Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-11

city comprising 2700 men, ia divided int
| three shifts OF 900 men each, only 700 oi
| whom are available for police duty at one
| time. We are convinced that this number
| is entirely inadequate to police our city OF
approximately 100000 people, We. there
fore recommend that the police force be
| recruited to numbers commensurate with this
needs of our city and that these men be
selected with view to moral as well as
physical fitness.
I'VE urge upon those In whose power II
be that Director Wilson's request for an
additional 500 men for the Police Bureau be
granted and that that be done as soon as
possible so that the good effects OF this raid
may prove lasting. We recommend that the
wages of patrolmen be increased and graded
so as to provide an increased wage for
efficiency and experience which may prove
attracting TO a higher grade OF men for that
duty. We recommend that the expense of
detectives and policemen detailed to do
special work be paid by the city,
I'VE made every effort to locate any pos
sible graft that might exist In the Bureau
of Police. We found that patrolmen taken
from the ordinary walks OF life had been
placed in positions of great temptation.
We are glad to have found that the Bureau
OF Police Is comparatively free from this
pernicious evil. 1t Is true, however. that
even should there be more corruption OF
this nature than was found TO exist by us,
conviction in such cases is dfficult to OBJ
tain, for the reason that the persons Offering
the bribe are loath to come forward and
give testimony against the officers accept
ing the bribe,
WOULD PROBE GRAFT.
We recommend that the Director Of Pub
lie Safety make thorough investigation in
the cases of officers William Tyson John
Il. Barratt. Jacob Markert and Michael
Kearse, charged with accepting protection
a.
the conduct of Ofticers Charles j, OBrien
and Thomas Nilsson. particularly as 10 their
connection with the so-called Haverford
Club at 5l2 Arch street. We recommend
thorough investigation of the case where,
in our opinion, two slot machines were
wrongfully returned TO Beuregard, 1914
Columbia avenue
we recommend an investigation of the
discharge without a hearing OF William
Reed and the four men. whose names the
Grand Jury has been unable TO obtain, who
were arrested at Sophia Desuse's. in the
nsighborhood OF Thirteenth and Melon
streets. on the night OF July 10 last.
We found that intoleTable condition eX-
listed in the Sixth and Eighth Police Dis
tricts. Upon further inquiry We learned
from Captain Kenny that he was given a
free hand by the superintendent TO manage
the police Ia his own division as he saw
NJ without any interference on the part OF
AhS 5NPeilhtsA1cnl. we uOupl very Inucn
whether We haYe learned the whole truth
Of the matter. but with the testimony at
hand We are convinced that either Captain
Kenny or Superintendent Robinson, or both,
are responsible for these conditions; and we
recommend that Superintendent Robinson,
too, 90 before the Police Board
We have learned that Lieutsnants Stin-
ger and Van Horn and Detective Lee are
what in police parlanee is known as order
men"-that Is, men who carry out explicitly
The orders OF their superiors. We could
nnd no dsFelietion OF duty on their part
nor any disobedience. We suggest general
" that lleutenants be allowed greater lati-
lude In the use Of their discretion and that
they be held 10 stricter accountability for
the condition Of their districts.
While little has been adduesd 20 prove
nat the police have any connection with
politics, the testimony Is sueh Is lustlhes
The Grand Jury IN believing such to be the
sase, We recommend that All the testimony
taken hers IN the cases Of men suggested
Dy ~ tor further Investigation Be turned
2ysr % ths onlclal Or olieiala making that
inquiry.
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