New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-07
THE NEW POLycE COMMISSIONER.


Commissioner Morrison is even a greater
surprise to the public than Commissioners
MacLeau was. There was general lifting OF the
eyebrows when the announcement was made
that Mr.. Tilden's youthful law partner and
next-door neighbOr had been promoted from
the position of counsel to the Police Board to
membership in the Board itself IL WAS felt
that the anxiety OF Mr.. Tilden and his friends
to have a representative in the Board upon
whom they could absolutely rely had led them
to brave some ridicule. 1t was very much as
If Mr.. Tilden had secured the appointment OF
his own nephew, and then had assured the
public that the selection was made only be-
cause that nephew was the one citizen OF New
York exactly fitted for the place. But the
case of Mr. Morrison shows still greater
boldness. 1t could at least be urged
in favor of Mr. McLean's appointment
that his service as Counsel to the Po-
lice Board had in measure prepared him
to discharge the duties of a missioner.
But no such plea can he made in behalf of
Mr.. Morrison. The Mayor has now chosen TO
succeed the President of the Board-the off
cial head of the police force of this ciW-a
young man who, up to the opening Of the
present year, had held no official position
whatever, and VINO, since that time, has been
merely the Mayors private secretary. This
is promotion with vengeance. Personally Mr.
Morrison Is wholly respectable Probably no
one will he able to find flaw in his charac-
ter or record; and those who are pleased TO
see any representatives of scholarship rise in
our politics will regard it. perhaps, as an cX-
tenuatiug circumstance that Mr.. Morrison has
been a student and professor, and filled for "a
number of years the honorable posi-
uon of an instructor III the Ciiy
College. The Democratic party Of this
city is not noted, as a whole, 1Cl proficiency
in history and bellies lettrcS, and it may b.
that Mr. Morrison rapid g,owth in local politics
will cause such a diffusion OF polite knOwi-
edge through the organization that even
Mr.. DorshemeI's speeches will be Ineligible
! in Tammany Hall. But meanwhile tue aver
age ciuz will feel that his interests have
been sacrificed to those of Mr.. Tildeu, aud
that Mr.. Cooper's private secretary has been
put into this pace because the Mayor and
! M Tiden wanted a clerk there-not Po-
/ lice Commissioner.
THIS is very shOrtighted politics. Mr.. Til
denis early manner OF conducting a Reform
|
the semblance, and sometimes even the sub
! stance, Of Reform, and underneath this cover
to conduct bis political mtrigues. But in these
| municipal changes there Is not the slightest
pretence of desire to improve the public ser
| vice. though this is a branch OF II where i'm
prOvement is greatly needed. The whole ap-
uaratus Of intrigue is naked-secn of all men.
| Every citizen knows that neither Mr. MacLcan
nor Mr.. Morrison was appointed because pnb-
lie services IN the past gave promise OF bet
ter service III the future; neither OF them has
what can be called, by any stretch Of cour-'
tesy, a public record Neither of them is APP
pointed because he has capabilities which would
render him especially useful in department
which has under Its care the lives, safety and
health of our whole people The men who are
leading this movement do not take even the
ordinary precautions of practical politicians "
for the cOncealment of their real purposes.
They say frankly that they want the IN
spectors of election. TO make sure that they
run no risk of failing to get them, they place
in the Police Board two young gentlemen who
will do anything, there IS every reason 10 be-
heye, that Mr.. Tilden tells them to do
The public cannot be deceIyed about this
mUJtCr the OOhtIubI, anu IIC MAY VI,
the invisible Mr.. Tilden leave no room tor
misunderstanding. A crisis occurs in the
Police Board. One of the Mayors clerks be-
takes himself to Albany. Charges against a
Police Commissioner which have lain dormant
since last April are taken up and acted upon !;
the Commissioner is removed, and the Mayors
clerk who has scarcely got his breath,
starts back to this city with the notice of re-
moval il bis pOcket. This is kept secret
until the hour for action has arrived, and
the depOsed Commissioner has no means Of
knowing that he has been removed until the
Mayors private secretary has been sworn into
Office IN his place. This is political campaign
ing of the badest sOrt-not a glance is given
to the burdens of the taxpayers not thought
is wasted on the necessities Of good govern
ment. 1t is impossible That the people should
not be filled with disgust, and, III due time
record their condemnation of such practices.
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THE ANIABLE POLICY IDPRACTICABLE.
The policy of President Hayes's Admins
tration has, whatever fault may be found with