Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-06

gross QlEfeSpect TOT Qlsclpklne. hr. Hyde was haled before the committee hardly returned to duty when. so 1t was stated in public print. some of the other police officers suggested a oolec- ton among certain members of the f9yss aydss to na 4s sSs be srus Would seem to be the duty of the committee men to get those chaps on the carpet and teach them a lasting lesson in dis cipline, as matters of that stripe are clearly within their jurisdiction.
 At the Hyde hearing the eomuaittss took occasion to isDus ordsrs to the police that there must he close observ- ance of the department rule in the fu- ture, and special stress was laid upon the violation of the rule that phohih- its patrolmen from walking together. or indulg1ng in talk foreign to their line of duty. This is a needed reform and for the action the committee is to be commended. The committee even went farther and directed the captain to see to it that the order was obeyed and that he also be requested to make the order known to the members of the force. That Is as it should be. Issue the orders to the captain. MT. Commit teemen, then keep your distance from the individual members of the force. and hold the captain responsible for the enforcement of the police rules, with the plain understanding that the captain of police is captain all the time. night and day, even if not on active duty during the night season
 Hardly had the committee issued the order In proper form, when along comes another ordering the captain tG so arrange his duty hours that he may make inspection of the officers while on their tour of duty at night and from personal observation see that the rules are not violated. In other words the committee wants the police captain to not only perform his own special du- ties, but also to fill the position in part of lieutenant of police and to do the work that is supposed to be done by the sergeant-roundsman, and which will be done by that official upon the captains order, provided of course, the committee decides that the captains orders have no standing. It is about time the committee clothed the cap- tain with as much authority as is given to such officers in other cities Then he should be held responsible for the discipline and efficiency of the police force, but not until then. There should always be harmony between the committeeman and the uniformed head of the police department, and If that be not the case there can be no discipline. The committeeman need reforming and it is believed that if
  tion caused by their meddlesomeness, the gentlemen will probably fall to themselves and supervise rather than direct the doings of the police force.
 There will be two petitions, or pro- tests, of special importance presented at the meeting of the court of com mon council next Monday evening. One is against the action of the park com missioners in closing to vehicular travel the street that leads to the beach, just north of the duck pond at Ocean beach. Two commissioners de- cided to close this road as a precau- tion to safety to the small children that are liable to extend their play to point beyond the limit of the para let that borders on that occasionally used street for three months of the year.
 The other is the protest of every property owner in Ocean and Moore avenues and Squires street, along the proposed pole line route for the high tension service of the trolley roads. The trolley people petitioned for a dr.- ferent route and, after a hearing. the committee substituted a different route in order to satisfy those who protested, and without giving the property own CTS along the substituted route even tho formalfty of a hearing. This high tension service is a menace to life and adds materially to the existing elements of danger and will be vigorously op- -----.a not only by those who protest by pefiHSa to the council but by the whole people when the real danger Is appreciated Should the high tension p5fe service becouae reality and there be contact with other wires the death dealing esSSst s=-a.,ld rssach .u sections | of the city and even beyesa. If such service Is ever permitted, there Is no doubt but that the service will he up- dersreHfld; where 1t. should Be. 1t is stated that pert Of the reate selected Is thfeAxh private street, tRat is a street thaf has never Been deeded te the city yet tAe esHneii considered sivins the right sf way through that eeyefs streets wIiefe the franchise of 1 the tfeiley eemBahy gives the sald l eeHlpany nc right to enter. There is mueh te be said against the proposed high tenslen service. and the protest l ants are reservihe their ammunition te | occasion require,
 Perhaps the council will be called upon to net upon the proposition of William A. Holt, foreman of the North l west Hose company, which Is in effect | that the city allow his company the sum of Ss5 a month for the service of | drivers of the company's converted 1 auto hose wagon and that the same l sum be allowed the other motor driven companies of the department, and without regard to the amount or quai- course the plan is aimed against the I Niagara company and it may be pos- sible that the foreman of that com pany may be given the privilege : to ] present the other side before the Holt l nrorasitian is finally adanted.