Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-03-05
CRIMINAL STATISTICS.

The moral status Of the country Is
receiving a great deal Of attention IN
the press at present The San Fran
cisco Chronicle takes up the question
whether crime is on the Increase In
this country. Recently Or, Arthur NC
Donald, IN a report TO Congress, point
ed out that statistics prove that for
the last 30 years crime has been on
the increase in the world. In spite OF
the progress Of education and the la
bors Of philanthropy mental and ner-
yous diseases suicide, insanity, juye-
nile crime and pauperlsm are at pres
emit increasing faster than the popula-
tlon,' he said.
The chronicle, which not directly de-
nylug the correctness Of this statement
takes the Wow that It cannot be prov
ed by statistics. The laws vary and
the methods Of collecting statistics
vary and consequently one years fig
ures cannot safely be compared to
those OF another year. AS new laws
are added TO the statute books every
year. persons are arrested for new
ciuses, and it IS therefore unfair 10
compare the arrests or sentences OF
one year With those Of O previous year.
Nor can the movement Of crime in
community Doe determined by the move
ment Of the prison populatioq.l a de-
crease ln prison population does not
necessarily mean decrease Of crime,
since the daily average prison popula-
ton depends upon the duration Of SEN
fences, not upon the amount Of crime.
This reasoning IS plausible enough,
but the fact remains that murders and
other gross crimes are becoming a great
deal too numerous We have noticed
the alleged condition In Chicago where
murder cascs are so numerous that the
authorities lind themselves unable TO
handle them as speedily as public sofe-
IS would demand. and the worst Of II
ig that the conscience Of the people is
becoming paralyzod 1t IS beginning to
fail TO realize the enormity Of the
crime The criminal element is being
catered TO by politicians, as well as the
moral element and when that Is the
case, how long win It be before the
former shall exercise absolute power
IN public affairs?
Bur Chicago Is no exception to the
rule We notice that a pastor in the EN-.
poy Of Connecticut Bible society
charges, that "polygamy" is practiced
IN the eastern part Of that State. while
the northwestern section contains
class OF ignorant whites whose condi-
ton Is deplorable. He says that the
church in Connecticut is not doing It's
duty and that existing conditions pre-
sent a serious problem,
The Worcester Gazette in comment
Ing on this report says that Massa-
chusetis has nothing TO feel proud
about IN THIS regard. The conditions
are practically the same. And as for
"polygamy," that paper adds. we think
the inhabitants Of our Connecticut and
Massachusetts, cities cannot hold their
heads very high in the presence OF their
brethren Of the rural districts.
Comparative statistics may not be
relied on as proofs Of the increase Of
crimes, but from all reports It appears
clear that moral standards are being
lowered by an ever increasing number
Of people. A great moral force Is need
ed 70 lit up the nations OF the earth to
a higher standard Of morality than that
commonly followed. That Is the les
son Of criminal statistics