Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-08
tContinued from page ~


know il the same exist
The City of Ottawa f. not paying
/ out Slu,lou a year for police salaries
To protect crime, but to prevent and
/ suppress IT, and | would suggest that
/ YOU act under that theory and employ
those who will faithfully carry out
your orders and are neither negligent
4 nor reluctant or are guided by the
orders or suggestions of anybody else
! 4 trust that no further suggestions
| from me will be necessary though III
/ the event that my vi hes are not ear.
! ried out I will yet feel that il is ny
duty to do that which is in my power
/ to enforce law regardless Of the means
to which | may have TO resort"
Explosion Follows
Then came the fire works.
The mayor introduced the topic
with
Il want to call the attention of the
Commit ssioner OF Public Health ald
Safety to a matter have repeatedly
! discussed with him. As last re
sort | have decided to take il UP with
the council as a whole | have writ
ten my complaint SO will know of
what it consists. Complaints have
come to me and | have gone the
limit then followed the above ar
raignment of the police and public
health department
When the mayors communication
had been read and thoroly absorbed
Commissioner Bradley was first to
break the silence with an opinion
that the statement should be publish.
ed In a seconds time pandemolium
broke out. with only Commissioner
Palmer and Commissioner Dougherty
remaining silent. The mayor, Com
Bradley and Stickl.1 Joined in
three-cornered debate until Commits
sioner Bradley iaterrogated Commits.
soner Palmer as to whether or not
he had ordered 1893 closed and gamb.
ling stopped. Mr.. Palmer replied in
the affirmative and announced:
Il have given my orders to the
heads OF this department am try
ing to see that they are carried out.
! am not a policeman and do not
propose to stand watch over any
place in Ottawa to see whether or
not it, or they. are defyilg the laws
My instructions to enforce the laws
were given shortly after we took over
ONCE and if they are not being car
ried out | propose to ascertain why"
II am willing to call in every man
on the police force and let them pub.
licly state what they know about
conditions in Ottawa"
Commissioner Bradley interrupted
here with pronou1cement that
crime is not confined. particularly the
kind referred to by the mayor. to only
one place in Ottawa He said he had
heard Of two places on the north side, |
where houses Of questionable reputa. |
tol were in operation, aud one on
Main street.
II don't believe it is fair for w. to
single ont one particular house and
attack it without going into the thing /
in it's entirety. If these other places,
a sit is allgede to me. are operating
We should, a1d it is our duty, to see !
that they too are put out OF business |
There are homes and clubs in OF |
tawa where gambling is common !
ped without increasing the size Of our .
police force and putting the lid down
good and tight, We know they are
playing games Of chance, privately |
and in some cases publicly, but how
are we going to bring about enforce
ment of law, especially IN cases OF
private homes where card and dice
games are in operation among
guests?
Commissioner Sticklin then entered
the debate with:
why wasn't complaint made be-
fore US with the facts in formal
way and in proper form. We cannot
do anything without something to
work on and believe there is bet.
ter way for taking up this matter.
Commissioner bradley ilterpoYat-
ed:
II have reason to believe that place
Is closed right now. would be vii.
ling to wager that it Is out Of bust.
ness and will stay out of business, so
why all this discussio1?"
The colloouy which followed ran
something like this:
Palmer--I'll issue orders tomorrow
(this) morning to the police demand.
ing that they make report on any
place under suspicion. don't pro.
pose to stand around on the streets.
or 20 out at night. looking for law
violations, am not a member Of
the police force. II the present dc.
partment won't obev my orders, I |
suppose we can get other men to take
their places who will enforce tho
laws. !