National Republican., 1877-02-03
Riehar ds Is Himself Again.

The action of the new Police Commissioners
in reinstating Superintendent RICHARDS aud
Detectives MILLEP, MoELPREsB and Nc
DE,IrT Isto be deplored. These men were
suspended from Office q few days since pend.
ing the trial OF certain charges preferred
against them.
No trial has ye. taken place. RICHARDS
and the three detectives occupy the same po-
sition today that they did q week ago.
Nothing has since occurred to change their
status. They are still the self-conyicted
men that they were then. Their restora-
tion to duty does not better them in public
estimation. They have gained nothing. They
have not indicated themselves. RICHARDS
is still guilty of gross, palpable and
rillful dereliction of duty in permitting every
gambling. house in Washington to remain
open for years. He is still guilty of condor.
ing the crimes Of the gamblers. He Is still
their friend. He is still their man, their fsv-
oSite, their first choice for the position he
holds. Ifthe Office of Chief of Police was to
be made elective, there is not a gambler,
there is not pimp, there Is not "a fence"
there Is not an owner OF a bawdy house, there
is not q professions criminal who would not
vote for RICHARDS.
If fwantons could exercise the right OF suf
frage they would be found In the first rank Of
RICHARDS most ardent supporters. RICHARDS
Is as great favorite with some OF the most
notorious OF our demi-moHde as he Is with the
gamblers.
Wantons, gamblers and detectives are always
10 be seen near each other. The first two are
twins In vice. What do the public think of .
man who stands so remarkably we'll with the
criminal classesl What does President
GATcHEL think of ~ Is such man as
RICHARDS fit TO command the police forcei
Have MILLER and McDEvITT withdrawn
their plea of guilty. Have they
satisfactorily explained their relations
with thleyesi Have they returned Mr.. srINE-
METZ the 800 he paid them for recovering the
furs stolen from his store, when the rules gov
erning the police force expressly prohibits any
member of the department from receiving auy
gift or remuneration whateveri
Have the board forgotten the sworn confes-
slons Of MILLER, MCDEvITT and McELPREsH
respecting "oiiicial gambling"-how they, or
at least McELFREsH and MCDEyITT, visited
gambling. houses, witnessed gambling, pres
ensed the violations Of law, violated the law
themselves, and participated in the gamesl
But they were too mean, however, to hazard
their own money. They played with other
peoples, and in every instance cody pocketed
what they won. 1t was one. sided arrange
mert all the tlme-a sort OF dead-open.and-
shut. 1t was just what one might expect of
two professional dead.beats. And these are
the men who have been restored to duty, have
been placed side by side by side with respect
able and deserving officers Of the force.
We have no inclination to place obstacles In
the way Of the Police Board. In the gentle
men composing It we have, up to this time,
rCposed unlimited confidence. And although
their latest action is unwise and tlagrantlY In.
consistent, yet We will not hastily censure
them. They may have had good reasons to
impel their course, which they may not deem
it proper to divulge at this juncture.
But We reiterate that the restoration OF
RICHARDS and the three corrupt and rascally
detectives to office, whilst 1t may create de-
lightful sensation in "Rum Row." is not
viewed by the community at large with any