Insurance men complain of police inaction in the matter. While it may be impossible for the police to put special men on duty to cope with the racket, why, they ask, do the police who are always on duty at theatres or on the occasion of speci functions not trouble to stop th racket when they see it operating lurider their noses? Insurance men, Police officials generally were of the opinion that the nuisance—that exacting. small amounts of money rom motorists for "protecting" their cars—was not og great today as a few years ago. French police officers said they received comparatively few reports about the "racket" now, and was said in the Settlement' that the culmination of the practice was experienced about three years ago. 'The authorities, however, do not' maintain that the backbone of the: practice has been broken. Thus, between thirty and forty "look-see" boys were arrested in the Settlement in one police dissect alone last Plain-clothes_men assist the unt~ formed policemen on duty outside theatres and clubs fo cope with the Altitude of Public All these interviewed expressed the pinion that the public to a gre extent kept the practice alive by yielding to the demands of the cul-brits and the hope was voiced that motorists, when approached by "1ool see" boys, would seize them and hand, them over to the nearest policeman.
Another criminal practice involving parked motor-cars" is giving the authorities some concern. Tt of taking possession of a car by the false key and driving it to rage. The thief, who poses as the owner's chauffeur, then obtains a drum of all or some other commodity on credit and leaves the car outside the garage as security until he can "find his master and got the money." 'The oil is taken away in a ckshaw and the chauffeur never'
turns. One arrest was made in the Settlement on Friday in connection with such a case, the prisoner being found in possession of a bunch of keys apparently used for such purposes, jok-See Ridgin" Not So Good The activities of the police in the international Settlement and the French Concession against. "look-ce" and other mischievous beggar continued unabated on Saturday imd many were rounded up outside theatres, amusement places, and ubs, and on the bridges across the Soochow Creek. The number ook-see" boys brought. before the First Special District. Court alone eight, all of whom were charged th Toltering.
Large numbers who obtain "tolls"
bridges, either from rickshaw fares or the pullers, by helping to draw the rickshaws over the ered have been arrested by the Settle: nent Police in recent months. An ithentic summary shows that, together, 292 of this class have been apprehended since July 1, 1995, and charged. with "nuisances" under the Police Law, Most of these offenders have been seized by policemen attached to stations north of the Soochow Creek, Hongkew claiming} 128 and West' Hongkew 162. In addition, four arrests have been made Sy. Lotiza Station personnel. Approximately 80 per cent. of these have been sentenced to serve five ays in gaol each. claim that the racket has now become so powerful that it will be very dificult to stamp out, whereas energetie action some time ago, before it had taken root, would have swept it away altogether.
'The rickshaw' racket is _slightly different. In this case the boys and men who offer to help to pull rickshaws over bridges are organized into a Rickshaw, Helpers' Club. It is customary for the fare to pay the boy who so "helps" a rickshaw, but If the fare does not, then the rickshaw coolie must. His number is noted and when he comes back over the bridge he {s forced to pay one
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.