New-York tribune., 1894-02-10
NOIT I'OR EENINESS.

rhe results Of ,hc conference held yesterday
he,vecn the State Senate committee appointed
10 investigate the Police Department or ms
CITY and the representatives Of various organ
izations which have enlisted in the work are
highly encouraging. Hitherto there has bccn
danger that disagreemcnts rs to methods wouid
emborrass the investigation and possibly make
# voluclcss but that misfortune has apparently
been avcrtcd After yesterdays conference II
was announced that Il cordial understanding
had been reached. that the committee wonih
Obain an Indefinite extension OF time, thlt
ample opportunity for preparation would ne
afforded to the gentlemen representing me
Chamber of Commerce. the City club. DR. fark-
hurst's society and other cooperating organiZa-
tions, and to the lawyers chosen by them ana
the committee to conduct the invcstigat"h'
and that in every way complete assurance OF
good faith and determined purpose in this b'lsl-
ness would be given 10 all concerneI Inc
committee then adjourned in pursuance OF THIS
agreement. for the purpose of doing whatever
is necessary here and AT Albany To carry 1t INTO
effect II should be said cmphaically that
there has never been any reason 10 donDt the
fidelity Of the committee. and that all such I'M
putations have been grossly unfair ana FOOLISH
Every citizen of New-York whatever his po-
litical affiliations may be- who wants To KNOW
tbe whole truth about the Police Department
Of this city. to have the direct accusations ana
the widespread suspicious against It's honesty
and efficiency siftcd to the bottom. so that facts
which cannot be shaken by friends or foes may
be established. will welcome the prospect wliich
Yesterdays conference brings into view. Every
such citizen has deplorcd the friction which has
DELAYED and mpcrillcd the inquiry. and has
iG,J in
gcthcr prevent useful beginning Of operations
or stop them M a point where there WAS moth
Ing but dscrcdit to show for large professions
of virtue and public spirit. If the work now
proceeds in such manner as 10 prove the abs"-
lutte sincerity of the purpose which appears 10
have inspired Yesterdays conference, good citi
zens will be glad To put out of sight the incl
dents which have seemed To suggest the in
reference of cross purposes hitherto. and tn
sustain and promote the investigation by all III"
means in their power There Is 10 reason why
| such persons should not cooperate in an III
| ouiry 50 planned and conducted The commit
| tee and its advisers are not authorized nor de
| sired to pcrsccutc anybody. They are not AMI
| mated 10y Il vindictive spirit nor trying to make
victims They are looking for facts and That
| il Il search which every man who isn't afraid
| of the truth can better afford To help than
| hinder
There Is one point 10 which we want 10 call
| the attention of the committee and the public
| There is some talk Of prolonging the commit
| tees authority IN this matter throughout next
| summer. perhaps throughout the life of the
| present Senate that is 10 say. for nearly two
| wears and past two elections. This may be- I'LL
| right If the extension of power Is carefully
| guarded In one particular Otherwise II may
| prove to he all WRONG. If the Police Depart
| ment Of this city is rotten. he people need 10
get rid Of IT as soon as possible. They certniny
| do not want il left in full possession Of the
| community and control OF the ballot for Il year
| or two longer. Whatever extension of time the
Senate may grant, II should require the COM
mttcc To make M least partial. preliminary
report ~ This session and n date early
| enough to enable the Legislature 10 take such
action as that report may make imperative"
The object of the investigation Is 10 determine
whether this city is debanched defraulcd and
| nperllel, or faithfully protected. hy The
guardians of the public peace. II would be an
absurdity as well AZ rank injustice 10 adopt
| q method of procedure which, II il should prove
| that the Police Department was an oreaniza
| ton OF fraud. would still leave the people in
| their daily life and at the polls Indefinitely at