USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1884 > Part 15
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3
.
.
.
·
1
5
Total Surgical Cases.
17
144
39
200
85 50 20
3
6
3 20 187
13
·
1
1
Fracture c. c. of Tibia and Fibula
Fracture c. c. of Carpus
3
2
2
2
2
Injury to Eye
1
1
1
·
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
Injury to Arm
1
2
2
·
1
1
Multiple Injuries
1
17
3
21
5
1
1
Sprain
2
.
.
.
.
Lacerated Wound
.
3
3
2
2
3 1
.
Fracture c. c. of Humerus
1
3
3
2
1
Fracture c. c. of Phalanges
·
Fracture Ununited
Injury to Head
1
.
1
1
2
Fracture of Femur
1
2
2
Fracture of Cervix Femoris
Fracture of Tibia, Comp ..
·
1
1
1
2
Fracture of Scapula
Fracture of Clavicle
Fracture of Vertebra
2
2
1
1
1 1 1
1
2
Injury to Perineum
1
1
Injury, Internal
·
1
3
3
2
1
·
ADMITTED.
DISCHARGED.
1
237
CITY HOSPITAL.
DONATIONS.
December, 1883. Mrs. J. R. Marble, pieces ; Mrs. Amos Nichols (Webster), pieces ; Mrs. G. W. Gill, fruit and jellies for Christmas ; Mrs. C. M. Lamson, fruit and cards for Christ- mas ; children of Oxford Street School, Grade VIII., flowers for Christmas ; Miss Martha Valentine, Christmas cards ; Mrs. C. E. Bemis, papers.
January, 1884. Mrs. Ellen A. Coombs, papers ; Mrs. G. W. Gill, papers, pieces, and garments ; Mr. Salisbury, shirts ; Mrs. Morse, pieces.
February. Mr. George Sumner, periodicals ; Barnard, Sum- ner & Co., papers ; Mrs. F. E. Hale, pieces.
April. Mrs. A. W. Chapin, magazines ; Mrs. J. J. Bige- low, shirts and pieces ; Hon. Charles A. Denny, flowers ; Hon. William Dickinson, magazines and illustrated papers ; ladies of Salem Street Church, eight new night dresses.
May. Mr. Salisbury, shirts ; Mrs. Charles Stewart, pieces ; George Sumner, Esq., papers; Miss Stoddard, pieces ; Mrs. Thomas Gill, pieces ; Mrs. George W. Matthews, pieces ; Mrs. E. O. Parker, pieces ; F. H. Harrington, pieces.
June. Mrs. George W. Gill, clothing and papers; George Sumner, Esq., papers ; Mrs. Moen, flowers and pieces ; Mrs. J. Henry Hill, shirts and pieces ; Mrs. C. E. Brooks, maga- zines ; Mrs. S. W. Bickford, pieces ; Mrs. Samuel H. Colton, flowers.
July. Mrs. Arnold, pieces ; Miss M. Valentine, slippers and pieces.
August. William W. Cook, flowers; Mrs. J. B. Gough, flowers ; Mrs. Ripley, pieces ; Mrs. Arnold, pieces ; Mrs. Shaf- fer, pieces ; Mrs. Maynard, papers ; Mrs. C. E. Brooks, flow- ers.
September. Mrs. J. B. Gough, flowers ; William W. Cook, flowers.
October. Mrs. R. J. Tatman, pieces ; Dr. R. Woodward, books and papers ; William W. Cook, flowers.
238
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
November. Mrs. G. Henry Whitcomb, pieces ; Mrs. E. H. Colton, pieces ; Mrs. Alfred Parker, pieces; Mr. Salisbury, pieces ; Mrs. E. J. Putnam, shirts ; Mrs. Amos Nichols, pieces ; Mrs. George F. Hoar, pieces ; Mrs. Amos Armsby (Millbury), flowers for Thanksgiving; Mrs. Edward L. Davis, fruit for Thanksgiving.
Publishers of the Daily Spy, a copy of the Spy for the year ; publishers of the Evening Gazette, a copy of the Gazette for the year.
During the year many bundles of old linen and cotton pieces have been received from unknown donors; such contributions are gratefully received and are always very useful. They may be left at the Hospital or with the City Messenger, No. 1, City Hall.
ADMISSION OF PATIENTS, ETC.
Applications for admission of patients should be made to the Superintendent at the Hospital, on each day of the week, Sunday excepted, between 9 and 11 o'clock A. M.
