New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-03
1 CRISIS AT POLTCE HEADQUARTERS.

Tammany has decided to protect the unlaw
full sale of liquor on Sunday So much is Ger
tain. and much more is probable. Superintend
cnt Byrnes, who had said that he would en-
force the law and on successive Sundays had
proved that he meant it. was called away from
his Office for a few hours last Saturday. lie
left in charge Inspector Steers. to whom Ponce
Commissioner Martin promptly issued the
orders of Tammany. Thereupon the captains
were informed that they must respect the reso-
luton adopted by the Police Board last Sep
tcmbcr disappearing the collection OF evidence
against saloonkeepers by policemen in citizens
dress. The captains passed the word along
and day before yesterday there were only
seventy arrests as against one hundred and
twenty on the preceding Sunday. The liquor
dealers smiled and said that the "spurt' was
over.
Superintendent Byrnes was at his office and
in charge. and though he said little it was OBJ
vious that he was doing great deal of think
ing. Yesterday the evidence OF an impending
conflict at headquarters multiplied rapidly
The Superintendent was reticent and tranquil
but he summoned every captain to confer
ence. and to representatives of the press he
made several significant admissions. He said
that the law could not be effcctualy enforced
by policemen in uniform, and that in fact obedl-
ence to the resolution of the Board meant open
saloons on Sunday. That this is precisely what
the Tammany Police Commissioners desire and
intend il to mean is known. OF course. to every
Intelligent citizen. and first of all to Supern-
tendent Byrnes There is no disagreement on
Il &c lie A V
body that Tammany, through tho Police Board,
has deliberately signitied to the superintendent
its purpose to control him for its own ends, to
limit his authority and restrain his action when
and where it pleases.
To most of orr local officials such nOtitica-
ton would be in no wise strange or even I'M
welcome IT would be accepted as matter OF
course-as a MISUNDERSTOOD and inevitable
condition precedent to taking Office They
would neither express nor feel resentment. To
Superintendent Byrnes, however, we believe
this constraint is more than irhsome. lie has
proved himself brave and determined man.
lie is not one Of the worthless and shabby
crowd of dependents upon the bounty of Tam
many Hall who would starye to death it they
were not supported by the city treasury. lie
double his salary any day by entering the ser
vice OF private employers. lie stays where he
is because he takes pride in his work. and en-
lows the exercise of the authority which he is
so well qualified TO WELD But what if the
authority is taken away from him Suppose
that he finds himself reduced TO a mere instr'i-
mcnt for the ratification of Tammany's shame
full bargains with lawbrcakers? Is it To be
expected that he will accept that degradation
mcelSly? We think not. The situation in
| which he found himself on Sunday must have
angcred him. We do not credit the insinuation
| that he was party to the proceedings Of the
/ Police Hoard-that he consented to take him
| self out of the way on Saturday afternoon for
the purpose of allowing his previous orders to
be counternanded behind his back. We be-
lieve that he has the courage to accept the full
responsibility for all that he does or leaves I'M
| done. lie is not n coward.
| Assuming that the general estimate Of Super
| ntendcnt Byrnes's character is correct. impor-
tant and interesting developments may be OK
pected in the immediate future. Liquor saloons
are not the only places whore Tammany collects
| huge Illicit revenue which it will struggle
| to retain. If liquordealers arc to be protect
| Cd the proprietors Of gambling -hels and numer-
Gus other criminal resorts will demand similar
security in return for value given. Will Super
| intcndcnt ByIncs enforce the laws in accord
ance with his emphatic and repeated promise
or will he resign? That is the question foi
him to decide.