South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-13
Keller Praises All Departments
of Municipal Government
and Points Out Efforts to
Fulfil Campaign Promises.
LAUDS SAFETY BOARD
FOR VICE CRUSADE
AppOrtionment of Committees
on Recreation, Dance Halls
and Motion Pictures Also
Call important Steps.


port to the common council lays great
stress upon the fact that ne was elect
ed on a non-partisan platform, and
that promises made to the voters of
the city regarding law enforcement
efforts 10 oDzain q lower rate of service
from public utilities etc, have been
carefully kept.
The report also contains praise for
every particular department of the
municipal government, and an appre-
citation of the manner In which sug-
gestions made by him and other city
officials had been carried out to the
letter.
The board Of public safety and its
policies through the year is the OBJ
ject Of a large share of the reports
attention.
"The security of the lives of our cit
liens and of their property depends
largely upon this board and the depart
ments under" says the mayor. The
board is TO be commended for the ef-
dciency and vigilance it has shown in
enforcement OF the laws of the state
and the ordinances of the city.
lone OF my most important pre-
election promises was that ] would
make a faithful and conscientious ef-
fort to enforce those laws which have
10 do with the morality and good re-
pute of our city. The board Of safety
has always shown a willingness to
unanimously cooperate in so doing.
At it's first meeting the board issued
orders TO the chief Of police TO use
his best efforts to stop violations of
the liquor laws, the use OF slot ma
chimes and other gambling devices,
card or dice playing for money or mer-
chandise AID for the department to
use their best efforts I'm abating the
existence of houses Of prostitution
Here the mayor calls attention 10
the fact that other cities through law
and order leagues and other reform
organizations have waged a continuous
combat against immortality where at
tempt has been made TO enforce moral
laws.
BIames System For Difficulty.
eff we had always followed the
policy Of suppressing vice there would
at present I'm the city be fewer ques
tionable characters. We have allow
ed system 70 develop which is diff
cult to correct. The system has its
pimps madams and grafters as we'll
as its influential friends and lawyers.
The police department Is TO be
commended for its efforts and for the
progress it has made in enforcing laws
affecting the morality of tho city. No
matter how much vigilance is shown.
there is bound 10 be a certain proper
ton of law violation"
The platform upon which Mayor
Keller was elected provided for the
appointment Of an advisory committee.
a body which supervised the work of
other committees appointed in the
course OF the administrations activ-
flies. Members OF the advisory COM
nittee have served on these other
bodies.
Chief among the committees ap-
pointed by the mayor was the one in
charge OF playground and recreation
activity. the members secured funds
from private sources and made ar
rangements with the Playground and
Recreation Association OF America to
make a survey of the city This sur
vey resulted in the appointment of
permanent recreation committee and
the appointment OF i. i. Barnes as
recreation director. He is also IN
charge OF the social center work of
the city.
Owing 10 the numerous complaints,
according TO the report, about the
operation of several dance halls of the
city a committee was appointed to
investigate these conditions. Their re
port showed deplorable conditions in
some OF South Bends public dance
halls The committee recommends at
present that the council adopt an or
dinance providing for the supervision
OF dance halls and il also expresses
the wish that the city conduct mu-
nicipaIly operated dance halls.
Picture Committee Named.
A committee was also appointed to
Investigate the moving picture shows
of tAe city The report states that
"a Thorough Investigation and study
was made which was followed by q
complete report and recommendations
4 permanent committee on amuse-
1nents was appointed. This committee
secured the unanimous approval OF
the moving picture establishments in
seeking 10 improve the character OF
the pictures exhibited and acting with
out official authority has secured very
satisfactory results.
Another committee appointed was
the one in charge OF Disease Proven
tion day. Nov. ?. 1914. More than 100
citizens acted on various committees
in charge Of the day arranging. ac-
cording 70 the report, one OF the finest
educational exhibits ever seen In the
city.
Commenting upon the work Of the
administration IN general the report
says:
1T has been my policy 20 secure
the assistance OF as many well mean
ing citizens as possible in the man
agement OF the affairs OF the city. IT.
has been my belief that no admins
tration can work alone satisfactorily.
ard IL has been also my policy 20 se-
CONTINUED on PAGE EIGHT.