USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1877 > Part 5
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This I do not consider a very good rule to adhere to gener- ally, but for the reasons above stated, it seemed the best that could be done under the circumstances.
CITY ORDINANCES.
On the 22d day of May, 1876, an ordinance was passed requiring "That on the first Monday of February annually, or within sixty days thereafter, there shall be appointed by the Mayor and Aldermen, a suitable person, with police powers, as Superintendent of Hacks, who shall hold his office one year from the first Monday in April following said appointment, and who shall, under the direction of the Board of Aldermen, keep proper records, both alphabetically and numerically, of all hackney carriages licensed from time to time by the Board of Aldermen, the stands assigned therefor, and the names of the owners of said hackney carriages, together with such other facts as may be deemed necessary. It shall be his duty, in common with other police officers of the city, to be vigilant and active in enforcing all laws of the State, and the rules and orders of the Mayor and Aldermen respecting the standing, employment,
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and use of hackney carriages, and also for the government of the cars on the several street railways in this city, and to make the necessary complaints for the violation of any such laws or rules, and he shall receive such compensation for his services as the Board of Aldermen may determine," etc., etc.
That there is need of such an officer being appointed, no one who has ever interested himself in this branch of business, can deny. The number of persons making application for license to drive hacks, job wagons, omnibuses, etc., are very much in excess of the needs of the city, and as all are desirous of patron- age, very questionable means are resorted to to gain their ends ; and since our railroad travel has been concentrated at the " Union Passenger Station," the number of these conveyances that gather there and clamor for positions and patronage, are a great annoyance, and in some instances have become such a nuisance to travellers and the authorities at the depot, that strenuous measures have been employed, and some of them have been refused permission to occupy stands there at all.
I have before recommended that this class of licenses be lim- ited to the requirements of the city, and every person receiving such a license, should have a stand assigned him by the Mayor and Aldermen, or by the Superintendent, and such an officer would find his time fully and profitably employed in looking after these and other licenses of a similar nature. I trust that the Mayor and Aldermen will recognize the need of this officer, and at once place him in position, that the experiment may be tried.
There are other ordinances which should be adopted, and some that are already adopted need revising, that they may become of some practical use or value to the community, who cannot now see why they are not enforced.
I would particularly call your attention to the ordinance in regard to "Street, and corner lounging."
This ordinance as it now stands provides that " three or more persons shall not stand together, or near each other, in any street, of said City, in such a manner as to obstruct a free pas- sage for passengers therein, or over any foot or side-walk. In these days of much law and little justice, it has been found
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impossible to convict these corner loafers, unless they are actually in the middle of the sidewalk, so that pedestrians have to go round them, thereby " obstructing a free passage for passengers therein."
This leaves the merchant (against whose doors and windows, an army of these idlers may be backed up, in one or two ranks,) a sorry chance to rid himself of this nuisance, unless they them- selves see fit to change position at the officer's command to "move on."
I would respectfully suggest, that your honorable body so amend this ordinance, that street and corner lounging, can be made to apply equally as well to those who form lines against buildings, and on line of the curb-stone, as to those who stand in the middle of the walk.
It would prevent many serious complaints being made at this office by ladies, as well as the merchants alluded to, for now the sidewalks of the principal streets are usually in such a con- dition from this class of persons, as to become a nuisance. What part of them that is not covered by the wide bottomed pants, is carpeted with tobacco juice, from the no less ornamental mouths of the wearers.
The recommendations for an ordinance licensing news-boys, and boot-blacks, has been considered for some time, and although it is generally considered to be necessary, yet it does not seem to take form, and the consequence is that complaints are num- erous against this class of offenders, who have pretty well learned, that so long as an officer's "rattan" is not in too close proximity to them and their business, that other members of society have no rights which they are bound to respect.
As most other cities have this regulation, and not only find it convenient, but profitable, I trust the day is not far distant when Worcester will be thus favored.
THE LICENSE LAW.
Perhaps enough has already been said upon this subject, to leave it entirely alone, yet it is a matter that more directly affects the majority of the people in a City like our own, than
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almost anything else. That a good license law is essential to the regulations of the liquor traffic, is, in my judgment, imper- ative; so is a strict accountability to the requirements of that license.
I do not consider that it is wise, or economical to multiply the hundreds of dollars in our treasury at the expense of law and order, the sanctity of the Sabbath, and the comforts and protec- tion of homes. It is clearly demonstrated, that the granting of liquor licenses to every one that can raise the necessary fee for the same, is not judicious.
