Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-27
The Honolulu Policing Problems

One Of the principles of American justice is to
assume Innocence until guilt is proved. This has
reference to the empIoye of the morning paper held
for automobile stealing. On this pa tcuIar point
all will agree
But there is a marked difference opinion on
the methods that should he pursued in dealing with
the automobile stealing epidemic.
- The morning paper went at the proposition
In manner that promised we'll But when the paper
itself is the first to crawsh on the first arrest
made while the offer Of reward was still wet on inc
paper in which it was printedthe net result is not
much better than the policemen who have gone out
and found nothing.
Distinct from this little side sh Nv has been the
attitude OF the governors Of the Honolulu Automo-
lie Club These gentlemen after discussing the
situation have concluded that more motorcycle Off
GERS needed. They have been so we'll convinced
of this that they have appeared before the super
yisors and requested the additional appropriation.
The method of the automobile club is Of course
the busines.lke way. 1t does not meet with a
wholehearted response from the public because the
admi: st:atioE of the police department has not
been such as to establish confidence in the manner
In which these officers will be han led after they
are placed on the force. In other words the public
lacks confidence in the police bee the sheriff
Lexis the qualities or at least ha" not shown the
qualities which the head of police department re-
quires to properly command situation.
Frequently the remark has been made that the
police force is naGc 1uate to the demands made
upon it. The sheriff has asked for more men at
times, but his general attitude is one of pigheadcd
opposition to those who suggest that his policing
of the city could be improved. He probably inter
prets this as standing by his men. The public in
terprets it incompetence because it brings about
no Con ND,
The need of Honolulu police at the present time is
identical with Honolulu needs when the road build
ing program for this county was before the legis-
lature, namely, comprehensive plan, businessike
and easily understood program for policing this
city.
We can spend our time calling names and cas-
ing around the bushes trying to @get" the other
fellow all please, in the final analysis the whole
proposition will revert to the necessity for the
plehehsire plan And the man who should be able
to present that plan is of course the sheriff himself
While politicians of certain type and chronic
faction breeders take delight in haggling the
petty features of any line of city management the
average citizen has only to be convinced that he is
being given competent and honest management in
city affairs and he will supply the necessary money
to provide the men. .>
Sheriff Rose has only to convince men who know
plan equal to the task he has in hand. He will not
lack for cooperation any more than those in charge
Of tile roads and the water and sewer departments
did, after comprehensive program was whipped
into shape. .s4 so.
The people of Honolulu are willing to pay the
full price of proper policing of the city. All they
want to know is that their money is being used to
pay men who know their business and are something
more than political pensioners This is the spirit
in which the Automobile Club has approached the
question of the additional motorcycle patroimen.
II the head of the police department will recipro
cate with real life-sized campaign of efficiency
and intelligent grasp of the work that has to be
done, the average man zill not give a seconds
thought to the chickering's growing out of the hold.
ing Of morning paper employee as an automobile
thief "-.. .-<.
FINANCING THE WAR