New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-27
az an essential part of any measure for the
removal Of Custom house abuses.
THE SENTENCE OF THE POLICE COM
- MIS6IONERH.

If Mr.. Havemeyer were teachable man
there would be reason for rejoicing over the
verdict and sentence which have been passed
on the Police Commissioners. In that case the
incident might serve tho double purpose of
showing him the error of his first important
official action, and of offering him the oppor-
tunity to correct it. But nothing that Mr..
Havemeyer has done since his accession to the
place no now fills would lead us to ex-
pect that he would lay to heart any such adj
monition. lie will DO far more likoly to give
us another proof of that goodness of heart,
purity of purpose, success in business anu ex-
traordinary longevity, all admirable traits,
that are sometimes found united WITH qualities
which render them of no avail to the world
ut large, such as phenomenal Obstinacy and
unexpectedness.
When Mr. Havemeyer, contrary to our Judg-
ment, was made Mayor, we urged the only ac-
ton which could make his administration cred
liable to him and useful to the city; and that
was, to appoint perfectly nO1-partisan Board
of Police Commissioners, of men of standing
and character. of known executive and organ
izing capacity, entirely disconnected from the
details of partisan warfare in the city. He
could not have afforded to do, to make one OF
those dO-dexterOus combinations which men
of deficient sagacity so delight in, and to ap-
point on this most important commission two
notorious politicians of opposite parties
The only result which could come OF this
would be for these two to parayze the opera
tons of the Commission by perpetual
wrangling or TO make bargain by which
they were to help each other alternately. AS
they happened to be men of an enlnently
practical turn of mind. and cared
much more about profit than principle
it seems that they adopted the latter alterna-
tive. At the first election which they had to
manage they operated with such reckless dis
regard of law that they laid themselves open
TO this prompt and easy condemnation, and
exposed tho city to the disgrace OF this triaf
and sentence.
We repeat that it requires more strenuous
faith than ours to hope that Mayor Havemeyer
will make a proper use of the opportunity
afforded him by the vacancies which, IN the
opinion of eminent judges, are created by the
conviction of these Commissioners. But II he
will not learn the open lesson, we trust there
are many in New-YOrk who will. 1t ought to
be plain as day to the meanest capacity that men
charged with the tremendous responsibility OF
controlling the police force of a great city like
this, should be above the slightest suspicion
of selfish or partisan corruption. The Mayor
gave us two politicians of the INSCRIPTIONS,
working category. and tho consequence Is an
immediate breach of the law by them at
the first opportunity, so gross and evident
that a conviction follows as soon as they are
accused Yet the public mind of this commu-
nifty is so affected by long experience OF
corrupt politics in municipal afflirs that the
nomination of n respectable and able private
citizen would have occasioned much more sur
prise than that of Charlick or Gardner. We
shall never have good government until we
begin to expect it.