.
AS n whole the force seemed TO me TO
lack effectiveness. Different parts OF the
service did not work together, and there
seemed TO be an indispositlon on the part
OF superior officers 10 take the initiative I'm
suppressing what might be called latent
vice" Violent and unusual violations OF
the law were promptly checked, while
quiet but insidlous. and. to my mind,
more dangerous vices. were allowed to
continue unnoticed.
This was especially found in the con-
duct OF cheap hotels. They had been al
lowed TO become common nuisances, dan
gerous FOR resort by any but the most
vicious In the centre OF the city there
were at least half a dozen OF this chsrac-
ter. An investigation into one OF them
revealed conditions almost beyond belief,
conditions known TO the business men ad-
joining who voluntarily hastened to give
their testimony. and Yet this "hotel'
and every one Of the other Objectionable
houses had been vised and recommended
by the captain OF the district.
II is needless TO say that the slightest
investigation as 20 the reputation OF those
houses among their neighbors would have
been sufficient 10 have Informed him Of
the impropriety OF renewing their licenses
Without conditions. The rank ana NE
OF the force / believe 10 he well-behaved.
honest men anxious 20 do their duty so
far as Il was set before them by their
superior officers The captains I found
with two exceptions TO be men who had
reached time I'm life when I'm almost any
service they would have been retired. 10
was only natural that changes should not
be looked upon with favor by men who
had grown old with the system.
EXERCISE AND DRILL ABANDONED.
Frequent exercise and military drill had
been allowed TO be abandoned. and the
force as the result became heavy and In
ert Under the able assistance OF Or.
Griffin, the efficient police surgeon, had
prepared a plan for systematic gymnastic
exercise and military drill. Just at the
time it was TO be presented 20 the coun-
ell the action of the city council which Is
familiar TO YOU all was taken. and. with
unseemly haste. and without debate
worthy OF the name. resolution was in
troduced and passed both branches OF the
council asking the general assembly 10
relieve the city government Of the care
OF the police OF the city.
Before the resolution could pass both
branches of the city council. a bill had
been introduced and passed by the lower
house ~ the general assembly establish
ing police commission for the city oi
Providence to be appointed by the gov
ernor aud the senate. The bill was
promptly passed by the senate. the sena-
tor from Providence and one representa-
tive having the honorable distinction OF
being the only members from Providence
voting against IT,
FEAR OF AGITATION.
The whole matter was introduced and
passed within one week. Immediately ar
ter and not before election. showing n
haste in CARRYING the measure through