The license law was made to regulate the sale of liquors, and to protect the dealers in the lawful discharge of this business, so far as the necessities of that business are concerned; and as drinking saloons,(or low groggeries as they might more properly be called), and the establishment of bars on every street and corner, are very properly classed as a nuisance, the necessity for them cannot be said to exist, and should not be recognized under any pretext whatever. To show that they are not needed, is only to call'your attention to the fact that they are not paying institutions, as the petitions to your honorable body testify, for a chance to re-locate, transfer, &c., &c. In some instances the proprietors have found it convenient to be absent from the City during the six working days, and returning to their homes and business only on the Sabbath.
Very many of the licenses granted during this law have been to irresponsible persons, and so far as their " Bond " is concerned, that might as well be left out of the question ; and still a large number of the applicants have asked for, and some of them received Inn-Holder's licenses, for the sole purpose of doing this business on the Lord's day.
This class of persons have not usually the slightest claim for such privileges, and in my judgment should not receive them ; neither are many of them entitled to the common victualler's license, which is pre-requisite to that for liquors.
Again, I consider the licensing of liquor saloons which are under the same roof as the dwellings of the applicants, a positive harm, as the facilities are so good for carrying on that business on the Sabbath. The Sunday business is the very worst phase
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of liquor-selling, because among working men, the opportunity to drink, and not unfrequently gamble, is almost irresistible, and if employers, would change their "pay days" to Monday instead of Saturday, many families would have occasion to bless them for it.
There are probably as honorable men engaged in the liquor business as any other, and to such men, and those only should licenses be granted. They would be able to pay a much larger fee for this privilege, and consequently would have a greater interest in living up to its requirements, and seeing that it was lived up to by others. Money is apparently a small object to them, and it should be with the government, if the business is well conducted; and it seems to me that the revenue derived from licenses should be applied to the department having the charge of this business, and to that end I would recommend that in Worcester, as well as Boston, that officers be appointed or detailed, to have full charge of this class of places, and be held responsible for the faithful performance of the requirements of the license. They can do it effectually, where the patrolman in the discharge of his other duties cannot; and again, public senti- ment should so bestir itself in this matter, that when the officers have done their duty, they may have the satisfaction of seeing the offenders held to a strict accountability.
We should have a steady administration of justice, neither spasmodic or capricious, for then it is quite sure of losing the character of justice. The penalties should be such as would deter men from dealing lightly with these offences, and such that they would never risk a repetition ; and this can only be obtained by an unerring certainty of meeting this punishment.
Every escape of crime from punishment, emboldens criminals, and sets at defiance the work of the officers.
What has been done by them, in this respect has been done creditably to them and the City, although it has added materially to the duties of the department, it being often a task of a difficult and delicate nature, requiring judgment and discretion on the part of the officer, and I believe that citizens generally have but little cause to complain of the manner in which this duty has been performed.
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THE POLICE.
As has been shown in this report, that the number of arrests for the year just passed are not as numerous as in some of the preceding years, yet the men have been called upon for more extra duty than ever before, partly from the fact that our num- ber has been smaller than for several years, and partly from the fact, that new and unexpected calls are being made for police protection from every quarter of the City.
The depression in manufacturing business for the last few years, has not tended to a quiet and orderly mode of living among a large class of persons making up our population, and the old saying that
"Satan finds some mischief still, For idle hands to do,"
is verified to the letter.
No one, unless he has taken pains to study and examine the life of a policeman (that is, one that understands his business and is capable of answering all calls), has the remotest idea of what is demanded of him. Let us, for one moment, now consider his position, and we shall find his duties almost as numerous as the stars.
Not only is he expected to care for us and our property while we sleep, but he must be present on all occasions and at all times ; the large gatherings and the social entertainments; the theatres and ball-rooms ; at meetings and funerals. He must be able to enlighten you in regard to persons as well as places; of the arrival and departure of every train and coach; be able to tell you of every street and alley, and must be an escort for not only every procession, but for the lost child, the dazed foreigner, the puzzled rustic, the sick, injured, and inebriated.
It is he who calls you up in the still hours of the night and reminds you that you have carelessly left your store or dwelling without being properly fastened; or, finding the key in the door, modestly leaves a line informing you that it can be found at the "Station."
It is he who, when your clerk, in his haste to "close up," has left valuable samples outside, shoulders them and carefully leaves them at headquarters to be claimed by the rightful owners. And
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yet, when his services are placidly accepted as a matter of course, if he is not always present at the moment he may be wanted, the stereotyped cry of "where is the police?" is instantly sounded, and the entire peace government condemned.
