National Republican., 1877-02-01

The tceather indications for To- day are falling
barometer by rising barometer, southerly pinds |
pcerfng to wes'eriy, Nth clear and clearing |
sredfher.
THuRsDAY,,m,,m.i.,.i !, isr7. |
Tho Presidents Veto OF the Police
Bfll tn the senate.
The Presidents veto of the bill to abolish
the Board of Police Commissioners of this
District, not having been sustained by the
House Of Representatives, is now before the
Senate, and will be acted upon at an early
day. In view OF the frantic and desperate
efforts that are being made to override the
veto in the Senate by the gamblers and those
police officers who were suspended from duty
few days since by the new Police Commis.
sioners, we deem Il opportune to review briefly
the causes that led to the passage Of the bill
which the President has declined to approve.
About the middle Of December last THE
REPUBLICAN began its so called "wsr" upon
the gamblers of Washington. This "war"
consisted in telling the public what they
doubtless knew already-that ten or more
gambling houses were open and in full blast
under the nose of the authorities, and that ap-
pearances strongly indicated that the gamblers
pursued their nefarlous vocation as men who
had been pledged immunity from police mo-
lestation. Comments were made upon the
fact that certain police officials associated
with these gamblers, and were well aware
of their unlawful practices. This was
the head and front Of our offend.
ing. The facts that we disclosed
compelled the Police Board to take some
action, and an investigation, invited by the
Chief Of Police, was inaugurated. The police
officials feared nothing from the inquiry made
by the board; for some Of its members were no
better than they were themselves. The In,
terests Of these members of the board were so
identified with those of the gamblers and de-
tectives that the investigation was nothing but
sham, and not at all likely to produce any re-
form for the public good. The members of
the board permitted the name of the Presi.
dent to be brought into the investigation by
gamblers and men OF low character, and did
not attempt to check language which could
not be construed otherwise than most insulting
TO the Chief Magistrate Of the nation.
The President perceived the character OF
The investigation, and, In his wisdom, decided
TO remove the board and appoint men in
their places whose records for inte gritty
and morality would qualify them for un-
dertaking the task of recognizing the police
force and eradicating the evils which had
grown and fourished in the city under loose
and corrupt police administration.
The Chief Of Police and the detectives, with
their numerous advisers, from the ranks OF
the gamblers and the prohigates Of the city,
recognized the fact that such action by the
President would be q death.blow to them,
unless something could be done To prevent the
full accomplishment OF his purpose. A
scheme contrived by little Billy Cook,
attorney for the gamblers and the
Chief Of Police, met with favor, and
an attempt was made to carry It
out. Little Billy Cook threatened the pres
ident of the Police Board and proprietor of
THE REPUBLICAN, who had been chiefly In
strumental in arrsigning the police officials
for their neglect Of duty, with Congressional
Investigation. In order odefeat the ends that
the President had 10 view In appointing new
board, bill was prepared and introduced in
Congress to abolish the Police Board alto
gether. By this means the uneasy police off,
cials hoped to evade unpleasant exposures and
the penalties of criminal neglect of duty. The
bill was offered to the House on the same day
that resolution was engineered through by
little Billy Cook calling for an investigation Of
of the acts OF the president of the late
board, the arch enemy Of gamblers and
their confederates, the detectives. Untruth-
full representations were made to Senators
and Members Of Congress, to the effect that
the President favored the abolition of the
board, and color was given to them by the ac-
tion of the President In removing the old
board. By this trick the bill was hurried
through Congress without a dissenting voice
The President very properly vetoed the bill,
which would have defeated the ends Of justice
In the case OF the guilty police officials.
The new Police Board was appointed, aud
an honest and energetic administration Of the
police affairs ofthe District has been inaugural
ed. The last chance that the detectives have
10 escape q trial before an impartial tribunal
is to have Congress ignore the Presidents
veto, and make the bill law without his sig
nature. The detectives, with the aid Of theiI
friends, the gamblers, have brought an immense
pressure of influence upon Congress and have
succeeded In getting the bill passed over the
Presidents veto in the House, by a majority
Of only two votes. 1t now remains for the
Senate to decide whether honesty and moral
ity shall triumph, or whether vice, gambler
and dishonest officials shall win the battle
The President, In his message to the House
stated the cogent reasons that impelled hin
to veto the bill, and which should prevail II
the Senate. Senators, before voting to ignor,
the Presidents veto, should consider we'll the
demoralizing results of the measure SC
earnestly advoted BY the gamblers and cor
rupt policemen.
Under the present circumstances, II woult
be vital to the morals of the city to adopt AM
such measures. It would be signal that tn,
gamblers, who captured the police department
long ago, have no cause to fear molestatior
from any higher authority. II would be a stay
proceedings in the case Of the accused police
officials, and the city would lapse into the
same condition in which 1t was before the
REPUBLICAN called attention to the vice.
which were permitted to thrive without moles
tation. The protection of the lives and
property of citizens would be iptrusted to the
same corrupt officials, who have sold them
selves to gamblers and thieves, and lived II
vulgar luxury from the proceeds of the sale