The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-01-29
BEDDING
Special to The Times.

Especial to The TimeS)
 Redding.-Speaking of the bill for the establishment of a rural police force which the Legislature will be asked to enact ana which has re- ceiVed the endorsement of the local Mems club and of the Farm Bureau. not know the details of the measure but judges that the prospects for it's adoption are dubious because of the disinclinaton of the Legislature to add to the States financial obhga- tions unless the need is very urgent. The unavailable expenditures to be provided for are unusually heavy and consequently the legislators show a conservative spirit in regard to i'm posing new burdens upon the tax payers. While no authoritative eSu- mate of the cost of the propose con- stabulary has been given out the an nual maintenance of force numer- ically adequate to cover the State would probably not be less than a quarter of a. million. From other sources it is learned that there exists a growing impression that the chief although not the avowed motive be- hind the measure is the desire to create an agency for the strict en- forcement of the VolStead act in the country communities. Should that view obtain serious opposition on the part of the country members may be expected to develop as too many of their constituents are vulnerable to prosecution for minor infractionS of the law to look with approval on any measure giving warrant for an inva- sion of their cellars in a search and seizure campaign. The large and influential class repr esented by this element are not operators of stills or trafffckers in the milder beverages they have made for their own use, but although for the present they are permitted the possession of cider and home brew for home consumption many have fruit juice drinks other than apple juice which have devel- oped a percentage of alcohol forbid den by law. It is argued that under conditinons made possible by rural police force searches and proSecu- | tions upon complaints inspired by malice might be used for the har- 1 assment of good citizens whose cu1- | pability was technical and Of a kind l to give offense to no reasonable per 1 son. Undoubtedly most rural com nunitieS would welcome better po- lice protection although not the kind
 used to the veSations and oppressive 1 purposes to which it might be ap- 1 piled. In the cities where the reg l the Volstead violators, there have been no such abuses of the law as l are here referred to, but that may
 be because there is bigger game call | ing for their attention. The country | towns have doubtless an occasion specimen of big game also and fol such offenders no good citizen feels any solicitude.
 The failure of the Ridge fire de.
 pertinent to score at the fire whict destroyed the Sanford schools water | tank last week causes deep regre- and chagrin among the members wht
 have done valiant and effective ser vice in the past and supposed the ap paratus had been kept in readines.
 combination of ma1ign influences in
 cluding intense cold and a. high win( ) made everything go wrong. Tn, chemical engine kept at the schoo could not be used because the acit bottle was broken. the one stores