Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-12
|LAW-ENFORCEMENT |
BODY IS PLANNED
InteYmediate Bureau Discussed
to Direct Cleanup Of Vice
on River Front
WOULD AID POLICE WORK

A plan to establish in Southeast Phil !
adelphia law enforcement bureau |
which will be the practical agency of
co operation between the allied social
rervice workers Of the city and the
police department for the suppression
Of vice and disorder, is under discussion |
BY q committee representing diheren'
settlement organizations and churches.
The committee has already waited on |
Superintendent of Police Mills with
regard to this and other projects Tor
the Improvement Of conditions IN the
southeastern part of the city ana mas
been assured Of his cooperation. -,
The conclusion that the only possible
remedy for the situation which now
exists in the city's "Limehouse' is the
establishment of an effective inferno
diary agency between the police and the
y social service workers has been reached
after years of study and experience on
the part of representatives OF the VarlI
GUS settlement houses, churches and
general civic welfare bodies which are
active in the downtown district.
Proposed Plan Sole Hope
.'Tbe plan now proposed is the only
hone of permanently effective measures
10 meet the problem" said the Key;
Percy r. Stockman, rector OF the va
swedes' Church. Swanson ana Chris
tinn streets. who is active in social
service work and thoroughly familiar
with life in the riverfront district.
.sNeither the social service forces
NOR the police department can success
fullv clean up South Philadelphia
alone" he declared today, but the
co-operation Of the two In law-en-
forcement bureau like the one now pro-
posed would show quick and permanent
results for betterment.
t0The value Of coalition between the
social service agencies and the city and
federal departments was dsco'ereu
during the war. The success or that
~ -operation gave the clue to the pres
s,t rIan which aims at a more perma-
n.nt Joining of forces that should be
~ even greater value in the life OF the
city. ..o.s. :. 20
have law enforcement bureau that
will have supervision over that part OF
the CITY lying between the two rivers
and south of Market street.
VIII Be Clearing House
"Broadly speaking, this bureau Will
be a clearing house for information and
a source of investigation that would re-
suit in two things-the police would be
furnished with a thorough knowledge OF
conditions from the points OF view OF
trained social service experts, and the
welfare workers would have the sup
mort which their activity deserves and
must necessarily have to be fully ef-
fective.
1.-The bureau would have a paid ex-
ecutiye at its head, who would be the
connecting link between the facts Of the
downtown case and the active measures
Il y
probably be necessary to have staff
OF investigators and possibly the service
Of attorneys in order that the bureau
could originate action on its own initia-
tive. The development Of such an or
ganization to its greatest usefulness
would require time and an annual
budget of from $4,000 to $4,000. But
Il Is the only possible way Of meeting
the whole situation.
doctor McEienry, of the Episcopal
City Mission, has given a true picture
of the surroundings in which the young
people Of the sol elcastern district are
supposed to live decently and find the
right sort Of outlet during their leisure
hours.
Tragic Life, He Says
"It is a tragic thing that so much of
this Young life should have TO turn its
natural gayety and desire for happiness
into the ways Of dance halls and liquor
clubs and their attendant debauchery.
''The different social service organi
zations are doing their best to give
these young people something else.
They are alive TO the fight for a fair
deal for the boys and girls that must
be carried on in South Philadelphia
When the people of the city as a whole
awake to the same facts there will be
a change, and the facts are right before
them today
The committee of representatives Of
the welfare and social service organiza-
tions and the churches will meet at the
Neighborhood Center, Fifth and Balm
bridge streets. at 10 80 Tuesday morn l.:
ing, Miss Margaret Faulconer, head OF
the Reed street ncghborhood house, is
chairman Of the committee.