New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-29
police AND BTTLDERS.

Tho testimony before the LeXOw COMMITTEE
Yesterday confirms popular belief rs TO another
outrageous abuse Of authority. One OF the rev
witnesses whose evidence has done them creul'
anpearrd I'm the person of Mr.. Edward AL
patrick. a builder. who gave an obviously tru'h-
ful and an exceedingly intelligent account OF
the relations which commonly exist between
mon I'm his line Of business and the police. This
Is n subject on which sworn testimony was
much needed in order that the people might
know inst how permission To maintain on" OF
Tho worst nuisanccs from which they suffer is
obtained Illicit arrangements such as have
hithorto been described in the course of this IN
vostipotion though generally supposed 10 he III
onarotion have in most cases been matters or
Inference rather than of certain knowledge.
Comparatvely few individuals have personally
and directly suffered because the police Levied
4 fax on vice and crime and cXacicd tribute
from nearly every lawful vocation; but the
Hacking of streets and sidewalks has been
constant ANNOYANCE 10 every citizen. ana
sonrce of extreme inconvenience and heavy loss
to thousands \ witness. who not only stated
focts plainly but proved his possession OF rhr"
courage and determination. described yesterday
the financial basi, Of this outrage
Mr. Kilpatricli declared that he knew from
wide Drrsonal experience that il was the custom
NJ most builders in this city "to hry their way
both with The police and the building inspect
ors" lie himself. 10 his lasting honor, had re-
fused 10 be blcd In one case the lawyer for IN
estate whose work he was doing. having heard
his report of police demands. advised him not
~ stand up against the whole department lest
he should be haraSscd 10 death. He preferred
f. take the chances however and his frlnneSs
won Most Of his competitors yield 10 cXtor-
tion. This Is a matter to which the people have
much 10 say for the most obvious consequence
Of the illegltimatc relations so established Is
gross infringement on their rights. They are
entitled 10 the constant use Of the public thor
onChfarrs. uninterrupted except 10y such opera
,jnus "a are absolutely necessary. Here hat
necessity IS construed 10 include not only IN"
construction and repairing Of pavcments. but th"
occunotion of n considerable part If The street
and sidewalk hv builders place Of siorag"
for their materials. There are rigid restrictions
thcoreticallv as 80 the amount " space when
can he so employed: and these restrictions. even
II they were uniformly and exactly observed.
would still be far too liberal and produciiv" OF
great Inconvenience. But as everybody In his
senses knows, they are continually disrcgardcd
for the selfish advantage Of builders AMI pos
sibly Of their employers also to less extent,
since the work in hand may he somewhat facili-
tatcd thereby.
II IS n constant source OF wonder to residents
of European cities visiting this country That
such gross imposition should be tolerated.
The reason why IT is tolerated IS now clear. II
Is because officials sworn TO enforce laws
and ordinances Insist on being brbcd 10 permit
opcrations which, though licensed. are still a
nuisance and those who are compelled TO pay
for what the law allows them thereafter uS'Ilp
what the law wIthholds The builders who
stoop 10 such a bondage as This and then make
their subserviencc 10 official tyrants an excuse
for imposing on the public are worthy OF severe
condemnation As Mr. KUpatrck's experience
proves, firm resistance 10 eXtorton even by an
individual Is not necessarily fruitlcss, while 1t
is absolutely certain that united opposition
would have stopped the outrage long ago. We
hope that the committee will next summon some
Of the builders who have paid heavily for the
privilege Of abusing their fcllow-ctizens.