The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-05-09
To give some idea Of the difficulty

To give some idea Of the difficulty
In getting the news at police station
in Chicago, 1t might not be out of
the way to mention the system they
have of keeping the records of the
department. The city is divided into
five divisions, each under the COM
mand of an inspector. Each division
Is divided into districts, every one of
which is under the command of a cap
tain. Then the divisions are divided
into precincts, each one of which is
commanded by lieutenant or q SER
geant. Each station is the headquar-
trs for precinct, of which there arc
forty-eight in the city.
In the station there is an electric
system by which the policemen are
| able to report, or pull the box" ev-
cry hour of the day or night. Their
| calls are recorded on sheet by the
operators. There is also an electric
| fire alarm system. This rings the
number of any box in the city from
which an alarm of fire is turned in,
so that a reporter can Immediately
! tell where every fire in the city is To-
Gated. AS a rule, reporters pay no
attention to a fire in Chicago, unless
there is a second, third or -four
eleven" which is a general alarm,
turned in.
Then, each station has a "squeai
book, an arrest book, and report
book. The arrest book is always
accessible to the reporter and merely
contains the fact that certain per-
sons have been arrested This book
often covers up many good story
by failing to give the charge or by
giving an anonymous charge for
which man is arrested. Also,
many stories are lost by the fact that
prisoners were brought into the sta
ton and are not booked for police
reasons" The report book as also
accessible to the reporter. It's main
purpose is to keep a record Of the
calls of the patrol wagon, all acct
dents and assaults that are so we'll
known to the local public that there
is little use of attempting to keep
them quiet.
But, the "squeal' book is the one
that contains the news. In this
insignificant little book is kept the
reports of all complaints that are
made to the police, such as people
who have disappeared, loss of jew
elry. money or valuable papers and
any other important report that is
made to the department. The
"squeal' book is kept confidentially
so that the premature publication of
the news will not hinder the police
from pursuing their work. At one
time, the reporters of the city had
access to this book, but some of the
INSCRIPTIONS ones spoiled the whole
thing by betraying the confidence
of the department. 1t is this book
that the "stall" reads when alone
and tips off to his friends when they
call by phone or in person.
Well, so much for the routine
work of the police reporter. 1t is
hard work and department of news
paper life that really gets less credit
than it deserves. 1t has more ups
and downs, more disappointments,
more changes and more association
with the base side of life than any
other stunt a reporter can cover.
Yet, the news that this man gets is
the news that reads the best and is
the most looked for in a large city.
1t was on night in May, about
three years ago, that l fell into an
easy chair in the detective headquar-
tiers in the city hall at Chicago. 1t
was after midnight and had spent
rather a strenuous evening. AS a
rule, after midnight, there was so
little doing that game of cards or a
snooze or perhaps little CONVERSE
ton with one of the commanding
officers was about all one could do
until o'clock.
I do not know just what l was
doing that night. for 1t was un-
usually quiet. At any rate. one of
the old time police reporters left the
squad room and did not return for
some time. Others left for few
drinks. leaving me practically alone.
To pass a few minutes l went to the
telephone to call up the stations and
find out for the last time that morn
/ ing what had happened. 1t was
| then long after 5 o'clock. l re-
ceived the usual answer of moth
ing doing" and was about to re
sumo my seat when Operator Nc
Eachron, a one-legged friend oil