New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-16
HIGHER .ET

II is pretty safe TO assume. after Fridays
fruitful session of the LeyOw Committee anu
subsequent occurrences to which it led. that the
investigation this week will develop testimony
Of extraordinary interest and Importance. The
wav has been opened FOR other frank ana rnii
confessions like that which has relieved the
mind Of CAPTAIN Creeden. IT Is reported that
disposition TO acknowledge the impossblity OF
maintaining the policy Of concealment SUDDEN!
pervodcd the department when it became known
that Crccdcn had broken down II this is true
and thore is good reason 10 suppose ii Is. II Is
probably true also that IN equally sudden re-
yulsion Of feeling and revival OF diScreui''p''
homes cnsllod when the fact or ms SnspehSio"
by The Police Board spread through me lor'''
But again the vigorous demand or the commit
tee and the promp, response OF the boaru must
have renewed the apprehcnsons OF the sni'!'
and inspircd in M least some Of them a desire
to tell the truth and risk the consequences. III
deed one does not even need 10 be in the con
idepcc of members Of The force in order 10
learn that such state Of mind exists ana Is
extending \ police officer Of one OF the hieh'r
grades said Yesterday in public place APP
parcn,lv not caring whether he was overheard
or not, that Creeden yas an honest man mill
,ion ON the conditions which procured 1t. nec's-
slrilv made him Il thief: and then inns '"i"n-
torv witness added: If / should b. put on
the stand | would tell all Know. "h'h y
about all there is to he Known
II is 70 he expected. therefore. that influences
similar to those which inspired Captain Cree
den's confession. but stronger will induce o'herS
to enlarge the sworn record Of facts by identify
..;.I Afu his
any longer doubts either the completeness or
the infamy Henceforward the evidence VIII Ne
merely cumulative considered only as proof ~
organized corruption throughout The Police DC
partmeut: hut the investigation will b. inconl-
ple,c and unsatisfactory II IL stops ~ mat goat
We are not iniriding advice upon the commit
tee when we say that the honest ana ih'ei'-
gent citizens uf NrwIork. large majority IN
recent events have proved. impera'lvev uenfhn
that an unfiinching attempt to get still higher
shall be made. 1t il conceivable tha' do""' "s
10 the possibility of drawing new ana s'rohxer
light from higher sources. ana rear "i u" u""
climax may tend 10 dissuadr the committee from
calling witnesses whom tlfc whole clty whh's
10 see on the stand Perhaps al an earliW stage
Of the investigation. before conclusive PROOF "i
many facts in the case and moral certainty W
others existed such caution was necessary. bn'
II Is so no longer No harm could now he done
bv. summoning the men whose names are on
evcrvbody'S lips and putting them through Tue
prorrss which has already produced Immense
r,sul,. The array Of facts dreadful 10 conleIi'
Mate but OF great and lasting utility which
This Investigation has drawn out. could not now
IN. obllteroted or even reduced In value by the
nossihle failure If n .rcsoluie cndcavor Ia lay
bar. the very heart Of the conspiracy. h"'
without such an cndcavor the feeling will pre-
vail that an essential step was not TAKEN ana
suspicion will attach 10 the neglect
Call Superintendent Byrncs 10 the stand
Lacking full exposure Of his knowledge or
his ignorance the investigation VIII he ihcoh-
pletr Summon Martin again. That experienced
and alrot Commissioner has appeared once
| lut AT that time he possessed advantages OF
| postion which are wanting 10 him now Tive
! that wealthy and impudcnt rnffan, Inspector
Williams an opportunity 10 tell what he KNOWS
about the operations Of the department IN when
he has found il advantageous 10 figure rs ke-
publican There are others who. either readily
or under the torture Of cross-exainination. wonid
probably prove valuable witnesses Among
these might be included Commissioners Muir
raw and Kerwin. 1t appears TO us fhat Tor GER
tain obvious reasons they are III peculiarly
favorable position to furnish useful testimony
As recent appolntees, they are absolutely free
from all suspicion Of completely In the c0rrup-
ton proved against the department. But as
men Of intelligence and disccrnment, whose ON
cial relations during The last four months nave
given them extraordinary facilities for forming
an accurate and comprehensive Judgment as TO
tho mast they are enabled TO render an InpOr
tant public service by merely expressing the
opinions which they must have reached. to some
extent independently of the investigation, since
their appointment.
I-pon such sources Of knowledge as these,
continually forced upon public attention but
still unexplored the committee Is bound TO
draw without taking counsel Of It's fears. or OF
ANYTHING else. except its duty to carry the
search.warrant Of the people into every nook
and corner Of this monstrous conspiracy