Evening journal., 1895-01-01

cases were discussed which wearied tho
public, which made no substantial addi-
ton to knowledge already gained and
which were frittoring away the time that
we know ought TO be expended upon the
inspectors and superintendent.
"We knew that the character of the po-
lice force was reflection from the char
aoter OF its chief executive and his inn
mediate subordinates, and that, however
many captains might be besmirched and
however many sergeants might be cash
iored the genius of the matter would not
be reached till we had arrived at the quail
ity Of the five mon who together consti
tute It's executive headship.
I'm view Of all this, we ore justified in
saying that while the committee stood up
to the rack magnifcently through all the
earlier portions Of the Investigation, they
ilinohed at the crisis. As long ago as
when Mr Moss undertook to adduce evil
denoe against Mr.. Byrnes in direct man
ner the investigating committee sprang
TO Byrnes defense Now that Is not a
thing TO be debated. Their attitude was
instantly recognized by those In attend
ance and distinctly stated in the journals
OF the next morning The pursuit of lines
that might possibly have been conducted
TO the real inwardness of Byrnes' conduct
and character was couraged-discour-
aged as IL has been discouraged in the case
OF no other man.
Now, there was reason for that We
are not saying just yet that there was
anything that could be proved against
| Mr. Byrnes. Wearo saying that the COM
mittco withheld their support from efforts
made to show that there was something
that could be proved against Mr.. Byrnes.
We are not saying that there was any.
thing in the Marott case that was discred.
table to the superintendent, but we are
saying that the committee was indisposed
to have the matter thoroughly ventilated
in order TO discover whether there wa,
anything in it discreditable to the super
intcndent Their thoroughness brok,
down at that point. They stumbled just
at the completion Of their work.
The Committee Numbered.
1--WE are not charging the committee ol
its counsel with a dishonest intent, bu
they blundered, aud they blundered badly
Mr.. Byrnes, as "A competent element
nf the department, was to that degree de
fendant BY being taken into the conf
denoe OF the prosecution he wound him
self out Of the box and onto the bench
whore he could kick out against the yer.
men who were no more the subject Of in
dictnent than he was.
I'VE are not saying that there was an.
understanding or at least any writtei
! stipulation. that If he would tell what b
! knew about other men in the department
Q that were criminals he should not be calle
to the witness stand, or If called, shoul
= be allowed to use the stand as a histri
onic opportunity for discriminating hi
official associates and celebrating his ow
personal and official innocence But
whether there was any such stipulation c
not, the Acceptance of his assistance pra,
tically Involved the deal. and a commits
that came down from Albany with the e.
press purpose Of Investigating deals ougl
TO have been punctiliously careful 70 avoi
even the appearance Of having a suscept
bic side for she very sort Of offense thl
they were designated TO detect and al
judge.
1t has seemed to our commits
strange that the senators, knowing q
earnestness and the sincere character
our work. and knowing TO what extel
we regard Mr.. ByrRcs as that element
the force that WAS the hardest TO reac