Whenever able, the patient should apply in person. When not able to appear in person, application may be made by a friend.
Persons carried directly to the Hospital from the place of an accident are admitted immediately and at all hours.
No person having any contagious disease can be admitted, and no person can be admitted whose case is judged to be incurable, unless temporarily for urgent symptoms which are deemed capable of being relieved.
The ordinary charge per week for accommodation in the wards is $10-which includes medical and surgical attendance, together with medicine, nursing and washing. Persons who are unable to pay, and whose place of legal settlement is Worcester, are admitted as free patients ; all other free patients are charged to the State or to the Towns where they belong. Patients in private rooms are charged $14.00 or more per week according to the requirements of the case.
No person shall visit any part of the premises except on business or at such times as may be fixed for the reception of
239
CITY HOSPITAL.
visitors without the permission of the Superintendent or some one of the Trustees.
On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week, from 3 to 4 o'clock P. M., friends may be permitted to visit patients, though no patient shall receive more than two visitors on the same day. In all cases, however, the Trustees or Super- intendent may exercise discretionary power as to excluding or admitting visitors.
No visitor shall be allowed to give any article of food or drink to a patient, unless by permission of the nurse ; and any article sent to a patient shall be left with the Superintendent.
TRAINING SCHOOL FOR NURSES.
The Trustees have made arrangements for giving, at the Hospital, two years' training to women desirous of becoming professional nurses.
Persons wishing to receive this course of instruction must apply to the Superintendent of the Hospital.
Candidates must be over twenty-two and under thirty-five years of age. They must be of sound health, and must present, on application, a certificate from some responsible person as to their good character.
After approval, applicants are received for one month on probation. During this month they are boarded and lodged at the Hospital, but receive no compensation.
They are subject to the rules of the Hospital, and are under the authority of the Superintendent of the Hospital and Lady Superintendent of Nurses, who have full power to decide as to the fitness of the nurses for the work, and the propriety of retain- ing or dismissing them at the end of the month of trial. The same authority can discharge them at any time in case of mis- conduct or inefficiency.
They reside in the Hospital and serve for the first year as assistants in the wards of the Hospital ; the second year they will be expected to perform any duty assigned them by the Lady Superintendent, or to be sent to private cases among the rich or poor.
240
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
TRAINING.
Those fulfilling the conditions of the probationary month are accepted as pupils. They must sign a written agreement to remain at the school for two years, and to conform to the rules of the Hospital.
The instruction includes :-
1. The dressing of blisters, burns, sores and wounds; the preparation and application of fomentations and poultices, of cups and leeches, and of minor dressing.
2. Administration of enemas, and use of catheter.
3. The best method of rubbing and exercising the sick.
4. Management of helpless patients; changing their clothing, giving baths in bed, preventing bed-sores, and managing position.
5. Bandaging, making bandages and rollers, and lining splints.
6. Making beds and changing sheets while the patient is in bed, the care of patients' rooms ; ventilation.
7. Certain emergencies and how to treat them.
The pupils are taught to prepare food, together with drinks and stimulants for the sick, and all that pertains to night, in dis- tinction from day, nursing.
They are taught to make accurate observations of the state of the secretions, expectoration, pulse, skin, appetite, temperature of the body, intelligence (as delirium of stupor), sleep, condition of wounds, eruptions, effect of diet, stimulants, or medicines ; and to learn the management of convalescents.
Instruction will be given by attending and resident physicians, and surgeons at the bedside of the patients, and in various other ways, also, by the Superintendent of Nurses. Examinations will take place from time to time.
The pupils will pass through the different wards, serving and being taught, for one year. They are supplied with board and lodging, and will be paid ten dollars ($10) per month for the first year, for their clothing and personal expenses. At the expira- tion of one year they will receive such increase of pay as the Trustees shall see fit.
When the full term of two years is completed, those who have passed a satisfactory examination will receive diplomas, certifying to their period of training, their proficiency and good character.
241
CITY HOSPITAL.
The right is reserved to terminate the connection of any nurse, or pupil with the school for any reason which may be deemed sufficient.
A blank form will be furnished to applicants to be filled in with answers to the following questions in the candidates' own hand writing, and sent to the Superintendent of the City Hospi- tal, Worcester, Mass.
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY CANDIDATE.
