New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-08
THE BYRNES REPORT.

Superintendent ByrncS'S report upon the or
panization and conduct Of the police force Is
singularlv opportunc It comes just in time 70
sunulemcnt the disclosures Of the last four
months with description of The methods and
Influences which have been chiefly instrumental
In bringing about a depl0rable state of affairs.
Ii contains. perhaps. little or nothing mat WIS
not already matter Of common knowledge, but
as n deliberate statement from the executive
head of the department based on long obServa-
ton as well rs Il special scrutiny il has great
value II leaves interested supporters OF the
local government without defence so far as
police administration is concerned. ana 10 JUST
that extent invalidatcs their claims ~ to the
general character of Tammany rule That ciii-
zen must be amazingly guileleSs who does not
believe in his heart that the whole system IL
infected
The Superintcndcnt'S statement that the laws
are generally well enforced does not seem 10 be
entirely consistent with his caustic criticism or
methods which have produced. rs he acknowl-
edges. most unfortunate results. Possibly he
means 10 imply that during the period Of his
special investigation. since the Senate Commit
tee began It's remarkable work, the laws have
been generally We'll enforccd or perhaps he re-
fcrs particularly to the protection Of life, prop
crty and the public peace. Without pressing the
INQUIRY as to this point but turning 10 the chief
exception which he notes we find in his account
of official operations under the Excise law Il
perfect illustration Of Tammany government.
1t is true. as he says. that the regulation for
bidding policemen 10 collect evidence against
saoon-kecperS except In uniform * Invaluable 10
lawbreakcrs and that :hc courts practically pro-
tect their Illicit business. But that which he
does not say. and under the circumstances could
not be expected to say is equally true. namely
that Tammany Hall for its own purposes guar
antceS immunity 10 viOaors of the Excise law
in consideration of the cash and votes which me
saloon interest is able and willing 10 furnish.
That is the gist Of the whole matter Tie
Saoon-kecpers are too powerful ana too valuable
To be affrontcd. and therefore Tammauy care
fully arrangcs. through police regulations. court
customs and other convenient agencies. for their
protection. The Excise law is not enforced be
cause Tammany does not wish 10 have II en-
forced and adopts efficient means 10 prevent
its enforcement Between the lines Of the
Superintendent carefully guarded report. this
truth stands clearly out before The eyes Of every
intelligent citizen Of \cwIork
That part Of the report which explains ihe.
effect upon the force Of the clubs 10 which many
Of the members belong Is OF the highest impor-
lance also The fact and tendency Of member
ship i'm these organizations. which are social In
name but political in reality. were revealed In
The examination If several witnesses before the
Senate Committee but il remained Tor th'
Super "tcndent 10 make an official exposure OF
the corrupting Influences which they exert. and
10 condemn them utterly as destructive or disci-
plipe of honest ambition and OF efficiency. They
are dear TO members Of the force 10 whom they
give illegitimate advantages but the favorlism
Of which they are prolific Is Il chief source "f
police decentralization. There Is no desire on the
part Of reasonable citizens unnecessarily 10 re-
strict the comfort and pleasure OF policemen OF
duty, but they have right to demand that The
evils which This association In clubs produces
shall be cured by prohibition Of membership
since that seems to De the only remedy.
The Superintendent makes several other spe
cifc recommendations which are essentially
sound There is no doubt that the operation OF
the inSpectOrship system has been injurious
The city has been divided into provinces for The
benefit Of the inspectors rather than Of The pub
lie and the consequences have been division
Of authority, n considerable usurpatiOn Of III
Superintendent powers and the creation 81
semndcpendent police establishments We be
leve that this system ought 10 be abolished
That discrcdlted functonGy, the ward man. ha
already been rcmand,d TO less dangerous anC
more useful status by resolution Of the Board
The regulation forbidding the collection Of cvi
dence by policemen In civilian dress should b'
rescindcd with equal promptncss. The Polic
Department cannot be what il ought 10 be 81
long as Tammany Hall Is in control Of this city
but such improvement as IA possible under pres
ent conditions would be welcome as a prelude I,
that radical reform which Is coming.