Norwich bulletin., 1913-05-24

On the crest of the reform wave that occasionally comes in with a tur- bulent sea there was landed in the Seaside City after nightfan bunch of state policemen. who came to as sist in the closing of some of the bawdy houses that are sprinkled here and there about the city. State pO lice were called here for a like pur- pose about year ago only to find that the places had been tipped off and the visit was without result so far as the state officers were con- cerned. But just to demonstrate that the local police could do a thing or two a squad of locals made raid and gathered in several of the underworld population Gradually thereafter this grade of crime attained the normal and was undisturbed. As the locals did not seem inclined to continue the reform work, the state police were called i'll again. but this time special ear was taken that their presence would not be passed over the line and raided before there was opportunity to give the tip to the other violatOrs of law in that special line.
 This time the work was done with out the knowledge of the local police and the first known of the raids was when the prisoners were brought to the police station. This action does not signify that@the police did not have knowledge of the existence of these places, but does demonstrate that the local police reform in that particular was short-lived and not sincere, and demonstrates farther that the directing power of the police de- partment did not desire to have the reform of d permanent nature. The active members of the police force are willing to do their full duty, but of course they are subject to the orders of the gentlemen higher up. The state police did a good job and are entitled to credit
 The state police are not announcing on the dead walls just who prompted the visitation and raids but it is known that State Attorney Hull knew of their coming and so did Prosecut- ing Attorney CrOnin of the police court and they kept their own cOun- sel until the raids were pulled off. The state attorney has declared once again that this sort Of vice must not be tol- erated by the prosecuting authorities and the prosecuting attorney 1ntm- ates that he will cheerfully do his full duty in the premises. Therefore 1t is believed that before final dispositions of the cases in court a punishment will be meted to the offenders that will have a demOralizing effect upon the other places of i'll reDute that
 
 state police Now that the ice has been broken and the county and the city prosecuting officers have spoken 1t is expected that the local police will now shape matters so that there will be no occasion for calling in the state police in the future.
 As evidence of good faith, the local police did little raiding on their own account, and thereby blocked the state officers from receiving added glory. They visited four of the gambling hauled them into court, where sub stantiaI fines were inflicted and re- ceived court warning that should they be arraigned again they would be given jail sentences in addition to the fine limit. This gamblers raid was where the local put just one over on the state police as Chief Egan's men had that particular raid on the mem orandum and were planning for the work when the men of Chief Ravens force turned the trick.
 Still the state police saw the locals and went them one better and made a liquor raid not far distant from the public station. No saloon was wis ited but liquors were seized and proof of sales found in a meat market on Sunday. it's proprietor being of a sect that prefers observance or the last instead of the first day of the week It is said that the state police served notice that liquor was being sold illegally in several sections of the city, and declared that if the local police did not raid the places that the state police would cheerfully save them that trouble Special references were made to places in the Fort Neck and Shaw street districts. State Attorney Hull has decided that there must be reform in New London.
 The fire committee of the New Lon don Business Mems association pre- sented an ordinance to the court of common council a couple of months ago concerning protection against fires, but which has not been adopted by the council. and perhaps for varied and justifable reasons, but which pro Nides that annual inspection be made of all premises including chimneys in the fire building district at least twice year and that every building in the city be inspected d least once a year This work to be done by the chief en- gineer in addition to his other duties. This. of course. would be a physical impossibility and there is absolutely no need for any such investigation Tn a city the size of New London. There