New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-21
MAYOR GRANT AND THE POLICE.

MAYOR IyR3NI AM LHH
Rumor continues to accuse the mayor VI o."
intention to commit political suicide by oeSItoS-
ing the political balance Of the Board OF roiice
Commissioners, which has existed now Ior hedr-
" twenty years. We should like to refresh
Mr. Grants recollection Of campaign for the
Mavoralty in which this question played lead
ing mart. II was in 1878, just ten years before
Mr. Grant ran, that Augustus Schell was his
PREDECESSOR as the Tammany nominee. IL was
commonly believed that the Tammany leaders
intended to take possession of the Police De-
partment and that prospect was viewed with
much alarm, as it is now. Edward Cooper was
nominated both by the Anti-Tammany Demo
Gratis and the Republicans, and in his letter OF
accordance spoke upon this subject as follows :
II elected, shall deem II my duty 10
maintain an equal representation Of Democrats and
Republicans In the Board Of Police, which IS charged
With the preservation Of tho peace and order OF tho
city. and with the ministerial management OF cleo
lions.
Mr.. Schell said nothing until the very eve OF
election. BY that time it had become evident
that public opinion was fully aroused upon THIS
question. So, as last desperate effort TO re-
gain lost ground, Mr.. Schell finally announced
on the Saturday preceding the election that ne
too was in favor of non bipartisan Police Board
Perhaps Mayor Grant may be interested in read
ing to- day what Mr.. Schel had to say on this
subject Guardedly as he spoke, and reluc-
family as he seemed to condemn the intention
which had been credited to him. his utteranceS
are nevertheless q sufficient rebuke to the Tam
MANY leaders of this day to make them pause
in the contamination of their purpose. Mr..
Schell said:
Yes am entirely in favor OF a partisan Police
Board. The law providing for the Police Department
has interviewer the authority Of that Department very
closely With the important interests OF the city 1t
has given TO the Board Of Police the management ana
control Of elections the appointment Of inspectors and
poll clerks and has ordained that these inspectors ana
poclerks shall be selected from different political par
Ties II seems very reasonable therefore that the au'
tbory making these appointments should be free from
partisan influences. Besides that, the policemen are
appointed for the protection Of the persons ana prop
erty Of the people, and that seems To % announcer
reason why the men who have the power 10 appoint
these policemen should be free from the Influences OF
politics The only sure way to secure that result
Il seems 10 me- is to select the Police Commissioners
from different political parties having due rcRau oi
course for the ability and Charace OF 'he appohees
The foregoing might have been moro fchcl-
tously expressed, but the doctrine Is good.
Wrung from Tammany candidate by fear oil
defeat il is a striking testimony 70 the strength
Of public opinion on this question. Mayor
Grant does not need 10 be told that II came too
late to save Mr.. ScheIl. Mr. Cooper was elect
ed by good majority. The Mayor may we'll
reflect upon the incident. He is not now a
candidate, and the next election is year and
half away. But the Mayor is young man,
who is believed to have ambitions with which
future elections will have something to do.
Can he afford to take step which no Tammany
Mayor has dared TO take-a step which at least
one Tammany candidate was forced TO pledge
himself publicly that he would not take ?