1. Name in full and present address of Candidate.
2. Are you a single woman or widow?
3. Your present occupation or employment?
4. Age last birthday, and date and place of birth.
5. Height? Weight?
6. Where educated?
7. Are you, strong and healthy? and have you always been so?
8. Are your sight and hearing perfect?
9. Have you any physical defects ?
10. Have you any tendency to pulmonary complaint?
11. If a widow, have you children? How many? Their ages? How are they provided for?
12. Where (if any) was your last situation? How long were you in it?
13. The names in full and addresses of two persons to be referred to? State how long each has known you. If previously employed, one of these must be the last employer. One of them must not be a relative.
14. Have you ever been a pupil of any other training school?
15. Have you read and do you clearly understand the Regulations?
I declare the above statement to be correct.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS
OF THE
JAQUES FUND AND OTHER FUNDS
OF THE CITY HOSPITAL.
WORCESTER, MASS., Jan. 5, 1885.
To the Honorable City Council :-
In compliance with the provisions of the City Ordinance governing this Commission the undersigned present the follow- ing report of their doings, in and about the several funds in their charge, for the financial year ending November 30, 1884 :
Balance on hand, Dec. 1, 1883,
$137,282 39
Receipts during the year, 28,594 63
Total,
$165,877 02
Payments during the year,
6,930 02
Balance, Nov. 30, 1884,
$158,947 00
The several investments and cash balances belonging to the different funds have been carefully examined by the undersigned and found to be properly accounted for. Sundry statements, prepared by the treasurer of the board, showing, in aggregates and in detail, the receipts and payments on account of the several funds, together with the investments and cash balances carried
243
CITY HOSPITAL.
forward at the end of the year, accompany this report and make a part thereof.
During the past year a bequest of three thousand dollars, from the late Hon. Stephen Salisbury, and a gift of six thousand dol- lars from Mrs. Sarah Gill, widow of the late George W. Gill, have been added to the funds in charge of this Board. Aside from these donations, both of which are for certain specific pur- poses, the permanent funds show an increase of nearly thirteen thousand dollars during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
BENJ. WALKER, CHAS. B. PRATT, ALBERT CURTIS,
Commissioners of the Jaques Fund, and other Funds of the City Hospital.
244
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
To the Commissioners of the Jaques Fund, and other Funds of the City Hospital :
GENTLEMEN :- The undersigned presents herewith sundry statements, both in tabular form and in detail, covering all cash transactions on account of the several Hospital trust funds dur- ing the financial year ending November 30, 1884 :
CITY HOSPITAL FUNDS, DEC. 1, 1883, TO Nov. 30, 1884.
No.
TITLE OF FUND.
Balances Dec. 1, 1883.
Receipts During year.
Totals.
Paym'ts during year.
Balances Nov. 30, 1884.
1
Jaques Hospital Fund,
$129,041 34
$19,171 80 $148,213 14 $6,638 32 $141,574 82
2
Davis
66
1,980 54
120 01
2,100 55
2,100 55
3
Curtis
1,046 83
41 72
1,088 55
41 70
1,046 85
4
Shaw
66
213 68
11 10
224 78
224 78
5
Tenney
5,000 00
250 00
5,250 00
250 00
5,000 00
6
Salisbury
3,000 00
3,000 00
3,000 00
7
Gill
66 66
6,000 00
6,000 00
6,000 00
Totals,
$137,282 39
$28,594 63 $165,877 02 $6,930 02 $158,947 00
INVESTMENTS AND BANK DEPOSITS, Nov. 30, 1884.
No.
First Mortgages on Real Estate.
Stock in National Bank.
Railroad Bond.
Special Bank Deposits.
Cash on Deposit.
Amount Nov. 30, 1884.
1
$121,525 00
$1,500 00
$17,071 80
$1,478 02
$141,574 82
2
$1,000 00
1,000 00
100 55
2,100 55
3
1,000 00
46 85
1,046 85
4
224 78
224 78
5
5,000 00
5,000 00
6
3,000 00
3,000 00
7
6,000 00
6,000 00
$126,525 00
$1,500 00
$1,000 00
$22,296 58
$7,625 42
$158,947 00 1
245
CITY HOSPITAL.
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS.
RECEIPTS.
Dec. 1, 1883, to Nov. 30, 1884.
