The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-06
The Situation in New York.

We do not need to apologize for de-
voting, from time to time, some of our
space to a consideration of the meas
ures whereby it is proposed to re-
organize the municipal government of
New York city. Details of that re-
organization are of interest to Amer!-
cans everywhere; first because in the
New York struggle for better govern
men the entire fate of clean city gov
ernment throughout the Union is in
volved to noteworthy degree. inso-
much that if we cannot have successful!
government of the people in the me-
tropolis of America, where all the cur
rents of American civilization are
massed, the best as well as the worst,
we cannot reasonably expect to have 1t
elsewhere on this continent where
those forces are weaker and fewer; and
secondly, because Il clean New York
means u clean election in New York.
which in turn, in the majority of cases,
means a clean administration at Wash
ington and an end to hard times.
This will explain why we have de-
voted time and room to DR.. Parkhurst
and to Messrs. LeXow and Platt, those
three gentlemen being just now the
most conspicuous representatives of
the militant forces in that momentous
struggle. The battle at the polls hay
ing ended in the rout of the looters,
there is now in progress, nominally at
Albany, second battle by which 1t is
to be decided whether a new set of
looters shall be installed in the Gotham
offices, or whether those Offices shall be
manned. non-partisanly, in the inter-
ests of the property-holders and the
taxpayers. Senator LeXow has drawn
up series of bills which create a BIZ
partisan police board, with power over
all election arrangements, as well as
over the general conduct of the police
force, which is to be nominally under
the jurisdiction of the superintendent
of police. This plan, it will be seen, is
simply the old one with a scratch or
two.
DR.. Parkhurst, on the other hand, as
the recognized leader of the forces
which won the first victory, proposes
that the government of the police force
shall be vested in a single-headed com
mission to be appointed by the mayor
with the aid of an advisory commits
sion of three, who may recommend dis
missals from the ranks and make new
appointments. Police trials under this
plan, would be conducted by a board
consisting of three lawyers of fiveyears
standing, at salary of $1,000 per an
mum each; the police would have moth
ing whatever to do with election ar
rangements further than to keep the
peace while the polls are open. all other
details being put in the hands of a
separate commission to be composed of
two Democrats and two Republicans.
With reference to the personnel of the
discharge every policeman now above
the rank of sergeant, and thus obviate
the necessity of trying to "reorganize
rot" The new head of the police de-
partment, under the Parkhurst plan, is
to be responsible directly to the mayor.
The present position Of superintendent
is to be filed by an official known as
the chief of police who will also be
directly responsible to the mayor, who
can remove him from office for cause.
The chief, however, has the right of ap-
peal to the courts. Complaint against
officers of lower rank are to be heard
by the trial board.
The situation may be briefly ex-
planned by saying that Tammany and
Tom Platt both favor the Lexow plan.
since it opens the door to new deals
for mutual profit, just like the old ones
whereas the conscience and the charac-
ter of New York city and OF the nation
are for n different kind of thing. one
that will render 1t possible for an hon
est mayor to choose honest subordin.
ates and secure honest service unde.
penalty of instant dismissal. We have
no doubt that the latter side will
eventually win.