New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-09
THE POLICE FORCE.


of the police force. His period Of probation
has passed. He is now clothed with the full
authority which his predecessors have had.
New-York will expect great deal from the
new Chief Ia his time Of probation he
has given reason to believe that he Is in earnest
in trying 10 make the force efficient lie Is
steadfast, hard-working man. Apparently II
has not occurred to him that the Police Superin-
tendent should give his time first TO aiding the
schemes OF men who might favor him with
valuable hints on Wall Street speculation, and,
second, to forming such political relations as
might serve his personal ambitions. If Chief
Conlin will devote himself with zeal and reso-
luton TO making the force the most effective
instrument possible for protecting the lives
and the property Of peaceful citizens, and
for the repression Of the operations or the Grim
inal classes, the people will not care Jot
whether or not he enjoys the goodwill OF wall
Street SPECTATORS or political bosses.
For many years up TO a recent date the pre-
vajlpg impression at Police Headquarters APP
neared to be that the office of the Police Superin-
tendent existed for the benefit Of the fortunate
holder. and not for the advantage OF the com
munity. The disposition which was most CON
largest possible use Of opportunities for personal
enrichment on the part Of the members or the
Police Board, the Superintendent, the inspectors,
the captains, the sergeants, the roundsmen ana
patrolmen Richard Cookers intimate ana Ia
miliar friend, John G. Sheehan, Is shining ex-
ample Of the way in which INSCRIPTIONS poll
ticians perverted the authority which they Sc
cured in the Police Department by means OF the
basest political intrigues. 1t Is painfully obvious
that Mr. Sheehan and his associates In the old
Police Board were in that Board for what they
could make out Of It. While that Board was
in power the Superintendent, the inspectors, the
captains and other members OF the force, with
few exceptions, seemed to take the view that
they were chosen for the places which they held
with the expectation that they would fill their
own pockets with all possible speed and with
no conceivable scruple 1t Is certain that for
years under Tammany domination the commits
slonerShips inspectorships, captalnces and other
Offices were matters Of bargain and trade, and
were for sale TO the highest bidders provided
those bidders could win the approval OF certain
pOtical bosses No intelligent citizen Is now
at all uncertain about the condition of affairs
which existed until Mayor Strong turned the
force was rotten from top to bottom with gan
creme and cancer.
Since the date when Chief Conlln was
put at the head Of the force on probation
improvements Of value have been made But
the force is far from being in satisfactory con-
dition to-day The evil effects caused by the
state OF affairs when for many years places
were offered to buyers almost as openly as the
Peter Funk auction sales In Chatham-st were
conducted, almost as openly as Patrick Diver
and other Tammany leaders dear to the soul Of
the Tammany Boss. Richard Croker, stimulated
and encouraged the frauds practised by the
green goods" men. almost as openly Tam
many traffic with vice and crime was practised,
almost as openly as the keepers Of dives and
disordery houses bought protection at Police
Headquarters and at the various police stations
these things, Of course. produced demoraliza-
ton and a degradation among the rank and file
Of the policemen of New-York the results Of
which are still obvious and alarming. Mr.. Con
lin has a mighty task before him-a task rem
dered all the harder by the immunity which
some Of the vilest rascas who ever disgraced
the Police Department managed to secure by
political jobs and schemes. The inspectors cap
tains sergeants and other officers and the patrol
men themselves, all know that number of the
most INSCRIPTIONS bride takers and promoters
Of wickedness who ever wore the uniform in
this town are now drawing pensions from the
public funds. They know what these scoundres
were doing for years in the Police Department
They know thoroughly well that these fellows
made constant practice and habit OF taking
brides from criminals Of all classes. and from
the lowest and vllest creatures that could be
found In the slums and sewers OF the metropo-
lis Every one knows that several OF the men
who are now drawing pensions from the police
fund were guilty repeatedly of crimes so black
that they deserved TO spend many years in the
prisons Of the State, but nevertheless these law