New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
THE POLICE DEMORALIZED.
EVIDENCE TO SHOW THE FORCE HAS
BEEN CORRUPTED BY TAMMANY.

OFFICERS NEGLECT THEIR DUTY WITH IMMUNITY
CITY STREETS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF
PULL IN THE DEPARTMENT.
Since the police force Of this city passed com
p,etely under the control OF Tammany pol't'-
clans there has been steady accumulate" %
evidence to show that The force has been cor
rupted and demoraized TO an extent not eN-
ceeded in the days before the Lexow !nvestlga-
zion. All of the reforming influences which
were exerted during Mayor stronga ae'ninis'ra-
ton have been destroyed Policemen were made
TO understand IN the days Of the reform Police
BOARD that their promotion and success depend
ed entirely upon their performance of duty Now
policemen understand that political influence or
the Tammany brand is what they need to secure
favors Of any sort. including promotion.
The effect OF the change OF sentiment In the
police force may be seen almost any night IN
the neglect of duty by policemen. Patrolmen 20
to sleep on post or hide themselves away some
where leaving so many Of the city streets uii-
guarded that no officer can be found when ne j.
wanted. Fires break out and go unrepor'eu
until some citizen gives the alarm. Men rail- or
are knocked down in the streets ana lie ioF houis
insensible unless some citizen fnds pohcema"
or calls ambulance. Discipline IN the force
Is lax. because roundsman does not uare 10
make a complaint against natroman VINO mas
the backing Of some Tammany politician "a
trolmen do not dare to enforce the law against
a Tammany rumseller. fearing punishment II
they give offence 10 a political power. Many
policemen have been transferred miles away
from their homes and subjected To other annoy
ance because they have offended Tammany poll
ticians In the discharge Of duty.
II has come to be proverb that the police
force is governed more from Tammany Hall
than from Police HeadQuarters-or, as the police
say, more from Fourteenth-st than from Null
berry-st" Chief Devery and the Police Board
are supposed merely TO carry out the orders or
Mr.. Croker and the Tammany district leaders
Often when district leader wants TO have a
policeman transferred he merely calls UP an
official at Headquarters by telephone and gives
the order That is all that is necessary in most
cases II policeman with Tammany backing
wants a favor he goes 10 the district leader and
asks for it, The leader is supposed to see that
the policeman gets what he wants. 1t IS re-
corded that a policeman who asked Deputy
Chief Cortright for FIVE days leave of absence,
without proper excuse. and failed to receive ii,
recently, said with braZen assurance. WELL
you'll have 10 give II 10 me yet" The Deputy
Chief ordered the policeman out Of his office. but
within two days the leave OF absence was
granted. and the policemans pull" was recog-
nized.
Under such system Of political favoritism
about one-third Of the members of the police
force have been detailed 10 easy places, and they
are mostly young and vigorous men, while the
old veterans Of the force. who have long years
Of service 10 recommend them, but are without
political influence, are made 10 perform the
hardest patrol duty.
When policeman is asked if he thinks there
Will be legislation to reform the police force this
winter he laughs easily and says NO" Tam
many leaders have been figuring already 10 see
how much IL will cost TO stave off such legisla-
ton. and fixing the amount which each patrol
man VIII have TO pay IN order to raise the re-
qured sum-