The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1908-05-14
STATE POLICE ARE
GIVEN CREDIT

Captain w. l.. Cox, superintendent
of Nevada State police, spent some
time in GoldfeldthIs week inspecting
the local force. This isthe first visit
of the superintendent since the force
was established, histime having been
occupied largely at headquarters at
Carson City, shaping up his depart
ment.
In an extended interview with Cap
tain Cox, it was learned that while at
first there was some prejudice against
the State police law in some parts
of the State, that prejudice is fast
disappearing and the law and the po-
lice force it has created are held IN
highest respect.
AT first there was a feeling among
the county peace authorities through
out the State; that the Sac police was
established to supersede them and that
in the exercise of their respective du-
ties there would be a conflict and pos
sible trouble. In fact the authorities
OF the various counties were disposed
to resent the action of the Legislature
in enacting the lawand were prepared
to give the State police cool recep
!
as in Esmerada, of which Goldfeld is
the county seat, there was some fris-
tion. But astime went along and Il
became apparent that the State police
were not intended to interfere with
the local peace authorities but to as
sist them in maintaing law andorder,
the best offeeling cameto pass Wher
ever the Stae police are working it is
n entire harmony with local authori-
ties.
Intowns that are incorporated ami
have local police force as well as
| county officers, as in Reno, the State
police are active, but not obtrusive,
| and have been of great assistance. In
Reno the localand State police work
together as one body and have clean
ed up that town of Objectionable char
acters as it has never been before, and
| the State police therefore, stand in
great favor in Reno.
| There was some feeling against the
State police law in the agricultural
regions, at first, as it was supposed
| that the State police were intended
+, for the mining camps, while the farm
ers would haveto bear the burden of
their support without compensating
benefits. But since some of the po-
lice have been put in action against
morse andcattle thieves and ridding
the country of such tormentors, the
| farmers have become the staunchest
supporters of the State police and con
slider the money paid in taxes as well
invested
The fact that $150,000 was appro-
priated by the Legislature cor as
much thereof as might be necessary
for the carrying out of the State po-
lice law, aroused a feeling of appre-
| hension throughout the State that it
was an apparent reckless measure and
threatened enormously increased taxes.
But the large sum appropriated was
only an emergency measure to meet
extereme conditions, should such arise,
| Captain Cox states that he expectsto
make the appropriation of $150,000
spread over at least three years, and
in consequence the expense will hardly
be apprecable. This first yaar will
require larger expenditure, as the
general equipment has to be purchased
and all the expenses incident to the
establishment of the force, the pur-
chase of armory, uniforms, etc, have
Il 10 Dt meet ilt Stdtcs tHdt thC Wv
al expenditure for the frs year will
no exceed $4,000. He is reducing the
force first put into active service, to
the lowest practicable figure, the stand
ing force now being about 2S, although
still further reductions in numbers ar,
to be made. There is no evidence OF
threatened disorder in any part of the
State, now, and the force can be re
duced to the minimum. The law rs
elastic and the force can be augment
ed on moment s notice from the "ra
serves who are always subject &c
call.
The Safe police law is working sc
well in Nevada that it is attracting
the attention of several other Wcs
ern Safes, and heir officials are serd
mig to the Governor for copies of tn;
measure with the intention of adopt
ing the law for their own use. Al
time goes along and the law and tt
operations are more generally under
stood, the early prejudice is passing
away and the heartiest approve il
accorded it onevery hand.