No. 1. Proceeds of sales of real estate, viz : 4 parcels, containing about 62,034 square feet of land . $12,458 25 Proceeds of sales of turf. 6 00
Interest on mortgage notes . 6,326 95
Interest on National Bank deposits . 258 33
Dividends on 15 shares of bank stock . 92 50
Bank tax of 1883, refunded by Commonwealth .
29 77
$19,171 80
No. 2. Interest on Railroad Bond. .
$80 00
Interest on Savings Bank deposits
40 01
$120 01
No. 3. Interest on Savings Bank deposits
$41 72
$41 72
No. 4. Rent of Shaw estate, net one-fifth part.
$2 93
Interest on Savings Bank deposits .
8 17
$11 10
No. 5. Interest on mortgage note. .
$250 00
$250 00
No. 6. Legacy of Mr. Salisbury, from executor
$3,000 00
$3,000 00
No. 7. Gift of Mrs. Sarah Gill.
$6,000 00
$6,000 00
$28,594 63
Cash balances, Dec. 1, 1883, viz :
Fund No. 1 . . $1,408 79
Fund No. 3. 46 83
$1,455 62
Total
$30,050 25
PAYMENTS.
Dec. 1, 1883, to Nov. 30, 1884.
No. 1.
Surveying and preparing plans. .
$8 62
Sidewalk assessment, Chandler St., South side . 12 05
Salary of Treasurer. .
118 75
Net income to Oct. 1st, paid to City Treasurer .
6,498 90
$6,638 32
246
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
No. 3. Medical works for library
$41 70
$41 70
No. 5. Net income to Oct. 1st, paid to City Treasurer . $250 00 $250 00
$6,930 02
Carried to investment account, viz :
Fund No. 1. $12,464 25
Fund No. 2
19 46
Fund No. 4 .
11 10
Fund No. 6 .
3,000 00
$15,494 81
Cash balances, Nov. 30, 1884, viz :
Fund No. 1. .
$1,478 02
Fund No. 2. . 100 55
Fund No. 3.
46 85
Fund No. 7.
6,000 00
$7,625 42
Total
$30,050 25
Respectfully submitted.
WM. S. BARTON,
Treasurer.
Worcester, Mass., December 19, 1884.
.
REPORT OF THE CITY MARSHAL.
To his Honor the Mayor,
And the City Council of the City of Worcester.
GENTLEMEN :
In conformity to customs and Ordinances governing the Police Department, I have the honor of presenting for your considera- tion my annual report of the doings of the Department for the year ending November 30th, 1884, and also a few suggestions and recommendations.
The whole number of arrests for the year has been 3,326.
Number of Males,
3,065 | Number of Adults, 2,945
" Females, 261
" Minors, 381
" Americans,
1,597
" Residents, 2,107
" Foreigners, 1,729
" Non-residents, 1,219
Total number committed to the House of Correction and other institutions, 1,609.
Whole number of complaints made against arrested parties as follows, viz :
Assault and battery, 105
Counterfeiter,
1
Assault on officers,
12 Common drunkard, 57
Assault with weapon,
3 Cruelty to Animals, 5
Adultery,
9 Capias, 28
Attempt to burn building,
1 Common nuisance,
1
Attempt to commit rape,
2 Carrying concealed weapon, 3
Arson,
1 Common railer and brawler, 3
Breaking and entering,
21 Drunkenness, 2,247
Breaking glass,
7 Drunkenness, 2d offense, 199
Bastardy,
10 Drunkenness, 3d offense, 105
Bestiality,
1 Disturbing the peace,
106
Burglary,
4 Driving away team,
8
Burning building,
1 Defrauding boarding-house, 9
17
248
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
Disorderly house,
5
Rape,
1 15
Delivered on bail bond,
1 Run away from home,
Embezzelment,
5 Run away from U. S. training
False pretence,
1 ship, 3
Fornication.
9
Robbery,
1
Gaming on Sunday,
3 Receiving stolen goods.
2
Indecent exposure of person,
6 Stubborn and disobedient,
12
Insane,
17
Suspicion,
2
Indecent Assault,
1 Truants,
19
Larceny,
114
Threatening,
7
Loafing around depot,
1 Violation of the liquor law,
34
Lewdness,
1 Violation of the Sunday law, 3
Malicious mischief,
11
Violation of the City Ordi- nances, 40
Neglect of family,
10
Violation of Regulations of the Board of Health, 1
Obtaining money by trick,
1
Violation of the Revenue Law, 3
Pickpockets,
3 Vagrancy, 34
Perjury,
1
Walking on the railroad track, 3
Peddling without license,
7
The expenses of the Department for the year have been seventy-four thousand thirty-six dollars and ninety-eight cents ($74,036.98).
