New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-22
PAYMENTS ON ALL SIDES.
VICTIMS or THE POLICE.
STEAMSHIP COMPANIES PAID OFFICERS
REGULAR SALARIES.

! TRIBUTE LEVIED on PRODUCE MERCHANTS AND
STREET VENDERs-PooLRooMs AND POLICY
SHOPS orEN-AccorNTrNG FOR $a25 OF BoR-
RowED MoNEY-HoNEsTY no PRO
LECTION AGAINST BLACKMAGL.
What class OF citizens escape the blackmail of
the police? one is forced to ask after hearing the
testimony given yesterday before the Lexow
Committee. It had already been shown that
tribute was levied from gamblers, keepers of dis
orderly houses. "bunco" and "green-goods' men
and liquor-seers, licensed and unlicensed. Yes
terday It was made clear that street venders,
steamship companies and produce merchants
also had to pour dollars into the huge Golfers
Of the guardians Of the peace
Vendors and dealers in various kinds Of mer-
chandise paid for protection. as they blocked
the streets and sidewalks in violation Of the law.
steamship companies. however. did not hahd
over money for immunity from prosecution but
through fear Of possible annoyance. They made
the pfctencc ~ paying policemen for working
after their regular hours. II was easy u see'
however. that 1t was all blackmail. one wit
ness Connected with the shipping industry
frankly explained that one could not carry on
business here without buying the iaVor oil '"e
police and other authorities.
mi,,cd receiving a rcenlar salary from the
American Steamship Company. AMI 70 giving
part OF IT {. Sergeant Taylor. who is the right
hand man - captain Allaire Of the Steamboat
squad He said that f. was the general custom
in shipping circles 10 pay policemen stationed
ON piers.
The revenue derived by tn" police from the hun
dr.l, of produce dealers on the lower West Side
must have been a handsome sum. Their" was
regular tariff Just a. there was for disorierly
houses ami unlicensed hquor-stcres More was
cxactcd from a wholesale firm than from re-
tail one AMI the frontaG" y the building occupied
was ais, a factor. Some ~ the Witnesses repu-
table business men, paid s25 a year As long as
they did this they were AT times cited % appear
I'm the police court f,r violating the law against
ohs,ru.,ing the sidewalk bat were never fined.
one finally objected to being thus "heec"d' by the
mon vvh, were the clty's servants and in short
while ne was arrested and fined $50. Similar cases
can doubtless be found. and scores ot merchants
could Do, induced to testify TO this form u eX-
tortior.
Il is curious. as Senator L@xow remarked yes
tcrIav that go far as me experience ~ the COM
nnlt,ee goes every man who applied FOR place
IN tho police force. about the same time bor-
r1wed $500. 1925 or $3.50. one officer was called
- explain yos'criny why b" ha' n"e1 o' $3.50
iust al the time he was being examined by the
rivu Service Board or cours" h. told story
accounting FOR every dollar 4 IT, but tho chair
man u the committee plainly saiI - him that
the narrative was suspicious. The policeman has
.,. repaid al the money and i4rghv ~ .As
debtors cNorti TO collect tho balance by process
~ law.
According 20 one witness A number " pool
rooms are now open In this city. H. gave the
a dresses 4 some Policy-shops h'urished In
every block In some parts Il New-lork he de-
car~l Mr. Gon still has virgin ncd which
should yield rich fruit IN the relations between
ihc p1lic. and the poo'selicrt He could not |
say yesterday whom b. would take ny this sub
jer,
The committee VIII sir again today
For def1,s n examination ~ rfnrssef PIg- Il.