The sun., 1895-04-04


Which was read over Ia and assented to by the
Mayor and which still exists:
Police Commissioners would be retained, and
that they would not be removed except Tor
pointments the Commissioner OF Public Works
should not pursue factlonal policy; put should
n, s9aad and ohers i'm
cluding the appointment OF designated FIRE
Ana hw r WSre @ 'e nn
tho next day ratified the understanding fully.
referring especially to The paramount impor-
ers. Not one OF the suggestions mbOdied in the
memorandum has ever been performed. except
the retention up to the present time OF the
Whom this bad faith became manifest the
Mayor was again visited by eminent members
OF The party, officers OF high rank in the state.
not affected by local influences, and 10 them he
again explicitly declared his intention OF re-
tanning the Police Commissioners in office.
Viewed entirely apart from any promise the
Mayor may have made. and OF any obligation
which. under the circumstances detailed, lie
owed to these Commissioners, a review OF their
record will show that, as public servants, they
have performed their duties so loyalty and well.
have accomplished many substantial reforms.
and been 80 true to the responsibilities or their
commendation. instead OF the rebukc which the
Mayors threatened removal Intends to admin
lister.
As soon as the Republican Police Commits
sioners were appointed they zealously undertook
to secure pure ballot in the city and to reform
the Police Department.. 1t was due to Mr.. Muir
ray that, after he election OF SOB. large mum
bsr of election inspectors of the Third Assembly
district were convicted, causing tho Tainmany
rank and file to arise against their own leaders
for abandonng those inspectors. IN the spring
committee large part OF tho evidence of the
police oppression and intimidation of voters; he
iU.'tu encs 10 and tho sanction OF the super
intendent; he procured the general investigation
II hs tf tro me
embarrassing the l.exow committee by inde-
pendent Investigations which they PROPOSED to
After tho appointment of fCommssOncr kerwin
the Republican Commissioners acted in concert
in the same direction: they largely reduced ex-
tortion and corruption by abolIshing ward men
and reducing them TO the rank of patromen;
by The police resulting IN the prevention OF the
registration OF thousands of illegal voters. aud
rsristratiSn Inv in the Second and Third Assembly
districts: they caused avail luabe sanitary census
to be taken; before the election Of syt & they
trc registry list. resulting in many in
dictments with far-reaching effects; they
offered Il resolution that on election day all pO
hcemen should be assigned to districts other
than those in which tney resided, plan which
in 4 he frst fair election IN New York for many
years. The registration in the first nine Assem-
bly, districts alone was about 10 600 less than in
1893. a result secured by their course. They
have omitted no act in the direction of reform.
to concur in a resolution offered by q young and
inexperienced Democrat, nonresident. imme-
diateiy after being appointed by Mayor
posed by law upon the Commissioners be turned
over to the Superintendent. The Republican
resolution. we're Obliged to oppose it, because of
its ilep ality and also because the provisions OF
Police bills pending at Albany and about to be
passed. The commissioners would have failed
to delegate their their function. % to the .S Saperntend @
ont of Police. 1t Is for this that the Mayor now
charges them with blocking the path of reform
md IN ham n mt Ina
doubted that the Mayor appointed Mr.. Andrews
with the expectation that he would raise such
issues with the Republican Commissioners US to
furnish him with an excuse for their removal.
Tho most ordinary courtesy would have re-
that the Mayor desired them to subordinate their
conscience and their policy to The unlawful die.
would be made to hold them to account for de.
clining TO agree with suggestions admitted by
him TO be Illegal. and in resrert or subjects
a',Tn Mn., ~. fu.,or t;cl.t w,s forus1 with .;1
Democrats aud one Republican. it was not un-
naturally assumed that as the other nominees
on the ticket would. il elected. recognize their
respective party ariili ions and ignore the Re-
publican party. as they justly might. that to the
greater extent ut least that party would be fav-
orably considered in tho making Of appoint
references have al ready been had to the tact
faction in the Republican party. the former lad
been excluded from all consideration. and what
ever offices have been accorded to Republicans
have been. with perhaps single exception. al
lotted to the Brookiield faction. and this rule
has maintained not onlyin the appointment of
rank and file. This exclusion is the more CALLING
because it is unique and prevails in no other
rcsnect. Every other organization represented
In the Committee OF Seventy has had full JUS
ticc accorded it, while an application on behalf
esse laeSn or ther tooweps pe ha. co@e
| TO he looked upon rs all evidence Of undue greed
snf h. of h sf n
burger, Murray. scott. lie Grange: Wheeler.
| Godkin. IIenkcl. and the rest. all identified As
| intense partisans, because even a Mugwump is
| partisan in his Mugwu!nDery. has been the sub
iect Of commenlation. and all applications on
| behalf Of any of those actively identified with
| the leadership OF the Republican party during
the last twenty five years has been derideG and
| II seems to have been considered preferable
even 10 thrust appointments upon those who
here Hns been Of verv resent oriein' rnther han
| offer a place to good men who have earned II by
sincere devotion to their party AZ times when
sbly have induced their loyalty.
| 10 the trace Democrats was ut once accorded
| the place of Corporation Counsel. This was
| compancd by the appointment of a Police
| Commissioner. II Commissioner OF Accounts, an
| AGueduc; Commissioner. an Excise Commits
sioner, three assist ants to the Corporation Coun-
| sol. two Civil Service Commissioners. and others
an Excise Commissioner. Police Commits
| Gioner. Fire Commissioners. Street Cleaning
s s tr OF ay
/ Ors Office are notable examples. Nearly all OF
| these appOlntees. be IT remembered. are parti-
sans, intense partsans, appointed because of
their partisanship. Honest Republicanism is
the only objectionable partisanship.
The Legislature is called upon to pass what
ever measures may be presented by the Com
mtlee OF Seventy. and vet this committee can
scarcely claim such infallbility rs to have its
suggestions Immediately adopted without ordi-
| nary parliamentary onsideration. Its Power OF
| removal bill was amended at the s,IggestiOn of
the Mayor himself. after il had been submitted
and partly passed. it's school bill is repugnant in
its salieIH provisions to those who are thorough
| " familiar with the public school system. n IA
miliarty with which few. If any, of those who
assisted IN drafting the bin can boast: J, is GER
tainly doubtful and worthy at least OF deliberate
consideration, whether the power Of the school
| trustees. officers who come into direct contact
| with the pupils and their parents. should be
substantially abrogatcd, as is the purpose of the
| bill.
Grave questions as to the ,constitutionality Of
! tho Police Magistratcs. bill have bson raised.
and while they may be- and probably will be con-
sidered untcnable. yet they are entitled to re-
spectful consideration. The b- partisan features
OF the police bills have met with the approval
| of the Mayor and of many OF the Committee of
seventy. and their substituted bill, which re-
| qnred weeks of preparation since the argument
! on the IcXOw bills was made, to submit TO the