To wit :
Pay roll of Patrolmen,
$62,866 25
Salary of Marshal and assistants,
4,523 29
" Captain,
1,076 69
66
" Probation officer,
320 80
Paid for Cloth, buttons and badges,
580 06
60 Printing,
93 67
" Brooms, lamps, matches, &c.,
114 29
66 " Blank books, stationery and stamps,
96 30
66 Carriage and horse hire,
59 75
66
Board and care of two horses,
510 45
60
" Blacksmithing,
40 30
66
" Harnesses, robes and blankets,
115 05
" Furniture and repairing,
19 70
20 00
William L. Plaisted & Son, for crackers,
163 71
for Photographing prisoners,
17 50
" Officers, travelling expenses,
19 15
66
" Special police,
8 75
" Expressing and telegraphing,
14 73
Murder,
1
Night walker,
2
" Sergeants,
1,999 98
Washing clothing, Stations 1 and 2,
23 80
" Rent of telephones,
Special police, Bi-Centenial,
172 00
249
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
Paid Smallridge & Co. for one new wagon and repairing others, 325 05
for Transportation of prisoners, 1 50
" Repairs at Station 2, 90 77
" Fuel for Station 2, 252 22
Charles A. Thayer, for one new horse, 200 00
for Disinfectant powder,
9 00
66
" Insurance on horses and carriages, 25 00
" Burying dead animals, 4 00
6 6
E. H. Martin, personal injury by police horse,
10 00
for Police roster,
3 75
" Cleaning clocks,
1 50
" Trucking ashes from Station 2,
6 00
Repairing Station 3,
10 58
Bronze wire guard,
120 40
" Refreshments for officers,
6 00
Ice,
21 51
66 New locks for cells at Station 1,
93 50
Total,
$74,936 98
The earnings of this Department for the present year have been as follows :
Court fees,
$8,911 31
Use of city team,
397 95
Cloth sold,
553 30
Extra service of police,
249 86
Horse sold,
70 00
Total,
$10,182 42
Making the net cost of the Department for the present year $63,854.56.
As a final result of the finances I have turned over to the sinking fund as unexpended balance the sum of $645.44.
The miscellaneous duties performed by the police during the year are of no small importance in themselves, and will show that the officers have been faithful to the trust reposed in them. The following is but a portion of the duties they have attended to under this head, and this includes only those cases where arrests have not followed :
Accidents reported,
7
Burglars reported,
6
Buildings found open,
724
Careless driving,
3
250
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
Disturbance suppressed,
94
Defective sidewalks reported,
51
Defective streets reported,
31
Fire alarms given,
14
Fires extinguished without alarm,
10
Intoxicated persons sent home,
84
Injured persons cared for,
63
Lost children restored to their parents,
85
Lights not burning at 9 P. M.,
1,345
Lights hung in dangerous places,
17
Nuisances reported,
4
Runaway horses reported,
16
Runaway horses stopped,
5
Teams put up and cared for,
67
Value of stolen property recovered,
$3,527 00
Value of goods exposed carelessly,
$590 00
Water running to waste,
7
Number of officers at fires,
178
A large portion of this class of business is never reported by the officers, consequently is not placed upon the records.
TRAMPS.
The tramp, or lodger, seems to be on the increase. We have taken care of 5,925 this year, against 4,191 last year, or a gain of 1,734. Why we should have so many more than last year I am unable to state.
Cared for at the Central Station,
3,555
Cared for at Station 2,
2,370
Males,
5,842
Females,
83
American born,
3,189
Foreigners,
2,736
Adults,
5,299
Minors,
626
LIQUOR PROSECUTIONS.
The enforcement of the liquor law has received the attention of the officers as far as they were able. Very little liquor is disposed of in this city openly or without license. Its sale is mostly restricted to tenement houses, whose trade is limited to friends and acquaintances, and where the stock will scarcely ever
251
RERORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
exceed one or two quarts, and this small stock will not be kept on their own premises, but on the premises of their neighbors, and should a person outside of this selected circle of customers attempt to procure a sale they would immediately be suspected and their effort prove a failure. Few citizens are aware of the difficulties connected with the enforcement of the liquor law. Besides confronting a class thoroughly posted concerning all the evasions that may be used to circumvent the law, they are ever on the alert for the police, or any one who they think would interfere with their business. Therefore the police are left on their own resources to combat the technicalities and obstacles thrown in their way by the subterfuge and cunning, and in most cases, without the moral support ofthe community at large,-which in all criminal proceedings is a great factor, and in most cases abso- lutely necessary to success. It would be useless for me to attempt to detail the obstacles that are met with in the effort to secure evidence in liquor cases ; I can only say that prosecutions have been made against all violators of this law where there has been any chance of conviction.
