New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-28
THE RETIREMENT or BYRNES.

! THE RETIKEMENJ Or BlRNEN
Superintendent Byrnes follows Inspector Will
Jams into retirement: voluntarily in technical
sense. really under pressure which ii was both
nrlllent and creditable not To resist. His course
has refucd numerous predictions and proved
that those who made them 50 confidently had
little real knowledge Of his character. II has
been commonly said that he would make a stub
born contest and go down dcfiantly or achieve
great personal victory. The truth Is that he IS
not of the bulldog type lie has never been IN
clined 10 force a controversy To the fighting point.
Nor is he by nature or development slOlid and
Indifferent to hostility. The incessant friction
and the sharp cnnsure To which he has been sub
icctcd since he became Superintendent. ana sur
more perhaps the partial forfeiture OF pubic con
fCence which the revelations Of the I"XOw Com
mittec and his own testimony involved. have be-
vond doubt oppressed him greatly. lie had no
taste or spirit for such a conflict many foolish
persons urged and expected him 10 undertake.
Presumably he foresaw what the result must he.
having tested somewhat carefully Of late the
tamner Of Mr. Roosevelt and his colleagues But
nevertheless we are not unwilling to believe that
considerations of good citizenship entered into
his decision TO retire from post OF lnlnens"
importance which, owing to circumstances not
entirely under his control at any time, he is no
longer thoroughly competent TO fill.
It would be grossly unjust TO pass judgment
of unoualitied censure upon Mr. Byrncs at the
close of his long, labOriOuS and in some respects
exceedingly useful career. II cannot be denied
that by his own frank and unregretful acknowi-
edgIuent IS voluntary witness before the l-eXow
Committee his conception Of official prOpriciy
differs from that held by high-mindcd citizens.
He is in possession Of large fortune which was
10 all intents and purposes given to him Ill re-
turn for special services TO services
which his official position alone enabled him to
render If between the acceptance OF lucrative
tins from powerful spectators for mysterious
fayors and the acceptance Of cash from trans
pressors for fav0rs which are not mysterious
there is a difference so fundamental Is the re-
tention Of Mr.. Byrnes in a place OF high honor
and authority would imply, we do not believe
tina. il Is generally comprchcndcd by the men
lately under his command. Moreover. the fact
cannot he forgotten and should not be ignored
that Mr. Byrnes was conspicuous and powerful
in the Police Department throughout the period
in which ii was becoming saturated with corrlp-
ton and at It's head when the infamy was dis
closed There would have been neither logic nor
propriety in employing as a principal agent OF
reorganization the commander under whom dis
organization and degeneration had reached such
appalling proportions. 1t is no. our business or
our desire 10 assign the limits Of Mr.. Byrncss
responsibility, but we cannot believe that the
community needs or the Police Board would have
been justified in retaining 10 promote radical
reform the services Of "A chief completely
identified with the shameful era which has ended.
BIT while this is our firm conviction, we do
not hesitate 10 say that Mr. Ryrncs Is entitled
10 gratitude and respect for the tirmncss. skill
and sagacity with which he haa rcprcssed crimes
of violence and kept the peace in this city. From
the beginning To the end OF his official career
he has been n grim and resoue foe Of the malig-
uant and turbulent element In society TO the
general recognition OF his spirit and resources
the tranquility OF the metropolis has been very
largely due But we do not feel the least sOci-
fude because Of his retirement. Neither the po-
lice Board nor anybody In whom they may con
Gde will permit the impression 10 get abroad that
this is the opportunity Of crlmlnan. Inspector
Conln now Acting Superintendent. has had long
experlcncc. understands his task thoroughly aud
we have no doubt is fully informed as 10 the
expectations and purposes Of his Supporters. His
! temporary promotion means that a great chance
! Is offered TO him II remains for him to demon
straic his possession Of all the qualities essential
! In Chief Of Police. or TO give place WITHOUT
much delay to a more competent successor.