Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-02-16
BURGESS WANTS
3 MORE POLICE
Recommends Early Passage of
Traffic Ordinance and
Placing of Signs

men ana desk ofncer Tor night duty;
the early enactment of traffic ordi-
nance and the placing of traffic signs
along the principal thoroughfares-
these are n few of the recommended
tions made by Burgess Fred Wigfield
to council in his annual report sub
mitted Monday evening.
Burgess Wigfield reported that the
police made twenty-four arrests dur
ing the year and that fines amount
amounting to 1922 imposed.
His report almost in full follows:
'By comparing these figures with
those of my last annual report you
will notice that the number of arrests
have fallen off almost 100 per cent.
This, however, 1 would not say indi-
Gates a decrease in crimes.
'In this connection 1t is only nee
essary for me to recall to your minds
the large number of assaults made
upon defenseless women of our town
that were made earlier in the year
and the agitation they stirred up in
our borough.
Substitute Officer
"I recall these facts to your hon.
orable body so that you will not over
look the vital necessity of bringing
about at an early date some arrange
ment whereby it will be possible to
substitute an officer for every patrol
man taken off patrol duty for some
unavoidable cause.
"It is the opinion of the burgess
and he believes the consensus of opin-
ion of the majority of taxpayers, that
when a patrolling force is created that
at all times. If this is not so then
the value of such a force at any
time is vague indeed.
Wants Desk Officer
"At this time 1 wish to thank your
honorable body for carrying out my
recommendation of year ago and
transferring the office of lookup keep
er to the police department where il
always should have been. 1 hope you
will now go one step farther towards
efficiency and abolish the office entire
ly so far as extra remuneration goes
If you will do this you may be able to
appoint the desk officer which 1 rec
commended year ago without increas-
ing the budget of the police depart
ment to any appreciable extent. In
appointing this desk man, you must
bear in mind, you will be able to ELI
inmate the extra time which the pa
trolmen must work in the off1ce-a
saving of nearly 5000, I would say
This action would also give the depart
ment the service of a night sergeant
for outside work which is badly need
ed.
Urges Traffic Ordinance
There are two other suggestions
which I would like also to make. They
are the early enactment of a traffic
ordinance, such as recommended tc
your honorable body some months age
and introduced, but for some unex-
planned reason never passed; the plac-
ing of proper signs for the informa-
ton of automobile drivers and the
appointment of additional patrolmen
Put Up Traffic Signs
I'VE all agree\that our borough is
well to the front of any in the State
in great many respects, and after
making these improvements, I think
1t is of vital Importance that we pre-
serve the same. But the lives of ouI
citizens should be first guarded. II
you will stop to think one moment
you will see that we are within three
miles of the Capital City where laws
are made and we are found violating
some of them regularly by having
signs up that are Illegal. 1t seems tc
me that the placing of proper signs
is nfendatory and that we must dc
our duty. Set the proper signs up and
a traf1c ordinance to provide adequate
safety for our citizens and in so do
ing you will be curtailing complaints
Three Extra Cops
There are occasions that necessi-
tate two men being stationed at one
place, especially at our high school
entertainments, which are surely en-
titled to adequate protection as every
citizen is directly or indirectly inter
ested. While these men are stationed
here, their beats are neglected-that
means the property and life of our
citizens are being neglected. To over
come this, I think we ought to have
at least three extra men who would
preserve order so that the patrolmen
could take care of their regular beats
This would give the department op-
portunity to give other societies OF
private families a man when needed
by paying for the same. 1 do not
think 1t is right that any society or
private party should expect the ser
vices of an officer during their plea
sure without paying for same. I sug-
gest that an ordinance should be pass
cd making same effective. Other bor-
oughs in the State that are cosmopoli-
tan have ordinances that make it COM
pulsory to have an officer at public
dances and weddings, and pay them
at their own expense. This would in
sure peace and safety for all those
who attended and would not inter-
fere with the patroling protection OF
our citizens.
Extend Call System
"If it is at all possible in the near
future. 1 would like to suggest to your
honorable body the extension of the
redlight system on the hills so that
the patrolmen in those districts may
be located by the desk officer.
POLTL,S ENTERTAIN
Mr.. and Mrs. Herman Poltl gave a
valentine party in honor of theil
pupils at their home Monday evening
Those present were Mary Nusbeidle
Carrie Kohlhaas, Esther Stabnau, Ida
Beck, Elsie Mueller, Anna Long
Helen Long, Bertha Schubauer, Mary
Schaubauer, Mildred Plack, Austin
Detweiler, Vance Detweiler, John
Lang, Fred Tessmer, John Nader
Joseph Nader, Russell Marks, Mrs
Nader. Mrs. Mueller, Harvey Gill
Mr. and Mrs. Herman Poltl.