New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-09
TIE POLICE COMMISSION.

Governor Hill has vetoed tne OH IcuuOlhs
the Police Commission from four members
to two, and that body will remain as it Is
at present constituted. The important
question now confronting Us is as 10
what Mayor Grant means to do with the va
cancy that practically exists, inasmuch as the
term of Stephen B. French has expired. There
have been rumors, which seem almost incred-
ible, that the Mayor proposes to disregard the
precedent of many years having almost the
force of law, under which the Republican party
has always been awarded two Of the four Com
missioners and that he intends to appoint a
Tammany Democrat in place of Mr.. French.
His legal right to do this cannot be questioned,
but it would be q gross breach OF political
morals, Of which the Mayor cannot afford to
be guilty.
The Police Commission, in its close and
direct relation TO the daily life OF almost
every citizen, is perhaps the most Important
in the city government Under the present
system neither of the two great parties has been
able to use the force rs political power.
Neither has seemed to acquire any undue adj
vantage over the other, and the result OF tins
armed neutrality has been the development OF
high degree of discipline and effectiveness
until we are now proud of our police as among
the best in the world The average citizen who
knows what the baser elements of the Demo
cratic party in this city are cannot contemplate
without shudder the possibility of the force
being converted into huge Tammany machine
with a special view to advancing the interests
of Governor Hill as Presidential candidate
and carrying the election Of 1892, IL would
L -, lava tha HVNin qt Hatl
the criminal laws and the regulation Of the
liquor traffic pass into the hands OF such BODY
but 10 see our elections controlled by a Tam
MANY police would be Noticeable IL is trae
that the law would still stand which provides
for an equal division Of the inspectors and other
election officers between the two great parties.
But, with only one representative in board
of four, the Republican party would be power
less against combinations and deals Of every
sort. Nothing would be easier than for the
Democratic Commissioners to unite in appoint
ing bogus Republican inspectors against the
wishes of the real representatives OF the party
The people of this city would have no conf
denoe in election machinery set in motion by
such commission.
Mayor Grant will do himself serious injury
il he carry out the intentions asoribed TO him.
He ought to be aware that he has already snc-
ceeded in diminishing the prestige which he
was Ikst acquiring through the eagerness OF the
people of this town, SO ridden by politicians, 10
believe in the honest purposes of any official
| who manifests even the least degree OF indie
pendence. The courage and energy he dis
played in the matter of the electric wires and
the Rapid Transit bill made an impression
which his recent batch of appointments did a
good deal TO efface. The public had hoped for
some indication that he was able TO rise now
and then above the Tammany level. The
Mayor will bear us witness that THE TRIBUNE
has cordially approved all Of his acts which
seemed to be conceived in true public spirit,
and has supported him with special warmth
in the matter of the RapidTranst bill. We
advise him to pause and reflect before he shat
tiers with one stroke all the good opinions that
have been formed Of him. and writes himself
down as the first Nlayor.in nearly twenty years
who has disregarded the rule of a non partisan
Police Commission. Neither he nor his party
can afford to commit this outrage.