New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11
THE Police FORCE IN CITIES.

large share of public attention has Deeh
hostoved Of late upon the Police Department
If the metropolis. The controversy to which
the Rev. DR.. Parkhurst and superintendent
Ryrncs ore parties has been closely followed, NJ
is TO be assumed, by large majority OF IN
telligent Workers who take patriotic
interest in the common veal. All such Will
no Interested in report which has just been
submitted to the Prison Congress, in session
at Baltimore.
The report in question is in relation to police
organization and work in cities and was read
by Major r. W. McCaughry, of Chicago ten.
oral Suncrntendcnt of Police, the chairman OF
the committee which prepared it. The report
holds that as a result of distributing the ponce
force in our cities into squads and companies
and divisions. there is Z" better discipline than
there used TO be and vastly improved ser
vice, The report further holds, after refer
once TO the value Of the ambulance system ana
70 thc telegraph and telephone systems as
employed by the police, that the force has been
brought into "mOre harmonious relations WIN
the public and has inspired degree OF IN
forest and confidence to which the foregoing
years were strangers" Having said these
handsome things about tho police the com
mittce proceeds to argue-and we invite our
citizen, whatever their politics 10 consider this
noint-that the one great obstacle in the way
Of tho advancement Of the police in the pain
of public usefulness iS-politicS Here Is a
vigorous paragraph from the report touching
this evil
No police force can meet tho duties required OF
or answer the expectation Of the public Were the
81 IL, hal fpf
m.nt or In the discharge Of their duties by political
considerations. Where the Alderman Is encouraged
In demanding that 50 many apP.int"es shall be taken
from his ward aud selected by himself. II ie us'.'s'
10 expect from these appoin,ees faithful service and
LOYALTY 10 the head OF the department unless ne
powrr behind the throne. 10 whom they recognize
themselves AZ Indebted for their appointment and
continuance on the force. IS In harmony. politically
with tlslr siipehors The trouble which this state
q things produces manlicsts itself in thousand
WAYS. orders are cvaded or neglected; abuses are
ignored or winked n: crimes permitted 10 g.
unpnpishcd Numbcress wrongs and outraccs II
more petty character 20 unreportcd all because be-
tween tie head Of IA" department and The officer
stands the politician with bis open promise or secret
Insurance tat neglect of duty Will be condoned'
thus paralyzng the operations OF the force In the
most effective manner.
Persons familiar with the course Of things in
our town will appreciate the iorce OF these
words. Indeed It needs no argument to de
monstrate that until the police of New-Yor
and OF the other cities of tho country are taken
and kept ont of politics it is idle to expect
them 10 meet the best expectations. There Is
nothing new In this contention. II has been
made hundreds Of times. But just now, for
the reason mentioned, it is in order, 1t be-
comes n tonic uppermOst
The committee mentions two other obstacles
10 effective police work-the lack of system
which insurcs the separation Of misdcmeanantS
from felons and all first offending criminals
from adult habituals and the existence of u
system in many cities which permits examining
magistrates TO receive fees for taking bail of
arrested prisoners and Tor the continuance of
their cases in court But after mentioning
these obstacles and paying its inverted COM
pliments 10 the straw baicr, tho committee
feels impelled to add, recurring to its original
proposition, that all desired reforms could be
accomplished in time " if our police and penal
systems can be taken out OF tho hands of the
politician, and run solely and exclusively upon
their merits" We wonder how all this strikes
Tommany