The record-union., 1894-01-20
THE SOCIAL EVIL.
Interesting Interview With Super
intendent ByrneS.
His First Expressions in the Park
hurst Warfare-He Talks for the
'sRecord- uion'' After Declining
Interviews With New York Papers
Views of the Best Posted Man in
America on the subject.

Views of the Best Posted Man in
America on the subject.
Regular Correspondence RECoRD-UNIoN.l
NEW YORK, Jan. l1.-Thomas Byrnes,
Superintendent of the Metropolitan Po-
lice, consented to-day to state for the
RECoRD-U MON his views Oh the ''social
evil" and the proper method of dealing
with it, and he added a few words indica
tive of his opinion of the critics, DIR.
Parkhurst and others, who are attacking
SO bitterly his department, and of the
real faults in the New York police serv-
ice and the best way to correct them.
This is a matter which the newspapers of
this city have been trying to get for sew
eral months, and it is interesting not
only because Mr.. Byrnes is an expert OH
crime and, of course, the highest author
! ity on the department OF which he is the
head, but because he is the only man
concerned in all discussion that has gone
on who has not been heard. He has pre-
served perfect silence.
81 have said nothing" he replied, "be-
cause, while the language of the various
published charges arraigns the depart
ment as whole and. by implication, my
self as we'll as those above me, vet thus
far formal complaint has been made only
against certain Captains Thus L have
thought best to wait TO express my mind
until such time as my administration or
myself individually may be called upon
for a defense. But if, as you say. there
are elements in the controversy of more
than local interest, L will say some of
the things l think.
I'm the first place, them" he continued,
''I may say that do not understand very
distinctly what my critics demand of me.
They complained because | did not close
up dlsorderly houses, and when l gave
orders to have them raided and shut up
more vigorously than had been done in
the past, a cry was raised at the cruelty OF
our work. My critics point out that with
an unmistakabie law against such houses
and their inmates, the police have shut up
some and permitted others to run undls-
turbed. y ct when we proceed to close up
all we are abused for causing hardship.
So we get it on both sides.
II would like TO say, too, of another
criticism that relates TO the procuring of
evidence, that the agents of citizens can,
perhaps properly, be supplied with means
and be given orders to 90 into house and
!
woman, complete their evidence. But
cannot and will not give orders to my
men to participate in crime in order TO
get evidence on which convictions may
be obtained, and | have no means at my
disposal Tor doing this. Neither do
think it compatible with good discipline
and the good character OF police force
that officers be empowered TO do so by
Captains or by any officials"
It may be remarked here that Mr..
Byrnes referred to the practice of the So
ciety OF furnishing their private detect
| ives with money TO enter houses and
hire the commission OF the otfense 10 be
charged against the inmates. DR.. Park
hurst himself has paid Tor and witnessed
obscene exhibitions of degrading char
acter. Also as matter of fact, it may be
noted that police officers do the same
thing at times, and have got evidence in
this way, though their orders, if they had
any, did not come from the Superintend-
ent. A Captain told me it was done not
infrequently.
''TC take the question up at the Begin
ming" the Superintendent went on, lit
must be granted that the social evil, as IL
is named for us, always has existed; it
exists everywhere under the sun, and, L
think, as do most other men of expert
ence, it always will exist. The only
thing to do, then, is to accept it as
necessary evil and, by persistent watch
fulness, keep 1t within the narrowest
| possible limit. 1t should not be recog
nized legally, but must be so placed
under the ban that it can be dealt with in
summary fashion. 1t must be illegal
always and should not be admitted to a
social position by taxation.
"What then would l do? l believe
that no legislative change is called for.
think everything related to the evil is as
it should be in New York City. The law
makes it a crime the police are required
| to make arrests and the courts to convict
and punish. Now there is no difficulty
| in getting evidence sufficient for cOnvic-
| ton whenever the evil becomes too Of
| fensive. For suppose it has grown bold;
| it becomes disorderly. Disorder enables
| complaints and the evidence is ample for
the court. When, on the other hand, it
has grown to exaggerated dimensions.
raids can be made and the evil broken up.
| "You see that my view of the matter
| leaves the responsibility with the police,
as at present. 1t presupposes the exer-
| else of discrimination and judgment by
! the pOlice-at present OF Captains. This
! is the source of all the suspicious agi-
tation now aroused against the depart
ment. Nevertheless, this official discre-
ton, not countenanced in the wording of
| the law, is the fulcrum of all action
|
mind, it is rightfully So"
But" 1 objected, sit is charged that
this discrimination is guided by political
and, even by criminal, pecuniary motives
with Captains, and the suspicion at
taches itself to officials above their sub
ordinates."
II know it," replied the Superintend-
ent. "But | am an executive officer, and
l must go on the supposition that my
subordinates are men of intelligence
enough, honesty enough and liberty
enough to act with sagacity and to be di-
rected in their work only by consider
ations of expediency, honorable and dis
interested. And if they are not so guided
in their activity, they cannot long go un-
detected. | soon know of it,
"But is your knowledge an assurance
of correction?" was asked.
81 make complaint at once and carry
my charges before the Commissioners"
he said.
"These Commissioners have dismissed
such charges in the past" l remarked.
The superintendent shrugged his
shoulders. 1t was no fault of his. The
Commissioners are politicians, and it is
they who appoint and promote men in
the service 1t is alleged that such ap-