The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-15

other costly changes in his hotel An East
side tradesman has said that he could not
to the political clubs of his neighborhood-
clubs in whose principles and purposes not
only has he no interest but TO which he -
utterly opposed.
CHARGES IGNORED.
The charge is made that the high officials
of the police force, including some OF the
police commissioners, know Of the existence
of disreputable places which are not broken
up by the police; that lists have been fur
nished them, and that complaints made at
headquarters against those who violate the
law, and the police inspectors and captains
who neglect their duty, are pigeon-holed and
absolutely ignored Indeed, it is charged
that a citizen who would make complaint
against one who had purchased protection
is fortunate if he escapes persecution. 1t is
further charged that the district attorneys
office and the police justices are part OF
vice and crime and against the decent ele-
ments of the community, and that IL has
been heretofore impossible TO secure an en-
forcement OF the laws against those who
are in authority over US.
Not only is the police force used by Tam
many To levy funds for the purposes of that
organization, and for the enrichment of its
leaders. but il is an active aid In politics.
The immediate control of the force, IL is
Assembly district captain. He sees that his
contributors are protected and that his
men for the polling places, and If he has
corrupt work In hand he sees TO IL that the
whom good citizens pay for the enforce
ment of the law are not oVerScrupulOus.
IL necessary he sends policemen through
the districts before election to intimidate
Opposition candidates and their friends IL
a policeman will not lend himself TO his cor
ruption. he complains of him either to a
SubServ1ent captain or inspector, or, In case
that fails, he goes to a police commissioner
and the unruly patrolman or sergeant Is
transferred to another precinct where his
scruples will not cause trouble. 1t Ia also
charged that policemen are used as agents
to collect money from tradesmen and others
for the support of the political and personal
clubs OF which the Tammany politicians are
cursions, by means of which the neighbour
hood bosses retain their hold on the affec.
tons of their constituents
1t is said and DR.. Parkhurst believes,
that a ma jority of the rank and file of the
force are weary of the degrading services
that are eXacted from them by the poll
ticians who rule them. If half is true that
is believed, the end of this system and OF
Tammany Hall is near. for all that is
needed to convince the doubling is the tale
of evil that can be told by the men and
sergeants of the force. But in the mean
time the force itself is being debauched.
and unless reform comes very soon the
city will a very Saturnalia OF crime
and vice. i'm which the police themselves
will be prominent actors Already We see
the signs of what is possible under the
existing rule Of Cookers hall. Almost every
citizen is familiar with the various ways
in which patrolmen violate the law, and
following the example of their superiors In
office, levy petty tribute. Thousands OF citi-
zens have seen policemen drinking at the
side door sending in the bootback whose
stand is outside the saloon, and who Is
usually a runner for the establishment
To collect the patrolman's tax in whisky.
On some beats the copartnership between
the saloon keeper, the boOtblack and the
policeman Is very close. The character Of
the men who are finding places on the
force by reason of the criminal rule estab-
lished under Cookers autocracy received an
illustration the other day. A bully nearly
killed a PROSTATE man by kicking him IN
the head. Then going home. he beat his
wife until she fed from the house. And
even while he was perpetrating these out
RACES this cowardly brute bOasted that he
was about to be appointed a policeman. He
may not have told the truth, but so pow
erful was his pull known TO be that
the bystanders and the reporters OF the
daily press were not surprised by his as
sertion. The incident certainly indicates the
complexion to which the rule of Tammany
is bringing the police force OF New York
city.