The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-12-13

among its high police officers, may
remodel Its entire police system, dou-
bic the numerical strength of the
force and copy the police system of
Berlin
The revelations of the association
of Chicago police with criminals and
auasi-criminals in the LAWN trial,
the startling inference that the men
supposed to be guarding Chicago
homes may be leading bands of rob-
bers against them, and the even more
recent charges of James Edgar
Brown, the criminologist, condemn
ing Chicagos police system, have
caused a wave of sentiment in favor
of reform, utter and complete, in the
police systems of the city.
James Edgar Browns charge that
IL is a 'bald, horrible fact that con-
ditions existing to-day in Chicago are
the most criminal and damnable of
any large city on the face of the
earth has aroused police protest and
denial-and the police themselves
have declared the Chicago system as
good as that of Berlin in the face
of the fact that Mr.. Brown proved
that serious crimes in Chicago were
six to one more numerous than those
of Berlin.
The movement In favor of adoption
of the Berlin system of policing the
city has brought out many opinions.
Even the strongest adhorents of the
Chicago system admit that it has seri-
fo, ar4d hot TN racI1fC ~ n
not compare with that of Berlin. The
greatest protest is made against the
Berlin system of registration of all
persons in the city-a system used in
all German cities. Yet Mr.. Brown
and his hackers have proved by fig
ures that the escape of criminal in
Germany practically is unknown,
while the huge percentage of Chicago
criminals escape and never are
traced.
IL the friends of the Berlin system
succeed in establishing it in Chicago,
every person in the city will be regis
tered at the nearest police station
and complete records of his comings
and goings, his movements and in
tended movements. his business, his
family and his servants will be kept
The police then will be able, night
or day, to find or trace any person
within the city within short time.
The Berlin system, its friends
claim, will kill at one blow the bal
bond evil, will decrease crime to the
minimum and give the maximum OF
punishment.
The Berlin system, in nutshell
of the following:
Stricter immigration laws.
Municipal inquiry as to the Grim
inal or pauper tendencies of all new
residents.'.
Registration of all residents.
Written notice of each person in
tending to leave or enter the city anC
a statement of his business.
Legal prevention of the marriage
of criminals or paupers.
Doubling of the police force.
Placing of drunkenness and minol
offenses in separate class from
crimes.
Just what the police system o.
Berlin, which has proved the mos
effective of any in the world, consists
of, few know. Beyond the fact that
all persons are required to register
and keep the police posted as to theil
movements, and that an attempt Il
depart without proper notification
means prima facie evidence of wrong
doing. the system has not been ex
planned.
Police officials in Chicago sa!
"Chicagoans or Americans wouldn'
stand for it," which is a confession
on their part that the lawless spiri
is rampant.
The Berlin police force, prior t.
1S48, was much the same as that o
Chicago, except that there was M
grating in it. 1t was badly organ
some master mind worked out a po
lice system which policed the city.
Gradually the system has been per
fected, especially the system of rec
ord keeping, which is one of th
heavy burdens, and which is ATTENDED
to by corps of clerks.
In the first place, the Berlin system
Is strictly military and the force
known as the Royal Berlin Polio
Force" 1t is an honor to be a mem
ber, and to be on the force ther
means that the officer has served hi
country well in other capacities. Al
policemen in Berlin must have serve,
honorably at least five years in tn
Prussian army and attained the ranl
of non-commissioned officer. TIL
physical and mental requirements ar
the same as those in Chicago.
When a non-commissioned office
completes his term in the army he 1
sure of a good position on the polio
force. He applies for admission
shows his papers, is examined and be
comes member. But he is not give
a club, gun and helmet and sen
out to travel beat. First he attend
the police school for four weeks an,
receives instruction in elementar
police affairs. After that he is sen
to his police station and kept there
studying police duties and trainin
himself for the work. Eventually h
Is sent out on to the street with a
experienced policeman and shown hi
ground.