New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-25
THE MASSACHUSETTS, LEGISLATURE.

THE PROmBUORY LAW AND STATE POLICE
STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF A STRINGENT LAW
CALLED FOR-CONMI5SIONS.
lFROM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRIBUNE !
BosToY. Jan 19.-The Legislature has not
been in session much than two weeks, yet both
Houses cv.nce O desire to do the work promptly. and
show determination to have short session, If 1t Is
among the possibilities Two leading questions are al
ways in order before any Legisature-the liquor law
and the s:ato police Both intimately connected and
when discussed the other naturally appears upon
the surface The Governor takes very strong and I'M
equiyoca. position regard TO the former expressing
desire .or the old PrOhbitOry law, without any OF its
amondmenta he goes even further and asks for moro
authority over the State police that he may have power
to vigorously enforce the ProhIbory law. This was one
u Cen Bdt,r5 strong points IN the canvass last Fall
and In referring in lis message the Governor al
ludcs 20 e fact that both the advoe1es and opponents
OF the law desire ts rigid enforcement. Where the de-
sire ia 80 cera among all classes he thinks 1t should be
graed There appears to be ery general wish among
the members OF the Legislature to give the Governor full
AM hority IN The matter. that the Executive may no
longer bs held responsible where his hands are prhc-
;ically tied. The matter has already been brought
forward in the House Representatives. but 1t Is now
again In the hands OF the Committee on the late follce'
An ATTEMPT 10 making TO abolish the Board OF fOlce
,oucr. which was created last year. Until that
time fine commitments were all made Ivy the Chief Con
stable aud such was the pressure upon him from All
.etios that he had TO devote moro than hall OF MS time
10 hearing applicants for positions. or the complaints
against the 'is" which In great degree, Directly
or indirectly from the outs" This pressure did not
allow him time 20 attend to his legitimate dutics ana nc
va, often actually forced to appen incompetent men 20
office The result OF course damaging To the FORCE
"a well a. EXPENSIVE the state That system proved
complete and uncquivOcal failure. The Commissioners
have been IN Office about six months. ana nave hado
very great improvements. The pressure has ceased
ia measure, aud the general tone anu en-
cheney OF the force has been raised to II
,nueh hlrher scale They have endeavored to llft the
force ont Of pois have had ample time ami opportu-
nifty a. investigate the record aud capacity oi the "Pp
cuts AMI a. "A commission they have done whal ah IN
divIus could not DO This system has been ah eAer'-
tnent and 80 far "a been ascertHned, tue chhSe
has been beneficial In drafting the law last year IL WIZ
not nrovldeI that the could remove the 'oh
m.,opers although no authorized To appoint thoh'
He very naturally asks for this authority ana the law
will undoubtedly be 40 changed that he VIII nave III ana
with NATURALLY goes the power to enforce the law be
cause n one set III Comm ssioners VIII MOI 90 ~ ne can
co-v r,,oye thein aud appoint one thai WIZ carry ouI
hi. de,irp4 TIE discussion or the suh1ect which IL III
eyifie tn n f,v days VIII undoubtedly lead 10 this re
suit AOusa there re propositions 70 a"oNsn ho 'oee