New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-09
POLICE FORCE OF PANAMA
Superior to the Army and Nary
Order Readily Maintained.


the police force In intelligence, capabiIIty and
personnel it is vastly superior 10 either the army
or the navy. and for il the gopuLace has Infinitely
more respect than il has for either Of the others
This force is composed OF about three hundred men,
each good specimen OF phy steal manhood, dlstrto-
Uted throughout the various cities and towns OF the
isthmus Il IS commanded by Chief Arrange. VINO
has his headquarters in this city and who directs
its operation with ability In Panama, Colon ana
other larger cities IN the republic the force IS suf
hcientIy large certainly to preserve police order,
while in the smaller towns and villages from two
70 six stationed. No town Is too small L"
boast a little building over the entrance to whLcn
is a sign bearing the legend. Inspection de Po-
Hca. and while force is essentially q noncoul-
blatant organization, it does its work so Wei that
public order is most eXceuently maintained
The personnel Of this force is restricted, in so far
restriction Is possible to native tsthmians- DC
casiouaiIy there is encountered policeman OF pure
negro blood, but. while the entire force is dark
skinned the native element is far n the majority
Some members come from the southern depart
ments Of the Colombian federation, where a larger,
sJuUdier auG resoIute race Of men is bred but
the $50 Colombian silver paid as q monthly wage
is sufficient hold every member Of the force IN
bonds of strongest allegiance to the new republic.
The superior station the policemen occupy IL the
various communities is another anchor TOR their
feaIty The work is comparatively light; their uni
forms blue with red trimmings. and white pith
helmets attractive. and they are locked up TO
with such respect and obeyed with such prompL-
tude that membership the force is commonly
regarded the most comfortable berth procurao4e
under the isthr-ian government
AN ORDERLY PEOPLE
Except that they are required to patrol their
beats, which they 60 in lazy sort of way, these
policemen seldom called upon to exert
themselves as the breaches of the peace are of in
frequeN occurrence. 1t is, n fact quite remark
able that among a people so generally oenIShIed
and backward in their civilization there should be
a state Of public order more excellent than IS 20
be found in any city OF consequence IN the states,
but such Is the case There are as a matter OF
course numerous street braw.S bU- these are OIL
little moment as they are limited set-tos with
the fists. ana nobody can be- seriously injured
Drunkenness IS not looked upon as d public Of
fence unless the drunken man makes himself par
tcularly obnoxious for In this country crlaAlns
is the rule rather than the exception again gam
bling houses. common immortality and places OF Ill
repute are never intertered with This means to
be sure. that this police force has less work to DO
than a similar orbanIzauol In the states WouId DC
called upon TO perform, for here there IS a very
different and most generous construction placed
upon what constitutes breach Of peace
But. allowing FOR the liberal view. the isthInus
must be set down a place where the law IS
publicly respected. and where ne. people generally
order occurs. however rhe ponce i3rce mas Itl-r
mitted to carry revolver 2oleer with a Pls-
tor-hi- equipment LeInG limited L. a rubber coat
for protection against the torreutial rains whis-
trouble ami a poude-oUs Aguuro vItae mace
METHODS OF THE POLICE
The moment trouble breaks OUT the policeman
blows his whistle and then mixes ia the melee That
nEuurn viesp mace of mis- is terrible weapon, and
he uses IL iudlsgrruiuatey- Clubbing is the method
resorted 70 upon all occasions for restoring order
When a policeman comes up with crowd or
street Drawers every body about expect to re
ceiye sounding whdcks over the head from the
mace. The greater the number OF officers sum
~f re NOR elyA1
{ VIII be. and so dexterous have the policemen be-
come in welding these clubs that d crowd OF dis
oit.cer comes in sight Cracked heads are not rel
OS -, S 49, t c,,lsl-- tbern mas hai rnjlch
70 do with creating FOR II universal respect anu
Admirable as this force - in itself. however the
administration OF Justice is htte less than tray
rec,ou the aIca!des OF the respective cities and
proved 10 be In the past colombia mace IL i T4e
10 appoint these men; but never L. pay them Inc
he found his pay not forthcoming, was mis-
~ tS1 M ii Win erSSt sccess EVERYBODY knew
that fines assessed against offenders apuropri-
Of amounts due them for salary and the same uni
vtrsal knowtedEe ootilaec WIN o. I ~, u
Of cash fun satisfaction for sentences Of
/ tempted reform.
INSTANCES OF POLICE JUSTICE
| Instances of these practices are most common.
! while the stories OF what any other people would
set down outrageous perversions OF justice are
/ handed about with the utmost freedom No white
| man OF the isthmus win strike a native as
bIackeu an eye or otherwise leave a mark the
/ the native anatomy. The white men all have money.
offence OF that kind means that the aIcalde and
police project will join hands TO muIct him Of from
$50 500 IN gold, assessed fine, but instantly
! appropriated by the officials and converted 10
/ their on the other hand. ma tive may
/ one Kaleisch-boss stevedore OF the Panama Rail
road at Colon. a German who has been world
{ md W s so hR an
biggest black and hurI him across the dock-teHs a
eifoT Igs frgy illustrative OF the native
! some time ago Kaeysch caught native dock
! The man carried him of the police station pre-
/ tody. His trial held Immediately, the evidence
! against him Was conclusive. and ne was sentenced
fled. The ends Of justice had been conserved The
II1Souried anaZen1ent when he bUrlv black turned
/ up on the dock and asked TO be put 10 work; Ka-
made some Inquiries.
/ The sentence Of sixty days imprisonment had
been communicable one night IN the Colon calaboose
In return for The payment Of $40 Colombian silver
/ the comnitttns magistrate, who accepted it and
signed an order for me thier release. since that
account taking care, by using his feet the softer
! that be shown in court prima facie evidence
So summary and effective has been the justice
/ that for months has oozed out OF the OF Ks-
5s s o99Is ' reduce State of Ssfc sHb
tusatiCn. Order prevails about the pier; offences
in terror OF the big and powerful German KaIeisch
/ is wise In his day and generation, hOwev.r and
/ never since ne became dispenser of dock Justice
/ in Colon has he foot in native quarter or
! the town-there too many blacks who would
! take chances long tern, Of imDrtsOu ueut for
/ the satisfaction OF running knife into his back.
SYSTEM Is TO BE REFORMED.
! Under the republic there is 4 determination to
correct abuses and establish the administration OF
justice upon equitable and respectable basis
Therein OF the real fruits of secession, for
indecisive as the officials other points, they