, 1877-04-01

Mayor HEATHs personal statement about
the relations between him and Superintend-
ent H1cEEr should be read by every voter
who has listened to the prejudicial gossip
which Mr. H1cKE9's personal enemies have set
On foot The statement is clear, straightfor-
ward, and manly, and places both HEATH
and HICKEY in creditable and honorable
position.
When 11r. HEATH assumed the of6ce Of
Mayor last summer, be encountered most
embarrassing and lanentable condition of
things. Not only Was the city plunged into
debt, unlawfully contracted and represent
ing extravagant and corrupt expenditures,
but the employees for the several departments
had not been paid for months 1t Was use-
less to expect faithful and efficient service
from men under these conditions, and yet
the city's credit was in such a condition that
money could not be borrowed, temporarily, in
lawful way. to relieve the situation. Itwas
necessary, first of all, to inaugurate prac-
tical1y tho work of retrenchment to which
the Mayor and Council were pledged. When
this had been done, Mayor HEATH next di-
rected his attention to the police matters.
The preceding Administration had notorious
ly encouraged the gamblers, bunko-steerers,
confdence-men, and vicious classes, and
license had prevailed which had permitted
vice and crime to run riot. HEATH deter
mined to make war on these people. He
could not place his hand on any man who
had been tried in the position Of Superin-
tendent and proved equal to the undertaking.
There was but one, and he wns otherwise
employed, and could not be secured. He
knew H1cKEY to be n thoroughly trained
policeman, who had served in all branches
OF the service, and who Was competent, if he
were well disposed, to make the fight. He
summoned HIcNEr, and asked him blunt1y
if he were SO involved with the
gamblers or thieves by reason of previous
transactions as to prevent his undertaking
vigorous and impartial prosecution Of them
HICKEY replied that he was not, and e1-
pressed himself as willing to 60 into the war,
stalking his position aud reputation On the
result,-if the Mayor would stand By him.
This IS the main point in the whole con-
troversy. HICKEY had lived through enough |
police experience to know that war upon |
the quasi~criminal classes-including the |
gamblers, conidence-men, the proprietors of
low dives, the disorderly houses of prostitu-
ton, the thieves at large, the vagrants, etc., |
would be resisted by the shrewdest devices i
and the most desperate tactics. He knew the i
strength of these people, and their utterly
INSCRIPTIONS methods. He knew that any |
man who Should raid them, arrest !
them, drive them out of town, and l
them systematically, would
'e hunted in turn, charged with
'ouusion and corruption, and broken down
y trumped-uP cases and false testimony, if
lot sustained by the Mayor. Of all this he
warned Mayor HEATH, and the latter pledged
himself not to desert H1oKEY so long as
Hickey should satisfy him that the criminal
md vicious classes were being diminished in
lumber and weakened in strength. What
HICKEY predicted was quick
realized When it became evident to the
amblers and thieves that general war had
een declared, and that HICKEY was deter
1ined to carry it on without fear or favor.
hey organized their attack to break him
own. They secured their attorneys and
ven newspaper organ, which hoped to ba
escued from obscurity by sharing
the sensation. Charges were pre-
erred; old scandals were raked m
lat long ante-dated HEAra's Admins
atlon; new stories were started
I'd finally the Council was induced to make
investigation. The Mayor suspended
1ckEx during this investigation, but was
't unm1ndful Of the fact that he had or.
red the policy which had brought On the
s'stance, and that he had pledged himself
stand BY HICKEY SO long as the latter was
lthfnl to his duty: So Mayor HEATH and
'rporation-Counsel ANTHONY were present
cry day at the investigation, vhero
m5lers' attorneys were prosecuting H1orrv
d where the testimony was furnished hr
u-knoTn thieves, Observation-Disclosures ma
Ter crooked" characters. A1ayor Hr.7n
listed himself, as did the Corporation
onsel' that H1cKE1's prosecution was con
Ted IL spite. pursued for purposes Of m rs
'ge' and, if successful, would result in =
tory Tor the vicious classes. He tbera