The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-04-01
ORDINANCE SUGGESTED
FOR An IMPROVEMENT.

| ness man ana hedViiy bonded
INQUIRY AS TO TROUBLES
IN THE CORONER'S OFFICE.
' Developments in this office indicate
| many petty thefts on the part Of sub
] ordinates, necessitating several indict
; ments. which We think might have beel
largely avoided had more Of the Coroner
time been given to his Office, though ",
understand the present efficient. homes
incumbent Is giving more time than die
| his predecessors.
TAKE POLICE FORCE
OUT CT POLITICS.
"The personnel of our police force is ex.
cellent. and. when political considerations
are not involved. they are most efficient
In the main they are manly. exceptionally
Intelligent and shrink from no danger.
Examples OF their self-control, bravery
and heroism have been placed before US,
challenging our highest admiration, and
their disassociation from politics would
make them inferior to none. and We can
not too strongly recommend to the Gov
ernor of the State that this be done.
| We are not ready to say that the city
should control the police. We lean to the
theory that policing is function of the
state. and the power to control should be
| lodged with the Governor, but We do
strongly believe. for the best interest of
the city. In the exercise of that power
| through the Police Board, partisan po-
litical influence should be entirely elm
| mated, and this can only be done through
| nonpart1saE board Of police commits
sGnaps fop ,bs u is OF the greatest Importance
| ernor do this at once and make the neces-
sary changes in the present board, as the
Merids Fair is to be ,ope opened shortly; and
| greater than 1t has ever been. To show
| to our Governor that We are not actuated
| by political motives in making this re-
| quest. We state the fact that there is but
one Republican on the jury.
We are forced to the thought that such
election outrages as occurred at the recent
DemoGratic primaries would not have been
pc: sible had the police authority been as
serted without political restraining infiu-
ence. 1t is further the opinion Of this
vested In the Chief to administer the po-
lice affairs Of the city. and that the duty
Of the Boari OF Commissioners should be
to potsa ehds hand ane ss1
have been abused for the same purpose.
Partisanshipt run mad with the hope Of
and % displsys % for dicuIs tase' ths sfieieaey sty
of the police, thereby advertising to the
world that lawbreakers and crooks gem
encouraging and inviting to our midst des-
perate characters. Such utterances from
persons or the press bellies facts places
party fsalty abovo patriotism and savors
Monday, March IA. the Board Of po-
lice Commissioners came before US and
Democratic primary election. held satur-
day. March Il We agreed to do 50. We
violations of the election laws. We had
evidence that enabled US to return indict- |
ments in three voting places. the first and |
eighth Ward, and the second voting dis
trsct In the Twenty-seventh Ward. Upon |
investigation. we found that the laws
a
some machine politicians designated as
Indians" Some of our best class of cit,
the polling place on Taylor and Delmar
avenues by political spoilsmen. called in
this city indians while in the exercise
Of their right to vote. and when the police
fused TO do their duty. Why? Not because
those policement were not good police
men individually. but ,Ss; because ,tnsy they were
MEDDLING
BY POLITICAL MACHINES.
''It has come to the knowledge Of this
Grand Jury that meddling in the manage
ment of the executive department Of the
barrassed and is embarrassing the efforts
of the patriotic. intelligent employees Of
the city: Therefore we respectfully call
cation known as the political machine In |
the large cities of our country IS the cause
,f most of the bad management in the
|
The majority of the men in these political
machines are dominated by selfish
thoughts and not by patriotic thoughts.
They are called throughout the country
spoilsmen. because they have earned the
lame spoismen by the record they have
made.
Under our present administration It is
| Democra tic machine. Under the former
it was the Republican ma
,hine Our present ward E system IT, Ia, and SS our
ire worked by our professional politicians
s the root of this evil. To remedy 1t our
should f be amenasd 50 that ths
hould be selected at large for their fit-
less as members Of the Municipal Assem-
,ly. without regard to what ward they
i've in.
1T would simplify the conduct Of mu- ,
icipal affairs If there were but one large
ses Of tTa boSesy Hy to ssy
he case In this city. Our city should
e run as a. large corporation is run-upon
rom the domain of politics. The vital =,
ty, and force of public sentiment in ST.
ouis can and will pull US out OF the mire
nocked nc a ii the 40 political machine M tn out for =
while by securing our City Charter.
General conditions are not evil in st.
mis- country. In proof of which this i.
rand Jury points with pride to the sum
sn saSed sbe ehs he
i
this city. in the enforcement of law and
rder. This Grand Jury calls upon our
atriotic citizens to fight now for the per- s
,ction of our City Charter as they did "a
1874 and 1875 to secure IT.
OR REDUCTION OF COSTS
4 CRIMINAL CASES.
During the early part Of the session Of .
lis jury the suggestion was made and "
tied upon that Immediately upon a de- 4,
adant being held for the Grand Jury by
c Court of Criminal Correction the
illnesses for the State in such case be
once brought before the Grand Jury or u
o Assistant Circuit Attorney. should the
rand Jury not be In session. and the tes- r,
nony of the witnesses taken. The result | b
this arrangement is to give the defend
It much more speedy trial. and to re-
ice the costs in administration Of Grim
al laws about 10000 per year.
in the Assistant Circuit Attorney, Mr.. al
:. Scott Hancock. the city has an efa- III
ent. jealous, thoroughly honest. hard ~,
,rking officer, and we beg to cordially ~ ~
mmecti this official. He should have at tn
; command a contingent fund. which is