South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-14

Mayor Keller in his first annual re-
port to the common council lays great
stress upon the fact that ne was elect
ed on nOn-partisan platform, and
that promises made to the voters Of
the city regarding law enforcement
efforts 10 Oosain a 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 10 be commended for the eff
fciency and vigilance Ii has shown in
enforcement of the laws Of the state
and the ordinances of the city.
"One Of my most important pre-
election promises was that / would
make a faithful and conscientious eff
fort TO enforce those laws which have
TO 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 10 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 to
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.
BIamcs System For Difficulty.
IF we had always followed the
policy OF suppressing vice there would
at present in the city be fewer ques-
tionable characters. We have allow
ed system 10 develop which is diff
cult to correct. The system has its
pimps. madams and grafteTs as we'll
its influential friends and lawyers.
THE police department is TO he
commended for its efforts and for the
progress il has made in enforcing laws
affecting the morality of the city No
matter how much vigilance Is shown,
there is bound 20 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-
tiles. Members of the advisory com
mittee have served on these other
bodies
CHIEF among the committees APP
3 H.
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 a |
permanent recreation committee and |
the appointment OF +. B. Barnes as
recreation director. He is also in |
charge OF the social center work of |
the city.
Owing to the numerous complaints |
according to the report, about the |
operation OF several dance halls of the |
city. 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- /
nicipally operated dance halls.
Picture Committee Named.
y committee was also appointed to |
investigate the moving picture shows |
OF the city. The report states that /
a thorough investigation and study /
was made which was followed by a /
complete report and recommendations
4 permanent committee on amuse-
mentS was appointed. This committee
secured the unanimous approval Of /
the moving picture establishments in
seeking to improve the character Of !