The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-22
none EXEMPT.
Gotham's Police Levied Upon
All Glasses.
Work OF investigators Undertaken
Under Most Adverse Circumstances.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22--John w. Con
the prosecuting attorney OF the Lcxow in-
vsstigaAng committee, who is stopping in
Washington for few days, has given The
Evening star an interesting interview, as
follows
at was, as you imagine" he said, "a
tremendous task that confronted us when
we started the investigation. We know
positively that the police department. Of
New York, a most magnificent organiza-
ton as regards It's own strength, was sys-
tematically blGokmailing all classes of
citizens. That tremendous power had
seized upon the community until 1t had
obtained complete possession.
''lhere Were two distinct elements that
prevented at the beginning "A fair start
and handicapped Us in our efforts TO get
reliable testimony. The first, the fear,
and second, the apathy OF the citizens.
81 speak within the bounds OF my own
knowledge when say that there was not
a business man i'm New York city who
had not felt the power of police blackmail
There were perhaps a very few instances
where honorable men had refused TO give
their tithcs OF illegal tax to the police, but
almost without exception these men were
Forced out oi business.
"One peculiar feature of the blackmail
was that it spared no one class, however
obscure their calling. l have particularly
in mind the saDmakers, who are among
the most upright and sturdily honest
people OF New York. They are mostly re-
tired sea captains, commanders of the old
clipper ships, who have heen forced out Of
business by the Introduction Of steam.
Not one OF these honest men dared TO open
his mouth and complain.
80 the question was, What classes
should we Spply to and appeal TO in our
crusade. Wo were urged at times, and
most importunely, TO go higher, and nail
the responsibility TO the source of author
ity. On the question, we had most earn
est consultations. and we finally decided
that il would not be wise 90 do so.
"Our duty was To arouse the conscience
of the people OF New York, which had long
been smothered--almost killed. The com
mon people, the voters, the people who
most feel, felt the opposition OF the police
would need TO be aroused by different
methods. They were TO have the ill-effects
of police corruption
brought to Their Hearts.
~ he SItCNNClt OF u lliflc DoN SlbClOT all
night on the doorstep of police station,
crying for his father, who had been un.
Justly arrested and brutally beaten by the
police, meant more TO these people than
the demonstration that a captain had paid
large money for his promotion, or that the
commissioner, perhaps hnd been bribcd.
"The common folks would not notice
such matters, bit thoy would notice the
tyranny OF the police over the apple
woman, ovor The peanut roaster the boot
black, the Hewsboy, the keeper of a small
soda water stand, the owners OF little
restaurants--a great class of honest citi-
zens striving for a living.
"The men at the clubs, the more idle
classes Of the population, drinking over
the fancy bars Of the uptown hotels and
restaurants and dining at the cafes, might
possibly be interested in the exposure OF
the high official, but it would not shock
them, it would not rouse in them such d
feeling of personal resentment as would
lead them to go TO the polls, and by their
votes aid In crushing the power which
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