Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1904 — REPORTS ON CHICAGO POLICE. [ARTICLE]

REPORTS ON CHICAGO POLICE.

Investigator Declares the Department Is in a Disgraceful Condition. “There is practically no discipline, and the force could hardly be in a worse state.” With these words Capt. Alexander Ross Piper (United States army, retired), former deputy commissioner of the New York police department, who has been in Chicago for seven weeks, investigating the Chicago police foroe, electrified the members of the City Club. He was making a report of his investigation, which was begun at the instance of the club as a result of the alleged undue prevalence of crime in (’)ijeago. According to Capt. Piper’s report, the Chicago police are in a disgraceful condition of demoralization and inefficiency. Instead of protecting citizens from criminals, the members of the force are drinking in saloons, playing slot machines or gossiping on the streets. Patrolmen were accused of taking “to their holes” at every opportunity, instead of walking their beats. Old aad incapacitated were found in “soft snaps,” robbing the department of active men, sorely needed. Wide-open gambling was found by Capt. Piper, handbooks running practically all over the city. • The administration of the criminal laws at the Harrison street police court were found to be “more like mob law than order.” Capt. Piper expresses •ympathy for the bead of the Chicago police department and declares that Chief O'Neill is “an honest, overworked man, doing the best he can with the tools at his command.” Police inspectors and sergeants come in for rough handling (n the report. “