Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-22
EUROPEAN POLICE
ARE ON THE LEVEL
Not Asked to Compel Conformity
with Moral Standards Not APP
proved by Public Opinion,
ROCKEFELLER BUREAU REPORTS

NEW YORK. Feb. 21.--A study
of police problems in European
cities under the auspices of the Blu
reau OF Social Hygiene, of which
John d. Rockefeller. ir.. is chairman,
was issued here today in book form,
under the title European police sys-
TENS"
II Is the third of series issued
by the bureau. the two former having
dealt with prostitution in New York
City and in Europe, A fourth vol
ume, now in progress of preparation,
will treat of police systems In
America
ExpIRnRtion of BurcRu.
The Bureau OF Social Hygiene, in an
nouucing the publication Of the present
work stated that while the bureau is
concerned with the problem Of CONNER
cialized vice. 1t was felt that intelligent
suggestions concerning this problem could
not be made without thorough under
standing of the European and the Amer
lean police systems.
In collecting the data upon which the
book is based. Raymond b. Fostick, for
mer commissioner OF accounts OF the city
Of New York. visited twenty-one Euro
pean cities and devoted nearly two years
to personal inquiry into the subject Tho
most striking fact disclosed by his studies
from an American standpoint the bu-
reau's announcement says, Is the uniform
integrity of European policemen.
Corruption UnknOwn.
General corruption and favoritism. II
is stated are absolutely unknown.
Summarizing the reasons for this in
tegrity and for the efficiency of the
European police departments as whole,
the writer states
First. the police are not called upon
to compel conformity TO moral standards
which do not meet with general public
approval. They are not asked to enforce
laws which from the standpoint Of ac-
cepted public habit or taste are funda-
mentally unenforceable.
Second. control IL centered where re-
sponsibility can be definitely fixed-in
single official. This official. thoroughly
trained for his work and chosen with
painstaking care. is clothed with indie
pendent authority. Secure In his position
and free from external interference. he
enjoys the widest powers in dealing with
his subordinates
Selected with Care.
Finally. the rank and file OF the Eu-
ropean police forces are selected and
trained with the same care and attention
shown in the case OF their superior Of
ficers. Indeed, in ali ranks and character
Of the personnel IL the essential constant
factor OF efficiency. on this and. on no
other basis n II possible TO secure an
effective organization"
Contrasting the British and the contl-
mental police, the writer says
I'm England the police are civil en-
ployes. whose primary duty Is the preser-
walton OF public security; on the cont d.
nent, and particularly I'm Germany and
Austria, the police force is the right arm
of the ruling classes responsible 10 the
crown or the higher authorities rather
than to people,"
Must serve tn Army.
The English cOnstables. he says are
chosen from private life. whereas the
continental police must first serve in the
army Where the police force Is recruit I'd
from former army men. the writer says
"a certain degree OF indifference to tho
general public tends to develop"
The average maximum wage OF Euro
pean policemen, IL Is stated, is only s464
year