The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1895-02-26
NEW YORK POLICE.
Exposure OF Utter Rottenness by the
Senate Committee.

The report OF the Lexow commit
tee, which has been investigating
the Police Department of New York
City, has been laid before the State
Senate at Albany. II is in part as
follows:
In presenting this report, it is not
the intention of your committee to
submit comprehensive analysis of
the work performed and the results
att ained, but rather to accentuate
the salient features of a record
which when closely scrutinized
will disclose conditions in a depart
ment Of municipal government I'M
dreamed Of at the time of the incep-
tion OF the enquiry and justly chal-
longing the most serious attention
OF the Legislature.
The true volume OF labor accom-
pIished cannot be measured by the
testimony adduced, aud yet that
which is presented with this report
will indicate the magnitude and
gravity OF the undertaking. The
record shows a total Of 1856 pages
OF proceedings. This does not in
clude mass OF documentary exhi-
bits which we're read and considered
in the evidence for the purpose OF
information. OF this testimony,
1877 pages embrace the subject mat
ter OF police interference at the
polls, and the balance, or almost
$500 pages, refer to the subject mat
ter of blackmail, extortion and cor
ruption. In all 67S witnesses we're
examined, Of which some 81 were
examined on the first aid 597 on the
second branch OF the enquiry. In
all about 5000 subpnnas were serv-
ed, OF which upward of 1850 were
with reference to the second
branch Of the enquiry.
Regarding the first branch Of the
investigation, that relating to police
interference at the polls and other
unlawful acts in connection with
elections, the committee says: 1t
is not intended in this report to EN-
ter upon any extended analysis of
the testimony taken. The results
Of the investigation may, however,
be properly summarized in the gen.
eral statement that it has been con-
clu.iyely shown that 10 q very large
number OF the election districts Of
the City Of New York almost every
conceivable crime against the cleo
tive franchise was either committed
or permitted by the police, invari-
ably in the interests OF the domi-
nant Democratic organization OF the
City Of New York, commonly called
Tammany Hall. The crimes thus
committed or permitted by the po-
lice may be classified as follows:
Arrest and brutal treatment OF the
Republican voters, watchers and
workers, open violations of the cleo
ton laws, canvassing for Tammany
Hall candidates, invasion OF election
booths, general intimidation of the
voters by the police directly and by
Tammany Hall election district cap
tains in the presence and with the
concurrence Of the police; COLOMBIA
ton Of voters, illegal registration
and repeating, aided and knowingly
permitted by the police, denial to
Republican voters and election dis
trict officers of their legal rights and
privileges, cooperation with and &C.
Suiescence in the usurpation by
Tammany Hall election district cap
tains and watchers OF alleged rights
and privileges, in violation OF law.
In fact, it may be stated as charac-
teristic OF the conditions shown to
exist by a cloud of witnesses, that
the police conducted themselves at
the several polling places upon the
principles that they were there, not
as guardians Of the public peace to
enforce law and order, but for the
purpose Of acting as agents OF Tam
many Hall, in securing to the candi-
dates OF that organization, by means
fair or foul, the largest possible
majorities.
1t is a significant fact that the po-
lice captains, whose principles were
specially considered in this connec-
ton, were appointed by the Presi-
dent OF the Board OF Police, and one
OF the most conspicuous leaders at
Tammany Hall, at the instance of
that organization, as an organiza-
ton. And one OF these captains,
when informed that watchers had
been sent to the polls at the instance
OF local reform associations, to aid in
securing an honest vote and count,
called the officers OF his command
together, and instructed them that
il those silk stockings" interlered,
they should stand them on their