In fact, people generally expect more from a policeman than they reasonably should, for were he endowed with all the virtues that are at times demanded of him, he would be a man qualified to command an army or adorn a bench or pulpit. There is no department, where so much is required, and none for which so little is done. Were the same care taken to provide men and means for the most effectual discharge of our duties, that is pro- vided for the Fire and School Departments, we could perform our duties with much more satisfaction to ourselves, and to the community. For this reason I would recommend that not only the present force be increased, but that better accommodations be afforded them.
There is no day in the week but what extra duties are per- formed by the men, and on all extra occasions, whole platoons, and often the entire department are doing escort or general duty; and as many of the men live a mile or more from the station, they do not have the opportunity for rest at the Station- house, that is accorded to like departments in other cities. There should be sleeping-rooms and bath-rooms for the use of the foree.
In addition to the regular hours of duty, escorts and other details of short duration, there has been 1400 days of extra service, and many of these, the officer would be obliged to take his regular beat at 6 or 1 o'clock, without rest or refreshment.
Thus it will be seen that the accommodations asked for are needed.
CLERK OF POLICE.
A clerk of police is an officer, everyway valuable to a well organized police department. All complaints made by our citizens, whether as offences against persons or property, they should be carefully recorded in books kept for that purpose, as well as all reports made by the several officers, together with all losses, whether by burglarious operations or otherwise, and notes
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REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
made of suspicious persons seen or conversed with, the locality, hour, and general description of such events. Also, the advent and departure of all persons known to the police as thieves, or their associates, should be a matter of record, as such records are invaluable to police officers in general. And the clue that often leads to the arrest and conviction of such criminals, not unfre- quently comes from these sources. .
I do not think that a city can be found, that has once adopted this plan, that has ever given it up, and I trust that this department may be thus favored.
THE MOUNTED POLICE
which was inaugurated early the present year, has been faithfully tried, and whether the same has been successful or not, perhaps I am not now able to say.
That they are a necessity, no one can deny, but whether they are doing the most good as night patrol, is a question. My idea of this branch of our department, is, that they should be employed for day duty.
There is always a great demand for extra duties during the day, as will be seen by the number of days, already mentioned. The mounted men could reduce this extra amount of work, by patroling these districts through the day. And as the day police do not have the same class of offenders to deal with, as the night men have, the value of mounted, over foot men would be great.
Their services would be invaluable to the farmer and gar- dener, who during the summer and fall months, are raided upon in every part of the City by an army of thoughtless persons, who are to them, a pest greater than the "canker-worm," or " Col- orado-beetle." They would also be beneficial, in patroling the streets while the male population, are at their manufactories, stores, and work-shops. During these days of tramps and high- waymen, no house is safe from their assaults, and many details have been made during the past year, to watch for, and conse- quently drive away this class of beings. Again, in the winter months, their services are needed, in looking after streets and sidewalks, both of which claim a large amount of police surveil-
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lance; the first in preventing the careless and reckless driving that is invariably the result of good sleighing, the latter, in seeing that the Ordinance in regard to removing snow and ice is com- plied with. These, with the calls that are made from the School Houses, &c., during the period that snow covers the ground, when the unsuspecting countryman coming into the City, finds himself assailed with snow balls, or any number of gamins climb- ing into his sleigh for a ride, and when pedestrians generally are obliged to leave the side-walks, to make way for some hand sled loaded with the above named freight, coming at a gait that would astonish Flora Temple, or Goldsmith Maid; these, I think, would fill their time, and prove more beneficial than the present arrangement.
Night duty, and more particularly the "out-beats," require caution, and facilities for getting into difficult places, and near dwellings, which cannot be accomplished on horse back. His Honor, the Mayor, has been through this business, and knows the ends to be gained, and the means that must be employed to accomplish the same.
For these and other reasons, I would suggest that during the coming year, the mounted patrol be assigned to day duty, and that a sufficient number of men be added to the force to supply the vacancies thus made.
The practice of dividing the force into different "reliefs," which has been in vogue for five years, has worked to the satis- faction of all, and could the number of men be increased, so as to make the 2d and 3d reliefs equal in numbers, their early and late hours could be alternated, so that no such hardships would have to be endured as now. There are men on the 3d relief, that have gone out on their "beats," at one o'clock in the morning, summer and winter for five years. That they are good officers, and men that are interested in their business, no one can doubt. The number of men on this relief, is not so great as on the 2d, consequently they cannot be alternated, and were they now to be divided equally, would leave more territory unguarded, that is already much too large. Take, for instance, what is termed the "South Beat." commencing at Park street on the north, and extending to the Island on the south, and from Portland street on the west, to Grafton street on the east.
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REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
This beat is large enough for four.
