Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-10
POLICE CHIEF TELLS
COUNCIL Of VISITS
TO VICE" CENTER
JAMES GROVE, IN STATEMENT
TO COMM SSlONERS, SAID HE
KEPT CLOSE WATCH FOR LAW
ViOLATORS-MA CITES
LAW FOR HIS STAND ON GAMB-
LING.

The dark and forcboding clouds
which Oyorhung ottawa in the wake
Of Mondays municipal storm which
broke following Mayor Weeks ac-
cusatiOns that the police department
was giving protection to organized
vice of all kinds, was superseded last
night by a clear and radiant sky with
heads of the city government thoroly
reconciled and peace and harmony
prevailing.
The reconciliation was effected
with mayor and commissioners deter
mined TO go about their future civic
duties on the same sound, business
Like basis which marked their under
takings in the past with hatchets
buried and the slate cleaned of any
ill-teelings. 1t came about after
Chief Of Police Grove made a state
ment to the council he had tried
earnestly to clear the city of houses
Of prostitution and to wipe out gamb-
ling OF all kinds. At the same time
h. promised that in the future there
would be no more lack of enforce
ment of the laws from either himself
or his men.
The chierS assertion followed
strict orders from Commissioner
Palmer that all rules laid down by
him hereafter be put into force TO
the limit The commissioner public
ly cautioned his principal aid against
places of illrepute and gambling in
any of its phases
The mayor, accepting the state
ments as they We're given, instructed
the chief to see that the police did
not go about their work halfhearted-
ly and ended his advice with a
threat that if the patrolmen could
not see infractons of the law he
would show them where and how
they can improve their cyesight.
Chief Tells Story.
mere was no CrOSS-eXanlnall ion of
the chief. He was merely called 10
the council table and asked to state
mis- case. I'm addressing the com
missioners he said
During the month prior to July
! and subsequent to last Monday /
visited 1893 Fulton street on four
different occasions. On each | found
everything apparently all right. The
only occupants of the house were
Mrs Sacks and one little girl As TO
! knew OF no infractions
in Ottawa. visited the downtown !
saloons, where gambling was sup
posed to exist, but found none.
'Nhon was the last time you we're
on Fulton street," interrogated the |
mayor.
Just after the ith and yesterday"
the head of the police department re,
piled.
Mayor: Were you there a week
before the Fourth?"
Chief: "No."
Mayor: Then there was a two
weeks lapse between the times of
your visit?'
Chief: Yes"
Commissioner Palmer here inter.
fupted the examination with: Chief
Grove, | want to tell you right here,
% hereafter raid all places suspect.
ad of gambling, coniiscate all the
'araphernalia you see and prosecute
he offenders you catch to the limit.
also want you to tell your men to
enforce all the laws. Tell them to
see some of the things other people
're seeing and be on the JOB at all
ines. 1t is their duty to use their
)ower to see things and hereafter
{ Is up to you to ascertain why they
lon't report violations when they oc-
,ur"
Mayor Cites Law.
The debate lasted only a few min.
ties, but at the close Of the session
Nayor Weeks announced he was au.
horized under the law to supervise
al departments. Backing his state.
nent with the statutes governing
'ites under the commission form OF
government, the mayor read sec
ion Which specifically provided that
ne chief executive should have gen
'fal supervision over the city and
he various branches of civic govern.
nent.
u don't think | was outside my
)ower when ! called up this matter