The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-28
They Say
CFt' Wayne Nsws-sentineD

At the request of a district at
torney'S Office in a Rhode Island
city readers of gas and electric
light meters have been instructed
to spy and snoop about the houses
which they visit in the ordinary
course of their duties, and to
make report of any evidences of
liquor law violation. We cannot
easily comprehend the workings
OF mind which could possibly
conceive that such a system Of
wholesale snoopery would promote
any improvement in the observ-
ance or enforcement of law. In
deed, we are convinced that such
procedure will tend strongly to
exercise the directly opposite eff
feet. 1t is almost certain to in
crease and intensity opposition
to the whole prohibition policy on
the part of those whose homes
were thus subjected to an impu-
dent search without warrant, and,
in fact, among all who have OBJ
lection to shopping methods in
general and who value the privacy
Of the home as a thing more pre-
cious than rubies.
AS we have known them, meter
readers are a very decent. polite
and friendly lot OF fellows, who,
in exchange for their salary, go
about minding their own business
when they are in somebody elSe's
basement. Most of the meter
readers we have known have given
evidences Of traits of character
that revolt at Snoopery. Most of
them, we make no doubt, would
make tacit refusal to act as cellar
spies; but it is possible that some
Of them might be tempted, by an
official order such as was recently
promulgated in Rhode Island, to
go in for blackmail and the So
licitation and acceptance of brides.
Surely there is no need for any
more corruption than already has
been shown to exist in the pres
ent prohibition systemi
Besides, our zeal for searches
and seizures with lax and uues-
tionable warrants may set some
dangerous presidents. There have
been too many abuses already of
the privileges of search and in
spection. The good ends set in
many Of these instances do not
justify the means sometimes EN-
ployed. For instance, no more
com m en- dable end was ever
marked than the prevention Of
fires, yet the means employed in
FIT. Wayne during the last local
observance Of national flre-pre-
vention week were far from salts
factory
There can never be any fair
Justification of the policy pursued
here which permitted city flremen,
without warrant issuing upon
probable cause, to force their wav
INTO the Easements of private res
licences to have a look-around
Suppose, if you please, the case of
a family ever diligent iii guard
ing against fire hazards. There
is no rubbish In its basement. All
the members of that family
know there is no fire hazard
anywhere about the premises. A
fireman comes to the door and
states that he has come to in
spect the basement. There is no
need for you to enter here" saws
the wife. 81 can't sanction your
coming in here to go wandering
about my house." The fireman
pushes past her and searches the
cellar.
Is this an extreme and impos-
Sible case, say you? 1t couldn't
happen? Well it did happen, and
it happened in Fl. Wayne last
fall. There was no Justification
for 1t. 1t was unconstitutional
procedure. 1t was contrary to the
spirit of the bill of rights. But it
happened. 1t should never hap
pen again. No new precedentS of
snoopery should be established
here or elsewhere.
Creation Of an army Of spies
and secret service shoppers to nose
around the cellars and attics S
private homes will assuredly not
increase the volume of supporting
sentiment. Rather it will marked
ly reduce it, and 1t is eminently
to the credit of the American
spirit, ever cherishing liberty and
the rights Of citizens, that It,
should!
(Muncie Press)