The "North Beat " is bounded on the north by North street, on the south by Lincoln Square, east by Laurel Hill, west by Salisbury street. And yet people wonder how crime can be committed, and the police not detect the criminals in their oper- ations. The wonder is, that they are caught at all.
Main street is now patroled from Lincoln Square to Benefit street, but even some of those beats are much too long, and another officer should be stationed at Webster Square, as this beat is left vacant after one o'clock, A. M.
The Southbridge Street beat is one of much importance, as a very large business has grown up on it within a few years, and much of it at the present time is in the questionable form of liquor saloons ; yet one officer has to take charge of this from Park street, to the Boston & Albany R. R., and to the City Stables and Salem street.
I think I have shown instances enough to convince your hon- orable body, that the men asked for, are actually needed, and that to postpone this important matter longer, may result in consequences that would be vain to regret.
SPECIAL POLICE.
It has been customary for several years in this city to appoint a large number of special policemen, or police without pay or uniforms, to act in case of emergency, or for the benefit of some particular locality.
This custom has signally failed to be of benefit, and as but few men care to undertake police duties, merely for the honor of the position, I would recommend that such appointments be confined to Janitors of halls, and public buildings, and to churches, where it is sometimes necessary for the sextons to be clothed with police authority. I call your attention to this matter, not because it would be a saving of expense, but because the badges which must be given such appointees, are principally used for selfish purposes, such as gaining admission to Theatres, Shows, and Fairs, where the public good is not enhanced, and the "regulars " are credited with the short comings of this class
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of officers. This is not probably alone with a view of bringing odium upon the department, but as they are men who receive no police instruction, and are not accountable to any one in particular, either for deportment or efficiency, the matter becomes to them one of selfishness, and is very often over estimated.
There are at the present time one hundred and ten of these badges worn, and if this number was materially reduced, I do not doubt but the public would be as well cared for as at present.
SALARIES.
The salaries now paid this department, are lower than in most other cities.
While I believe in paying for these services a sum sufficient to command suitable talent, I think the pay should be graded, to correspond somewhat with the amount, or character of the service rendered. It is not every person that can become a good officer, or that has that degree of interest in the business, that holds out the hope, that he cares to become such, and for this . reason, I would recommend, that for the first year or two, that the compensation be from one to two hundred dollars less to new appointees, than the salary paid to the more experienced men.
An officer's business, like that of every other, is a business to be learned, and no man, however well qualified he may be to perform these duties, is worth as much for the first year or two, as those that have had that amount of experience.
This measure would likely result in diminishing the number of applicants for Police honors, as many of them are now made, merely for a position to reward them for political favors, or otherwise, with no expectation of holding the place for more than one year, and consequently their greatest anxiety is, for " pay-days " to come as rapidly as possible.
Were this rule adopted, it would serve to bring out the man's qualifications for this particular business, and comparatively few would apply for the positions unless they intended to make this their business. The experiment, I think, would be worth trying.
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REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
STATION HOUSE.
The police station, or Lock-up, is in a condition to need an outlay the coming year. The cement floor of the prison is worn out, and the wood-work, from the damp nature of the place, and the constant wear of something over eleven years, is badly decayed, and altogether too shabby to be endured longer, espec- ially as this is the only station we have. I hope the time is not far distant, when at least two other stations will be furnished, as many of the prisoners now arrested, have to be taken a mile or more, before they can be securely lodged. The room now used for tramps should be so altered, as to separate them entirely from the prisoners. This could be done by making a solid par- tition on the south and west sides of the "pen," instead of the wooden bars now enclosing it."
The outside rooms, or offices are much in need of repairs. A new floor is needed, also painting, graining, &c., and a new stair-way should be built, so that prisoners might be taken, ยท directly from the cell-room to the court-room, without parading them through the offices, and up the insecure stair-way now in use.
CONCLUSION.
In submitting to your honorable body this report, I desire to thank you for the confidence you have reposed in me, and the manner in which you have endorsed my official acts.
With each branch of the municipal government, we are on the most friendly terms, and particularly so with the Fire Depart- ment, with whom we are brought into closer contact than any other, and not unfrequently working under the same head. Each has invariably striven to assist the other, and how well they have succeeded we leave our record to show.
The " Fire Patrol" is a valuable auxiliary to both these depart- ments, and this company deserves the good will and hearty sup- port of the entire city.
The Detective work of this department has been performed mainly by Mr. Churchill, who has met with his usual flattering
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success; and yet could another man be appointed to assist him, the gain would more than compensate for the outlay. . This branch of police business increases as its benefits become known, and the men appointed or detailed for this service should not be assigned to any other regular duty.
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