New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-10
WORK OF THE CITY CLUB.
IT'S ATTENTION TURNED TO STREET
INSTRUCTIONS.
EFFORTS TO PREVENT BLAcKMArI,-wHAT THE

EFFORTS TO PREVENT BLAcKMArI,-wHAr THE
CORPORATION ATTORNEY SAYS
The activity Of the City Club in the direction
of reform Is assuming threatening attitude toward
the Police Department. For some months MEM
bers and committees have been collecting evidence
which may prove troublesome to officials. should
an opportunity be afforded for Its presenta-
ton to legislative committee In conJunc-
ton with any labors which such body may
undertake In the way OF an investigation. the
latest developments go to show that the club. while
debating plans for improved methods OF govern
faent, has discovered evils. the existence OF when
the public hardly dreamed Of But these discoveries
only prove the depravity which taints almost every
feature of municipal llfe In connection win the
non enforcement. by paid officials. OF Ordinances
and laws. The scope within which those VINO are
experts in the schemes for backmail may operate
has not been fully explored Who would thihk
that the blocking of sidewalks by the massing OK
merchandise thereon should become source OF IN
come to dishonest patrolmen and the omcers VINO
command them? Yet such Is the testimony almost
voluntarily presented to the City Club, wnch mas
resulted from its investigation OF the SUBJECT
committee should come down from Albany 10 take
tost,,ro,v IN the subject OF street distractions 1t
might ind that permission to inconvenience ana
irritate citizens paid for by the onenders' anu
that representatives Of the Police Department. re-
ce,ved hush money ir order that the privileges
might be enjoyed.
Tho CIV Club. II is said has proofs Of the pos
sblllty OF bribng the police In order 20 secuie
favors in the line indicated. but with the experience
of Dr. Parkhurst before them, and with Distric'-
Attorney proverbally opposed to any reform OF
Tammany methods in office i LOOKS upon upon any benny
whistle against cyclone But while II does not at
to Sa Of he
alleged bribery Of the police in kind Er %hch
before properly constituted committee would be
satisfying and which woud be OF great vaiue as
The City club is an organization composed Of
of all parties whose aim s Is TO Of
Existing laws to such degre as VIII remove all
possibility OF the existence OF backmail power
Sad n yeser rdi Sr to ss rbuno reporter he
pose of the club to condenss the provisions on
opportunity for bribery or backmsil. He declared.
however his belief that it was only through tne
lature that the desired results could be accom-
plished he admitted that much was expected IRON ron
the LEGISLATURE now in session. and when tnat D0oy
was prepared to begin it's general Investigation
the CITY Club would be ready to supply Its aid IN
IL Louis Zimmerman, Corporation Attorney; whose
office is under fire from the Gy San saa not
mere specifc. The published charges were mainly
sm Sv
the Corporation Attorneys office, to rid themselves
of the annoyance Of appearing IN the civil Dstric,
the city ordinances and that the collections OF fines
turned into the City Treasury were extremely
light compared with the large number OF complaints
Mr Hanneman said that he was sure that tne
! statement had been manufactured by some one
| injury ''Why" he asked did not the author
come out boldly and say who were the guilty per
sons? No one in this office comes In contact with
| the small dealers who are charged with maintain.
| ing nuisances. I have no men searching iet
| violations Of the ordinances. The patroiman re-
| ports them to his captain. and he In turn sends
| them to Police Headquarters where they are
| scheduled by the receiving clerk and sent 70 me
| Summonses are then made out by CHIEF CLERK
McGrath who has been on duty here for eighteen
years. requiring the persons charged to appear
' observed that since the City Club secured the
I withdrawal Of the ordinance policemen, as they
were called-the officers specially detailed TO !ooH
for street distractions and violations OF that cnar
| acter-the number Of complaints has perceptib.y
| Increased. But no empoye OF this office mas any
| thing to do with these matters"
| At the meeting of the Police Board yesterday
communication received from the Mayor transmitted
complaint that the police were not enforcing
the ordinance against sidewalk distractions in the
lower part Of the city. and President Martin sac
that the Mayor favored liberal construction OF tht
ordinance in cases where Ii was necessary FOR mer
chants to have goods In transit placed Temporarily
on the sidewalks in front Of their places OF bust
| ness He thought the ordinance should be enforced
| strictly only In where the sidewalks were
obstructed unnecessarily and permanently Com
| ferred to the Aldermen, with request to have the
| ordinance amended to make the duties or the
police plain in every case. but the other Commits
sloaers chose 10 refer the complaint to the Supern-
tendent with a request to have the police use dis
| erection in the enforcement Of the ordinance.