The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-18
LEXOW FINDINGS.
Presented to Legislature for
Consideration.
TO TammanY the Greater Part OF Co.
tham's Corruption Is Attributed.


Loxow committee was presented TO the
state legislature today. IL Is expected that
sction will be taken upon the report at
pnce Senator Lexow has already pre-
red bills 20 cover the reforms proposed
by the committee. There Is an evident
disposition on the part of the members OF
bhc committee who signed the minority
report To secure hearing before the lcgis-
tnre on these bills, In order that no time
may be lost in carrying into execution the
proposed changes In the metropolis. Fol-
sowing are the salient features OF the re-
port;
1T has been concusiyely shown that In
avery large number Of the election dis
trlcts 81 the city of New York almost
svery conceivable crime against the cleo
tive franchise was either committed or
permitted by the police, invariably In the
interests of Tainmany Hall. The crimes
thus committed or permitted by the police
may be classified as follows:
Arrest and brutal treatment of Repub-
ilcan voters. watchers and workers, open
violations OF the election laws canvasslng
Tor Tammany Hall candidates. Invasion OF
election booths, forcing OF Tainmany Hall
pastors upon Republican voters. general
intimidation of the voters by the police
directly and by Tammany Hall elec-
ton district captains In the presence
and with the concurrence OF The
police; colonization of voters, illegal regis
tration and repeating aided and know
ngly permitted by the polce; denial TO
Republican voters and election dis rict
oiiicers Of their legal rights and privileges;
corporation with and acquicsonce In the
usurpation by Tammany Hall election
district captains and watchers of alleged
rights and privileges, in violation OF law.
Corrupt Police.
fThe evidence indicates that the police
department. was permeatcd by the inilu-
encc of Tammany Hall; that district lead
ers influenced not only the appointment.
but the assignment OF officers; that forced
contributions were levied upon the MEM
bers for the benefit Of district organiza-
lions. and that "a situation has been
rcuched under four years Of partisan
police board where the officer has been
brought 10 understand that the only hope
Tor promption was In Joining npd contrib
uting CO Tammany Hall associations.
"'fhe conclusion seems irresistible that
Il becomes the paramount duty OF the
legislature to remove as far as practi-
able the possibility Of political influences
securing controlling power over the
police force"
rhe report then deals with the second
branch Of the committee's. work 1.-The In
vestigation into the general subject OF
police corruption and exuortion.
Afraid TO Testify.
The report acknowledges the value OF
the work done and the evidence secured
by the City Vigilance league and DIR.
A. ~ al. ~
attending the collection OF evidence on
this line of inquiry. saying that men Of
social rank and position would willingly
assist the committee, always, however, on
condition that their names should not be
disclosed, for fear OF the effect OF such
disclosure upon their material conditions.
while the committee has not had the
necessary time to examine into the excise
department., the department OF charities
and corrections and the police courts, 1t
Is satisfied from the evidence that grave
abuses exist in those departments
The report then specifies the abuses
which have been shown to prevail. 1t
says:
1T was proven that many members Of
the force have abused the resources of
physical power which have been provided
Tor them To crafty PERSONAL spite and
brutal instincts"
Further Abuses.
The report states that the testimony es-
tablishes conclusively the fact that disor-
herly houses were Systematically licensed
by the police IL says:
"The inmates OF the several houses were
numbered and classified and q rateable
charge placed upon each proprietor In pro-
portion TO the number of inmates, or in
eases of houses OF assignation the number
Of rooms occupied and the prices Charged,
reduced TO monthly rate"
The report says that in regard to pool
rooms, policy shops and gambling the po-
lice occupied substantially the same posi-.
tion as they did with respect to the dis
prdcrly houses.
Green goods swindlers and their victims
added their story of police backmail ana
protection. 1t appears that this class Of
crime had its qualifications extending over
the whole country; that the perpetrators
called to their aid the assistance Of em-
ployes In postofllces.
The report also states that until some
time In 1899 violators of the excise laws
paid regular stpends to the police. In
lS9? change was made In the then exist.
ing conditions, and ordors were issued
putting an end to this class Of blackmail
through the instrumentality OF the Liquor
lcalers' ass ,clation, who entered into an
alliance with the dominant faction Mem.
bers OF the association, thereafter, violated
and are now violating the law, practically
without Interference.
Recommendations.
The committee recommends n continu-
nncc of its powors. with an increase OF
scope TO include every branch of the
municipal government. The final recon-
mendations of the committed, sum-
married., are:
Concentration Of all executive powers
In the hands Of che superintendent OF po-
lice; making the board Of police by law
bipartisan board; placing the mandatory
limit for retirement at 80 years service
md allowing discretionary retirement af-
20 years; system OF auditing the ac-
counts; a radical reorganization of the
department 10y special commissioners ap-
pointed FOR the purpose, upon whom shall
| he conferred subject In the apnroval nv