The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-08
Arrests Are Cut Down and Of.
lenses Decrease in Americas
Largest Dry City.
MEN USED TO LOAFING
IN SALOONS GO HOME
Police Force Is Smaller Now,
Wives and Children Are Bet
ter Protected and More Use
full Goods for Families These
Days.

Toronto Ont, Nov. Since pro
h,bit!on has been enforced Toronto
has become a different place from the
point Of view % the police The sta
tions are almost empty, the streets are
quiet and the policemen are free now
10 attend TO other duties which before
to a certain extent we're neglected
The mum her of arrests for drunken
ness during the past six weeks has
decreased to a marked degree a s com
pared with the record for the same
period in 1915 From September 5
to October 16 last year there were
1899 arrests for disorderlY conduct
resulting from drunkenness. while In
the san1e month this year that num-
Der had decreased to PA
These were the words OF Colonel +
] Grasett. chief constable Of Toronto
who talked to a reporter for the better
rart of an hour about the effect OF
prohibition upon conditions in this
city. which ts the largest center in
the world 10 be under such a vide
measure of temperance law. The story
came from the man who, Tor thirty
years as the head Of Toronto's police
force has been the efficient otflcial
spectator and guardian Of the nnu-
nlcipalttvs interests II was the same
conservative statement of one whose
business for & long period of time Y
has been TO watch the ebb and flow
of the darker currents in the citys
life. Colonel Grasett gave facts and
told incidents. but yet in spite Of the
hahitual suppression Of his own point
of view on questions Of fact there was
behind the words the tone Of convic-
ton as he related the experience Of
hla department acquired within the
past two months.
Is Working Now.
Evidence Of satisfacto with this
era OF prohibition is being given con-
stantly by men who were never known
to be temperance advocates said
Colonel Grasett within the past
twenty four hours one Of our inspec-
tors was confronted on the street by
a. man, an old customer Of the police,
who volunteered the information that
he was WORKING nov and. for the
first time in years. was taking money
home 10 his wife at week-ends Anoth-
er man. one OF the most prominent
and most respected hotel-keepers in
Toronto. told me personally that while
prohibition had imperiled his ftnan
ciai standing, he was glad the bar had
been abolished The bar was getting
worse and worse, he said. and had be-
come ar abominatIon. This man tes-
tined that he MOULD net take out
license again under any circuna-
stances"
The Chief also reported that in
formation had been received by him
self and his men TO show that the re-
tall shopkeepers were benefiting in
many parts of the city as the indirect
result Of prohibition Husbands are
now to Re seen shopping with their
wives IN greater mum hers than for
merly. Men who IN the old days we're
picked up regularly by the police in
an intoxicated condition have become
temperate, and ara TO be sean now
more often in the company Of their
wives and families
Speaking or the effect upon the
rural districts Immediately adjoining
Toronto, Colonel Grasett said also, If
YOU have been out in the country YOU
will not notice the lines of teams and
wagons drawn up by the driving sheds
Of the wsyside hotels, as they USED to
be II the farmer can take bis money
home from the markets without
spending II at every hotel he passes
on the way, what blessing II is
Horses are not found IN the state Of
dtsgraceful neglect, cold and hungry.
while their owners are husilY engaged
in drinking at some bar. The farm
er's wife and children now receive
more attention lust as they do in the
city
Police Force Out.
After citing the eloquent figures,
which have been quoted at the be-
ginning, Colonel Grasett referred to
conditions within the police force tt
self. Many OF the men have gone to
the war" he said Our force has been
reduced by over 100 since the outbreak
Of hostilities in 1914 The last squad
Of recruits was trained last Decem Der,
and We have not attempted to take on
any others since. We do not intend
70 fill the places of the men who have
enlisted for two reasons; first those
positions will be open for the men at
the front If they return in good ply
steal condition and secondly, by keep
ing those places untitled We are help
ing to keep many home fires burn
ing In it's present reduced condi-
ton the police force had undoubtedly
been enabled to maintain the efficiency
of its work by the application of pro-
hibition.
In the days of the bar the closing
hours at the hotels always necessi-
tated the presence OF the police, which
meant drawing them away from their
regular beats Now, that feature of
the policemans duties is eliminated.
and he has more time to devote to
| general work.
The total estimated cost OF main
! tanning the police system Of Toronto
| in 1918 was ss553so, as compared
with ss37sS7 for 1915 This saving
| TO the city Of SIS 600 is accounted for
! largely IN the reduced expenditures on
account of wages and clothing and
! equipment.