New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-05
HAS HE PERPETC4TED HIMSELFI


Has HE PERPETUATED HIMSELFf
We quite agree with our esteemed contempt
rary THE New-York Times y that the poiice
force Of this city should not be absolutely aus
credited without exception because OF the TOT
tcnness of some parts Of II. And we 90 HOT ny
any means withhold credit from superintendent
Byrncs for having made the detective service
particularly useful and effective in certain dir'c-
lions lie has undoubtedly done excellent WORK
in the repression Of the class Of crimes pursued
by professional thieves and outlaws. ibis WIS
his sworn duty, 10 be sure, and what he was
paid for doing, but In the condition oi 'hihSS
which has been shown to exist IN the department
the community Is only too ready 10 give creuit
10 any official who has in the smallest degree
exhibited n disposition TO discharge any portion
of the functions imposed upon him by Inc law
The public mind Is In such a state. In TACT, that
thc discovery OF a member of~thc force who has
done so much in the line Of duty as 10 refrain
from the commission himself of the crimes he Is
employed TO suppress excltcs an emotion "i
gratitude Superintendent Byrncs enjoys the
advantage OF his background. lie shines by
contrast. lie cannot complain that he has been
unfairly criticised or harShly judged.
In illustration OF The effectiveness of Supcrn
tendcnt Byrncs's administration of the depart
ment. our contemporary relates story OF
tradesman who appeared nj q bank counter in
u somewhat daZed condition with check Ia be
cashcd The bank detective observed that he
was accompanied by Il known crook. while
"tbrec more of the same kind awaited him on
"the sidewalk" II soon appeared that these
crooks" had designs upon the tra1csman, ana
that he was seeking 10 cash the check FOR The
purpose Of paying them money they pretended
10 have won from him. Fortunately. he was
rescued by the Interference OF the detective
from the clutches OF his dishonest companions.
"Now, six months ago" continues our contempo-
rary pursuing IFS argument I'm behalf Of III"
effectiveness Of Superintendent Byrncs's service,
,hs sort Of an incident could not have occurred
"in the district where It actually took place.
These professional thieves would not have
dared 10 show their faces there. They would
mot dare 10 do so now II they did not think
that there was some chance that Mr.. Byrncs
"is 10 be turned Gown and that the slccplcs~
vigilance which oil familiar with the subject
"know he has provided in the financial centre
"of the city had been relaxed" The moral Is
that before turning down the Superintendent
his great service in warding off THE Sharpers
|
taken into consideration.
II is trrie that IN considering the question
OF supcrse,ng Mr. Byrncs any service he may
have rendered should be taken into account
But other things are TO be considered a. well
One thing for instance, Is that for The special
protection he has provided for "moncycd in~ti-
tutions" and the financial centre h" has upon
his own admission been specially rewarded in
4. Ia. Ill tftttlf
no; impossible for him 10 administer his office
with absolute impariaiy. Another thing Nug
gested by the story Is that the Superintendent
has set up a system of which he i 50 essential
a part that with his retirement thu machinery
| breaks down, the system goes to pieces. ana the
"moneyed institutions are left 10 The mercy II
sharpcrs and thieves whom nothing but The
terror Of his name has kept In allegiance. l.
that. on the whole wise or prudent: Shall We
make confession that our sole defence against
sharpcrs and thieves In the "hnancial centre
Of the city reposcs In the continuance In office
the fidelity or the life ~ one man; And is II
SO that the official whom have employed and
! paid TO complete and perfect system under
which we can safely count on the protection ~
! life and property has completed and perfected
It that it will not work withou, him al the head
| III
munity is at his mercy. and that when he ceases
10 interpose the city will be- flooded with sharp
ers and thieves whom he alone can restrain:
Let these considerations be added 10 our con
temporary's story Of the rescued tradcsman. and
the moral 1t attaches thereto. Giving Mr..
Byrncs all the credit that can be claimed for
him in the direction indicated, We do not by
any means believe that his continuance in office
IL essential TO the protection Of this community
from the inroads Of sharpcrs and thieves. And
even II 1t We're the very fact that he had brought
about such n condition Of affairs by his admin
istraion OF the department would he n monrI-
mental demonstration Of his unfncSs. 1t should
be understood that this great city is not entirely
dependent upon Mr.. Byrncs or any other single
individual for the protection Of property ami the
punishment Of crime.