There has been issued during the past year :
Search and seizure complaints,
89
Keeping liquor, 34
Selling on Sundays,
3
Selling to minor,
1
The police are called for during parades of civic and military bodies, conventions and caucuses of political parties, State and city elections, graduating exercises of public schools, fairs and festivals given by churches and Sunday schools, ball games, balls and theatrical entertainments, lectures and circuses, coasting and fires ; and, in fact, wherever and when- ever necessary for the purpose of protecting life and property, and preserving good order. A detail of one officer was fur- nished from May first to October first to preserve order at Lake Quinsigamond, where large numbers of our citizens congregate during the summer and autumn seasons. The large gather- ings of our people there on Sundays, and the immense growth of the place, make it necessary that police protection should be
252
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
furnished there every season. Hereafter, a detail of two officers should be furnished to the Commissioners of Shade Trees and Public Grounds during the summer and autumn, and especially nights and Sundays, to preserve order in Elm Park and vicinity.
The number of days of legitimate police duty (ex- tra) performed by the officers at Station 1, during the year, has been
1,200
And at Station 2, 320
Total,
1,520
In addition to this, the number of officers that have reported to Assistant Marshal Churchill to assist at fires has been 178.
The detective business has been carefully attended to by detectives O'Day and Colby, and I can safely say that these ofli- cers have faithfully performed their duties, being diligent in sea- son and out of season in detecting crime, tracing stolen property and work of a similar nature, requiring sound judgment and superior tact and skill.
The amount of stolen property recovered (principally by Detectives O'Day and Colby), has amounted to $3,527.00 ; more than half of this amount was stolen in other places and recovered here.
The discipline of the force has been good throughout the year. As a rule, the officers and patrolmen during the past year have performed their arduous duties to the satisfaction of the citizens generally. The same hardships and dangers of years past have been gone through with ; the streets have been faithfully patrolled so far as the number of men at my command could perform the work, and I believe that the lives and property of our citizens have been well cared for. The duties of a policeman are arduous in the extreme ; through rain and sunshine, storm and snow, he is expected[to faithfully patrol his beat, and in all cases, if faithful to his trust, he must look carefully to the safety of persons and property of citizens. His work is more carefully scrutinized than that of any officer in any other branch of the City Departments ; if a mistake is made by any member of the Police Department, it is open to criticism, and often times the
253
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
whole force is unnecessarily criticised on account of the acts of one member of the Department. I do not wish to be understood that I consider the police force perfect, for we are not; mistakes may occur; but as a rule I believe that this Department has been as free from them during the past year as any Department of a similar kind. The duties of a police officer are often delicate as well as difficult. They are called upon frequently to decide almost instantly on the advisability of making arrests; questions which it is often difficult to decide after reflection ; and which cause eminent judges and lawyers to disagree. This Department can never perform satisfactorily the duties required of it while it is regarded as the prize of the successful party at our municipal elections. For the last few years it has not been the custom to make many changes. An officer holding a position from year to year, and fearing a loss of his situation at every change of administration, cannot possibly be so fearless in the discharge of his duties as one rely- ing solely upon his efficiency and good behavior. There should be no reason why an officer cannot be free to arrest any person for a violation of the law one week after a city election as he can one week after the first Monday in January, without the influ- ence of some ward politician in trying to get an officer left off simply because the officer has done his duty. As a rule, removal should only be for cause or for unfitness, as it is a position where experience counts a great deal. Experience and training are especially necessary to develop the qualities which form the valu- able police officer. I cannot too strongly urge the importance of choosing the members of the Police Department where char- acter and qualification shall be the guiding motive of selection, rather than personal favor or political preferment. The present evils are that men who are especially fitted to fill positions on the Force, either at its head or in the ranks, feel indisposed to place themselves where they are liable to be discharged with the change of every new administration. And I trust the day is not far distant when the Police will be appointed during good behavior, subject to removal only for cause.
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