Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-11-06
Funhnhouser Has Laugh On oldtimers
Who Gave Him Merry Ha Ha
When He Took Charge.
GAMBLING AND OTHER VICES
ARE FOUND TO FLOURISH
Finally Resignation of Chief Of Police
McSweeney Is Forced by Revela-
tions Of the Inspector.

modern hunch in running city police de-
partments. Major NJ. L. c. Funkhous.
er, whose appointment as inspector
of morals" was hailed as a joke by the
old timers" today has the merry
laugh on said old-timers" and former
Chief Of Police McSweeney, who grin
ned sort of "whaddy u mean NOR
ais Inspector" grin when he first heard
Of Funkhouser and the new job, is out
in the cold.
McSweeney resigned suddenly two
weeks ago and after he had been charg-
ed with baking Funkhouser's plans,
the 1918 idea scoring complete knock
out over police methods of 1898.
New Departure.
Funkhouser's appointment several
months ago was hailed as q new de-
parture in handling the vice problem
in big cities, and other municipalities
watched the experiment with interest.
The majors job was to check up on
everybody from the copper to chief
that had anything to do with suppress
sing vice. If he found disorderly re-
sorts running where the police said
respectability prevailed, he was to say
so. If he found suggestiveness in what
police called innocent little vaudeville
shows, he was to stick it in his report.
The major started out with two paid
helpers and conscientious desire to
! fill the job. He went scouting for
couple Of weeks and then casually re.
marked that a gambling joint or two
was running across from the city hall.
The police were righteously indignant.
Didn't they take a swing around the
city hall every dayl Could gambling
joint be running across from the office
Of the mayor and they knew nothing
about it! Well, they guessed not, in
many profane words, and dismissed
Funkhouser's remarks.
That seemed to have taken the kick
all out Of the major. His name didn Z
get into print any more, except in the
society columns, and the police chuck.
led in the knowledge that their amateur
official had assimilated some expert.
ence. Dull days followed dull days
around police headquarters-and then
Funkhouser exploded again. This time
he shot off both barrels. One was di-
rected in at the conditions in the "for.
mer" vice district and the fire from
the other naked the police fore and aft.
Many Disorderly Places,
The major did hot whoop general.
ties; he recited actual experiences Of
his two investigators, who, by the way,
must have been some busy birds Their
report listed more than 100 "buffet
flats" they said were operating as dis.
orderly houses in sections pronounced
by the police as respectable. In Ger.
tain sections, they reported, street
walkers brushed you off the curb; and
a few of the shows on South street, they
recommended, should have their licen.
ses revoked. Ten police captains came
in q a flaying; there were intimations
that the "wde-open policy was being
put back in force, and some rough
thrsts at department handling of the
vice situation The report went to
Chief McSweeney, but wns not made
public. A week later a squad Of de.
tectives raided some Of the resorts list.
ed Their net haul was six women, who
went through the usual process Of pay.
ing tribute to professional bondswomen.
The major was n bit sore. He sug.
gested that perhaps Chief McSweeney
transmitted copies Of his report to the
captains he had roasted. Possibly, he
thought, the resort inmates knew all
aboOt the prospective raids, and spent
the weekend over the Indiana line.
Mcsweeney wouldn't add anything
to the general fund Of information on
this score, it soon appeared. The city
alderman, who created the job Of NOR.
ais inspector, started in 10 work out an
other scheme by which the exact iuris'
diction Of the chief and the major was
defined.
The result was the resignation Of Me-
Sweeney.