The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-13
BOSS COPS here:
CROOKS TO WOODS !

prayer by the Rev. Harry Nelson Bass
Ter, pastor of Second Reformed church.
Mayor Royal welcomed the police
chiefs to Harrisburg. j. N. Tillard,
chief of police of Altoona, president of
the association. responded This even
ing the sleuths will banquet in the
Board of Trade hall. The sessions will
be continued tomorrow morning, to be
followed by an automobile ride over
the city.
Says Politics Handicap Police
In his opening address to the con.
vention this afternoon President Til
lard dwelt at length on conditions in
police departments under political ap-
pointment systems, contending it is
practically useless to expect expert po-
lice service when the force is changed
with every change in the politics of the
city administration. Working toward
! uniform measure which would put de-
partments on a stable footing, he advo.
Gated civil service and police pension
funds. He said, in part:
t'There are now pending in the Leg
islature bills that if enacted into law
will put upon more reasonable basis
the police bureaus of the cities of the
third class in the State and create pen
sion laws affecting all officers from the
township to the city of the first class.
The passage of these laws would create
quiet and gradual evolution of the
police service of the State that would
mean much to the people thereof, to
say nothing of what it would mean to
the faithful guardians of the public
peace. sincerely hope that the men,
bers of this association will rise to the
occasion by calling the attention of
their respective Representatives to the
Importance of the matters involved.
Asks for Public Support
"We are gathered" he continued,
s'to confer with each other as to the
best possible method of pulling together
for the public good. The people
should remember that we are but men
like themselves, who need encourage
ment by holding up our hands. If they
deal with us niggardly and meanly, in
dulge in captious criticisms, show a dis
position to hinder rather than help,
they will not get the best possible
results.
''They must remember that when
they hire certain agents to perform
dangerous, difficult and perplexing
work they do not fully absolve them
selves from the duty of rendering such
assistance as they alone can supply.
We are willing to assume the dangers
of the firing line, but they must keep
up the commissary and the ammuni-
tion.
''If we give the best that is in us
they must not play into the hands of
the common enemy by hurting at us un-
Just accusations or abusive ridieule. An
occasional knock may do US good, but
we do not care to have it come in the
back of the head when we are graphing
with crook or facing perplexing sit
uation.
Public Must Inform Police
Another phase of the situation that
hampers and renders police work diff
cult and distasteful is tht attitude of
those who refuse to exercise the duties
of good citizenship by rendering the
assistance essential to the conviction of
offenders whose practices they so
righteously condemn. The law, which is
said to be the perfection of reasoning,
requires tangible proofs of all wrong
doings. However, every good citizen
owes it to himself and society to fur
nish the proper authorities with any
legal information in his possession con-
cerning violations of the laws.
"I believe that the world is growing
better, and notwithstanding all the evil
dences to the contrary, the race is
climbing toward higher plane of
purity and righteousness.