The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-04-10
THE WAGES OF SIN.
EsOv ahe Criminal Population OF
GOtharn Pee the Police OmciaIs.

Since the overthrow OF the Tweed ring
New York City has had a comparatively
honest government. The one blot upon it
n administered is the collusion Of the
police with certain classes OF what may
be called the criminal population. It is
an undisputed fact that in this great city
certain forms Of vice or law-breaking
und -rbed year in and year out be
Z use q mOueFcd consideration is paid to
q poI-g officials. The minute that the
I ymeu- 4 the money ceaess that minute
the place is closed. This may seem to be
an ungugrded or reckless assertion, but its
truth will be instantly recognized in
journalistic and political circles of this
city. II the police alone profted by the
collection OF this blackmail money the
levying Of it would be stopped in a hurry,
but the bulk of the cash is passed along up
into the Golfers Of the political organiza-
tions, and there the whole business is pro
tected Why is il that the most notorious
police captain i'm New York City is always
set free. no matter what may be the charges
against him Why Is it that he now
snaps his fingers at the new accusations
made aguinst him and says to reporters
who call on him that the Police Commits
siOuers cannot and will not put him out
Tor not closing gambling houses in his pre-
GluCLF bEthust lE HIS pau LlOTt Nndu
500 a mouth for the last ten years into the
treasury Of most influential political or
ganZatiun and the politicians are strong
enough TO protect him. Not gambling
house or a house Of Questionable repate
nor liquor saloon that keeps open after
O'Clock in the morning and on Sundays
but pays its assessment with absolute
regularity, and not one OF these places but
expects TO pay and is glad to pay rather
than be molested. IL has come to be to them
in the nature OF a tax or n license fee, and
they charge il into expenses as much as
they do gas or fuel Not a young woman
who walks the streets rs a matter OF bust
ness but pays the policeman on. the beat
tDr the privilege. and not a policeman thus
paid but turns over a share of y TO his
zuperiur officer II has come to be vast,
widely extended evil and how to prevent
or lessen 10 is a problem worthy the most
careful study. IL Is difficult To break up
the practice for the reason that the ar
ranEeUient is satisfactory to those most
concerned The gaming house or the
place OF III Tcpute has no forms Of law to
observe 1t has simply TO thrust a roll OF
greeubaCks into the pOlIcemHn's hands,
and projections thereafter is insured.
There is no bother about that. II a spasm
OF virtue SelZes the Police Board, and
shutting up Of ali such places ordered. the
folks who have paid their assessment get
ample notice. and art not caught The
police put every imaginable obstacle in the
way of any other system. for the reason
that they are well satisfied with the
participate. Many brown stone front
between Fourteenth street ami Forty
second pays weekly assessment OF 500,
and well can 10 afford TO do 80 when it's
weekly income is % thousand dollars Let
the house neglect for once To pa Tile assess
meut and yOu read about raid upon IL IN
the next mornings newspapers. The
police Of New York virtually hlackmail
the gamblers. liquor sellers. and unfor-
Inmates into pay ing thousands Of dollars
for the privilege OF carrying on an unlaw-
full business, and the business is known to
exist b. svery city officer from the Mayor
down and is tECitly counteuauCed by one
and all So bodily are the arrangements
carried out that officer OF q detective
makes a weekly round Of the places and
collect the cash The salrry " police
captain Is comparatively small, yet the
most Of police rtUIUF are Tich men ere
they have held their places long. They
not only retain proportion Of the money
collected, but they receive and accept
valuable presents from the same sources
whence Cuulrs the bIaCkmail money
and they convert tbs presents into Ca~h or
make gopd use of them u * q bad and
corrupt condition Of affairs when the off
GERS Of the law use their discretion as to
whether the law shall be observed, espe-
..Llly When thut discretion is influenced
los the payment uf money for rhe privilege
81 violating law and when those only who
lay are permitted to transgress -NelU
l'uFh Cor.