New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-12
4 NON-P1RIISAN POLICE BO1RD.

There is no doubt what the voters meant
when they elected Republican Legislature last
November They meant to rebuke the tyran-
meal and profigate Democratic machine when
has ruled this State for the last three years,
and 10 secure redress for the wrongs which
the people have suffered. And first of ALL as
the fundamental condition of good government
they meant to have honest elections guaranteed
by the enactment of just and unavoidable laws.
We specified on Monday the chief measures
which are essential to the accomplishment or
this purpose Most important Of these is
statute requiring that the Police Board shall be
made and kept non-partsan body. That
would be merely n return to the practice when
prevailed without interruption from 1873, when
the present charter went into effect, until 1881
when Mayor Grant disgraced himself by giving
Tammany three Police Commissionerships out
Of four
We put the undoing Of This wrong first on
the list OF essentials, for the reason that me
election machinery Of this city. which casts
more than onedfth Of the whole vote OF the
State. is completely in the hands of the Police
Commissioners TO be honestly or dishonesty
directed AS they are now politically divided,
the Tammany majority has the power to cheat
Such power ought not to be bestowed on the
adherents of any party. for opportunity TENDS
to develop inclination. There is no doubt that
Tammany eagerly desired to control the Police
Board. primarily for the purpose OF controlling
both the machinery of elections and the lihcit
agencies which give money and votes under
the influence Of fear or favor. There Is no
doubt that this was part Of the comprehensive
scheme which included also the theft Of Il
LEGISLATURE, the partisan allotment OF election
inspectors and the overthrow Of home rule In
many localities. There Is no doubt that the
Democratic leaders prescribed Mayor Grants
act Of treachery TO the people, designing ana
confidently expecting to make 1t useful 1t had
no defence except its partisan utility. They
offered no other The rule Of equal representa-
ton had been long established. The people
knew its value its necessity and had more
than once demanded its enforcement Ten
years before. In 1873, Augustus Schel. the
Tammany candidate for Mayor. had been forced
on the eve Of the election. In which he was
defeated, to promise to obey the rule, as Ed
ward Cooper his successful antagonist. had
voluntarily done a month before. Many per
sons thought that the principle was iinbcGd'1
in the law; all knew that the people cherished
the custom and expected ii to be held inyiolnble
Mayor Grant broke virtual If not an explicit
promise 1t was in his contract with those
who made him that he should do so. We trust
he has repented.
There is no possible justification for par
tisan Police Board in this city The only pir-
pose for which a partisan majority is wanted
by anybody is an abomirablc purpose. II the
principle of equal political representation can
be applied elsewhere, under different charters,
1t ought TO be. We demand no more than we
are willing To concedc But Ncw-iork Is the
place to begin, because here the trcachcry be
gan. and here the consequences are most de-
structive Every consideration Of personal
honor Of regard for the common welfare, OF
obedience TO the will Of the people expressed
last November. demands that the Legislature
shall take this matter up at once bill max
ing the Police Board Il non-partlsan body, thus
compelling the restoration and maintenance OF
the practice which was held sacred for nearly
twenty years, ought to be sent to the Governor
with the least possible dclay-not In May or
April or March or February, but in January.
There are other requirements 10 De met, but
this Is the essential first step toward good gov
orunout