New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-19
THE LEYOV REPORT

Tho Ievov Committee has given q clear ac-
count Of It's laborS LIS statement Of facts as''r-
talned through the investigation i thorough ana
we'll expressed. and it's identification ~ The ram
many system Of government with me De-
moralzation of the Police Department IS com
pletc In these respects the committees report
Is entirely satisfactory. Bui when We turn from
It's diagnosis Of the disease Ia HE ToInrdl's
which II prcscribcs We find 10 orr regret That
we cannot altogether approve ih" treatment.
Part of It i good. The recommend ''"n that a
member Of the police force shall NOT br entitled
to retire on II pension until he shall have served
thirty wears but may be- 80 retired earlier for
good cause. i sensible ana likely 70 correct a
serious and growing abuse The proposed en-
largcmeni Of he powers Of the executive head
Of the force is commcndablc, far rs It goes,
but does not go far enough. and Chief ~ Polio"
is a better name than superintendent for that
official. though ha, is not 4 matter of much I'M
poriancc.
There remain TWO propositions which ID" com
m!ttce also cmbodir- IN The bill, prepared los
Mr. Platt's direction for submission 10 The
Legislature and which constitute the main re-
suit Of the committees rcformatory ~ disiin-
gushed from lis inquisitorial labors. There i
ma tural disposition felt. We believe, by great
majority Of the reputable people Of this city AMI
State-to regard Mr.. Platt's approval of any po-
litical policy or legislative measure a. slili-
cicnt reason for rejecting it on the spot But
this seems 10 us illogical and unworthy 81 saga
clous and philosophical citizens. who ought 10
be able 10 recognize good government when they
see II. whether or not II has Mr.. Platts indorsc-
meut Let Us therefore try 10 consider these
TWO expedicnts on their merits. one OF them
proyldcs that the Police Board Of this city shall
be a bipartisan body. composed Of two Repub-
licans and two Democrats. We are aware HAT
MANY OF those who have devoted much unscliiSh
labor 10 the redemption Of New York. and with
whom We have rciolccd 10 cooperate have no
doubt Whatsoever that this is a device precisely
adapted 10 the perpciuaton of the very evils
which were overwhelmingly condemned M the
polls last November. But with entire respect for
their sincerity we cannot accept their view If
the matter unhesitatingly. There is Il great deal
10 be said on both sides Of this question. Some
of those who are now advocating with least re-
serve a single headed Police Department We're
quite sure only n few years ago that blpar-
tisan then called non-partsan. commission
was the strongest possible guarantee Of honest
elections and altogether Indispensable for In
stance to the election Of President Cleveland
What they are doubtless anxious. like all good
citizens, 10 establish Is The largest attainablc
factor Of protection and purity in the whole po
lice administration, whatever II may include
They think that Onclnan power would in the
long run. be less susceptible 81 manipulation.
and generally more trustworthy than a power
shared by four men Of whom each pair would
ut least nomlnally represent one of the two
great parties But on the other hand, the rcaliZa
ton OF what orr present situation might have
been If one Tammany magnate had welded
the whole power OF the Police Department AT
the last election is rather dsqulcling. II would
not have been better and it might have been
intellectually worse. And so We are not prepared
Just yet 10 agree with our positive friends as
to 'ihe long run part Of their contention But
yet We are entirely willing. and on the whole
would prefer 10 have the experiment tried now
for various reasons. one Of which Is our belief
that such is the desire Of n ajority OF those
who have fought AMI won the great fight and
desire to the victory utilized 10 the utter
most
The committees plan for reorganizing the
Police Department remains 10 be- considered
The committee declares that the reorganizat ton
must be radical. but reports scheme which Is
nothing II not conservative-co that
Is. as we are compelled 10 believe 1t would be
In operation. Of the policies and above all Of the
personal elements which need 10 be rooted ont
We have no objection to the theory Of COM
mission OF reorganization. but II that is to be