New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-16
PISS THE Police BILL.


publican members of the Legislature that the
first letter in the alphabet of reform in this
State-of that political reform for which the
peoplc in such magnificent maioritieS spoke
last November, and have been speaking since
Mt every opportunities in the reorganization
of the police system of this town. In spite or
fractional differences which at one time threat
ened through the icalouScS OF leaders and the
suspcion and distrust which hndcrcd cordial
co-opcration to paralyze the efforts Of the
Lcxow committee facts enough have been
brought out in it's Investigations 10 demonstrate
beyond question that the police of this city are
in all matters concerning the purity OF the bal
lot and honesty Of elections not only Inefficient
and corrupt themselves. but the very mainsiay.
origin and source Of the system of organized
crime which holds the city in its hand. ana
is n constant menace 10 the State and the
country While this system stands the raScais
of Tammany by their control of the rcGiStra
ton lists and election booths and their ability
10 falsify the count and manipulate the re-
turns may do what they please, ana honest
voters are powcrlcSS 10 prevent. They h"d
the town and threaten the State ana are i'm
presnablc 1t concerns the great majority "'
votcrs who are opposed 10 Tammany men ana
methods. and whose votes 20 uncoun'cd ana
their voices unhcard while The men hold sway
and the methods are pursued. That ms ou>i'
ness be stopped and the system DESTROYED roo'
and branch. 1t concerns, too all honest clu-
zens whose personal liberty, lives ana properly
are at the mercy Of these instruments Of corrup-
ton and perpetrators of miSrule
The bill which looks 10 making an end OF
these conditions and cutting off the right hand OF
the Tammany election thieves hypolicc r"orGahi-
cation is pcndingin the Legislature ana wllipT'>
entity come up for action. II is not so radical "
measure that the most conservative need hcsi-
tate 10 give il support. Whatever dlHcr"hc'S
tborc may have been among Republicans as 10
details are if not entirely dissipatcd. nj least
held in allegiance. The intense unlV'rsal h'-
sire Of all Republicans and. indeed OF III
honest Democrats Is that something De zone
by this Legislature to change the cNlSlhE S!S-
ten and take the police out OF TIE absolute con-
troll Of Tammany. The proposed bill II not
entirely unobjcctOnablc- and ii Is, OF course
| impossible 10 frame law 50 perfect rs 10
! meet the views Of ail-iS the best ataihapie.
| We believe it has the support Of large ma
! iority Of the advocates OF nuhlcll'al REFORM
and we are confident that even the Few VINO
| criticisc some Of It's features would unh"Sl-
| tatingly advise its passage in the alternative
| of that or nothing In this matter OF muhl0pal
| reform the people are in dead earnest never
more So even when they rose UP twenty years
| ago and hurled an earlier Tammany dynasty
| lincal progenitor Of the prcScnt-0ut or power
and into prison and exile. The men at Albany
who are dickcrng and dealing. Offering rA-
cuses for delay and paltcrnS over petty per
sonal considerations should know ms ana give
| II serious heed
| This is a Republican measure and the re
nublicans are In power. There is no more quos-
| ton as TO their duty 10 take II mp as party
question and act upon it unitcdly and boldly,
than If II were a resolution in favor OF Il pro-
tective tariff or honest money. Not 10 do it
would be a base betrayal by representatives Of
the party that nominated and the cOnstit-
ucncies who elected them. The duty Is 80
Main that caucus action ought not to be
! necessary, but TO make it absolutely certain,
and 70 leave no member in any shadow Of
doubt as TO his duty to his party let there be
caucus and the policy Of the party he clearly
defined. Let there be no risks run nor chances
taken. Refer the question 10 Il Republican
caucus. and under It's sanction let the vote he
taken. Then it will be known who the rccreant
! Republicans are who are ready TO bctray their
marty: and they may be assured that the voters
whom they have betrayed will leave no means
unused 10 discover the motive Of their action
We are aware that in the discussion now III
progress over the actions OF some members
many people are saying that considerable
number Of unfit and unscrupulous men, care
lessy nominated by the Republicans with no
expectation OF their election suddenly found
themselves I'm the midst Of opportunities for
dishonest gain, and are now making the most
OF them having no hope that they will ever
have another chance And we are also aware
that the activity within the past week or two
of certain Tammany emissarics ut Albany
with whom the suspected ones appeared to DC
ON terms Of intimacy. has given color TO this
theory 1t will be well for such persons Il
bear i'm mind thar they are suspected and are
watched. And 1t will also be well for them tC
remember that whoever takes the Tammany
bride will not be permitted to enjoy undis
turbed the reward Of his treachery. He vii
be followed with such punishment as will make
him regret 10 his dying day that his fellow
men ever had confidence enough in him To pu
him In a place Of trust and Of temptation.