Why So Many Crimes in San Francisco?
By M. C. Wilcox
THE San Francisco Chronicle of May 4 says editorially: "It is difficult to understand why there are so many crimes of violence committed in the night-time in this city, and so many burglaries. As the finance committee of the supervisors shows, our police force exceeds by a trifle the charter limit of one officer to each 500 of population. That would seem to be sufficient to assure safety, and is sufficient elsewhere. "We are spending a great deal more money for protection of life and property than is expended by some other cities, at least where crime is less rampant. "Compare this city with Los Angeles, for example. The census figures — the latest complete statement available — show the following: |
Population |
Expenditure |
Per Capita |
|---|
| San Francisco |
416,912 |
$1,486,830 |
$3.56 |
| Los Angeles |
319,198 |
669,208 |
2.09 |
|
Population |
Expenditure |
Per Capita |
|---|
| San Francisco |
416,912 |
$1,562,679 |
$3.74 |
| Los Angeles |
319,198 |
479,783 |
1.50 |
"Now, we do not hear from Los Angeles about such an orgy of crime as we have at times in this city; and as to fire protection, Los Angeles is as much a wooden city as San Francisco. "If we are not getting as much for our money as the people of Los Angeles get, there is some reason for it. And the public ought to know what that reason is." Los Angeles has but 200 saloons in which to manufacture crime; San Francisco has more than ten times as many, 2,059. Let San Francisco close her saloons. Experience ought to teach her a lesson. Peace reigned while liquor was prohibited just after her great earthquake and fire of 1906.