The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-30
NOT ENOUGH POLICE
The Department Makes a Strong
Showing Before Board Of
Tax Levy.
For Its Size, Minneapolis Has a
Sadly Inadequate Police
Force.

i
is demanded by the Commercial Club in
| the interest of economy and proper bust
ness procedure.
| This idea which was presented to the
| board OF tax levy yesterday by w. G..
Nye, was amplifed this morning by W.
d. Washburn, Jr., as a representative of
the club. While not pretending to be an
expert accountant, Mr.. Washburn said it
was plain that the methods now in vogue
are inadequate, antiQuated and unsatis-
factory.
II want you to understand inter-
rupted City Controller Joshua Rogers,
that it is not true with regard to the
controllers office. We have as complete
a system as any in the country, If do
say it myself"
County Auditor Hugh R. Scott also re-
sented the criticisms Of the Commercial
Club.
Alderman A. E. Merrill pointed out that
the accounting between the county and
city in the matter Of special assessments
was incomplete. There was an entire
lack of checks and the practices now
being followed were most unbusinesslike.
Mr.. Rogers readily admitted that the
system Of special assessments could be
improved from beginning to end and MIR.
Scott was also willing to concede this
point. ,.-s a.,
Mr.. Washburn, in submitting a report
from the Commercial Club, stated that
the various items were the same as those
covered by the committee from the club
! headed by Mr.. Nye. His purpose was
simply to go deeper into details
Police Department Needs.
Superintendent p. j. Conroy of the po-
lice department, and George p. Douglas,
| secretary to the mayor, presented the
needs Of the police department On the
| present basis Of strength the department
would require for 1904 an appropriation
of $236, 915, which includes an estimated
deficiency of $4,000. The proposed in
crease Of fifty men would call for an ad-
ditionat appropriation of $4,000, making
| the total $283,715.
MInneapoIIs' Poor Showing.
Mr.. Douglas presented statistics gath
cred from the various cities of the coun-
try in the same class as Minneapolis with
regard to area and population. In every
case cities of about the same population
had at; Least 100 more policemen than
! Minneapolis, and even smaller cities like
Providence, r. l., with $1,000 less inhab-
itants, had police force Of 800, while the
Minneapolis force numbers only 225. Buff
falo which is OF the same, area ais Min
| neapolis, has over 700 policemen.
In every city except Minneapolis and
Milwaukee the police cost more than the
fire department, but even In Milwaukee
the disparity is not as great as in Min
neapolis The police here cost about 81
per year. per capita, while the fire de-
partment cost about s1.50 per capita.
Mr.. Douglas also pointed out that
whereas the police and fire departments
cost about the same in 1890, at the pres
ent time the fire department had grown to
such an extent that it cost over $10O, 600
more than the police There had been
no growth in the police department since
1889, while the city had grown from one
third to half more.
Chief Conroy pointed out several partic-
ulars in which the inadequacy Of the pres
ent force was most marked. mus 1or II
stance, for the whole second ward from
Central avenue to the limits of st. Paul
there are only four officers. There is only
one officer for North Minneapolis above
Twentieth avenue N. In the residence
districts, cheat" covers from twenty
five to seventy-five square blocks It Is
a wonder, he said, that the residence dis
tricts are not subject to continuous ralds
from thieves and burglars.
AS 1t is, new houses in process OF con-
struction are often robbed Of plumbing,
locks and other furnishings altho instruc-
lions are given that they should be
watched as closely as possible. The men
simply could not do it.
Health Department Funds.
DR.. p. M. Hall, commissioner of health,
explained why the health department
wanted It's appropriation increased from
SCI, 900 to $4,000 It was all on account
Of the garbage problem. The present sys-
tenn of daily collections was not sattsfac-
tory to the department nor to the public
| If the garbage crematory was to remain
In its present location, there would be
needed fourteen more garbage carts. Aid
errnan Merrill asked If this sum Of $14, 900
would be saved If the crematory was re-
moved to Halls island.
DR.. Halls reply was that 1t certainly
would and stated that the saving would
not be only for one year, but for every
year. Nevertheless, he was basing his
estimates on the present location. He
had expected to have the crematory re-
moved last winter and had made his es-
| Inmates accordingly with the result that
the department had been greatly handi-
capped for funds all the year. He had
been compelled to discharge the hospital
physician and assume the duties himself
Ia move for which he had been indicted.
had been saved and. the garbage removal
work carried on In way, but not in
way to satisfy the department or any
one else.
What Building Inspector Wants.
Building Inspector James G. Houghton
explained why he needed three additional
men. With the present force and the in
creased amount Of building, he could not
properly attend to his duties. Both he
and his subordinates were compelled to
work overtime and on holidays. He had
before him large press of work, but was
unable to attend to 1t. This was partic-
ularly true of the inspection of down town
warehouses and factories with regard to
the load on the floors.
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