The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-03
WAN 7 ST RICTER
LAWS ON SALE
Of PISTOLS
POLICE CHIEFS WILL WORK FOR
MORE STRINGENT ORDINANCES
IN CITIES - PROHIBITION DE.
cREAsEs CRIME DOWN SOUTH.

particularly To the policeman. from
the present lack OF general laws gov
erning the sale OF weapons furnished
the main topic for discussion by the
police chiefs In convention in the
Wayne hotel Wednesday. IL was de-
cided TO appoint committee which
shall urge on the authorities OF all
American cities, stricter ordinances
governing the sale and carrying OF
weapons
Chief Shippy. OF Chicago. read the
new ordinance OF that city. which pro
vides for the numbering OF all wea-
pons sold. and their recording by a
bureau or the police department. SO
that weapons can be traced. The or
dinance also provides for the licensing
OF certain persons 10 carry weapons.
and the penalties are severe for any
others found armed.
Chief Shippy compared the horse
and automobile patrol wagons. saying
the former are cheaper. He told how
he keeps his detectives alert by send.
ing the sleepy ones out TO patrol the
border OF Hegewisch, Battling Mel
sons home.
Chief McWeeny, of South Bend.
Ind, advocated laws forbidding the
manufacturing OF magazine rapid
fire pistols except for army use. He
said the police should not carry them.
az stray bullet might penetrate a
house and kill an innocent person.
Chief Hayden, OF Rochester. dis
cussed extradition and advocated the
interchange OF help In catching
crooks. He told how his men are
instructed to meet discharged con-
victs and help them in getting EN-
ployment. watching over them until
they are settled in an honest life.
The point system by detectives, by
which monthly record OF each mans
efficiency Is kept, was also discussed.
The chiefs from prohibition towns
are busy explaining the working OF
the dry" laws TO their fellows. One
of these is Chief George H. Bodeker,
OF Birmingham, Ala, who is a convert
to prohibition.
Drinking has been pretty we'll stop
ped by us" he says, and the crimes
growing out Of drink have diminished
accordingly. We made 80 arrests OF
Illicit dealers last month, and got
some cheap whisky sold, of course
but we are keeping after them right
along.
THE big clubs have lockers In
which members may keep their own
bottles and have liquor Of their own
served by the steward But the clubs
cannot sell any liquor. We have put
number OF so-called clubs out OF
I h,,et q 10. hat q t..
Ter for the white man than for Me-
gro to get drink. The average white
man Is more careful In his regard for
the law.
A parade OF the local police force
for the inspection Of the visiting chiefs
took place Wednesday afternoon. The
reviewing stand was on the west side
Of Grand Circus park.
Golden Rule Advocated.
The Golden Rule as applied to po-
lice work was the basis OF long and
torrid discussion by the chiefs, Tues.
day afternoon. Chief Fred Kohler, Of
Cleveland. told of the new deal being
tried out there the past Ave months
by which persons charged with petty
offenses are warned and started Alright
II possible instead OF being arrested.
Much petty crime Is due to mischief
rather than criminal tendency, he de-
clared and the best way Is to repTi.
mand boys and others who first come
into the hands OF the police rather
than to imprison them. He stated
that DRINKS are never locked UP now
unless II Is necessary for their own
good, but are instead taken home. Ar
rests have beer cut down more than
half under the new policy and police
officers have more time TO devote 10
hunting down the real criminals.
! Some OF the chiefs agreed with Koh-
Ter, but many held his theory to be
Incapable of practice.
Another row started with the dis
cussion OF "hobos." Chief Goodrich,
OF Binghamton. laid the blame for
the hobo on the railroads, and George
J. Schoeffel. chief Of the Erie rail
road officers. replied by saying that
the roads are not TO blame, but that
the local chiefs should punish hobos
whenever caught.
w. A. Pinkerton talked about sec.
ond-story men," saying they are the
hardest class OF crooks to catch.
! Michael Regan, OF Buffalo. declared
that crime waves are mostly mag