New-York tribune., 1899-12-18
cHIEE DEVERY,S AMBITION.

Chief Devery's desire for a more palatial Police
HEADQUARTERS in q more aristocratlc neighbor-
hood than Mulberry-st awakens n sympathetic
thrill in Iammany breasts. The scheme for
new bujlding seems to be seriously In mind
sites are suggested for it, and it would not be
surprising IL the city should some day learn that
II was TO have the pleasure Of paying hand
some sum for new structure somewhere up
town. It was about time for some such propo-
sition as this to be made No Tammany admin
istration would be complete without liberal pub
lie building operations, and while Mayor Van
Wyck has done something 10 help out by rentals
the man who took superfuous real estate off the
hands of the Democratic Club he has by no
means kept up to the party record or the party
appetite
The Police Headquarters Is not the most mod
ern of office buildings Certainly one would not
be built in that fashion to-day. Yet it serves its
purpose reasonably well, and when taxes are
high and the clty's borrowing power Is needed
for much more imperative Improvements 1t
would seem as If Chief Devery might worry
along where lie Is His Department has not
made such record of efficiency under him that
the taxpayers feel like erecting monument to
its virtues. The Mulberry-st. building, If made
uuate in the matter Of office space, could be
somewhat enlarged without great expense Land
is not specially valuable there, and any addi-
tions to the present structure would not have to
be elaborate, s n great new police palace would
certainly be made Moreover, the Health De-
partment has recently moved from the adjoining
building in Mott-st and left room which ought
to meet the requirements OF police expansion for
some little time. With Its stations all about the
% o1n a, rI
telephone communication, the Police Depart
ment is not the centre OF any great congestion.
Consolidation has not brought the Brooklyn
police work here, but left the bulk Of the busi-
ness to be transacted at the old office Chief
Deyery thinks he wants a great drillroom like
Madison Square Garden and the purchase of
that building has been suggested. or course,
the idea Is utterly preposterous. 1t is In no way
fitted for Police Headquarters Nor is great
drill hall anything but vanity. The police drill
we'll enough now. They make an excellent pa
rade, but what we want Of them Is not military
evoutlOns, but plain. everyday honest enforce
ment of the law. That they do not give us, and
we do not see that a new palace will increase
their efficiency and break up the system Of
blackmail which permits poolrooms to flourish
and vice openly TO fiaunt itself.
MulDerry-St. is no longer III tne centre or the
city, but there is little more reason why the
Police Headquarters should be exactly central
than the City Hall. II Is conveniently situated
between the car lines going up on the East and
West sides, and II is doubtful II any site would
be picked out that could be reached from the up
town precincts In five minutes less time. Ger
tainly the plat in Sixty-seventh-st. east Of Third
ave- could not be. We do not mean to insinuate
that the loyal Tammany man who owns that
wants to unload on the city. We do not know
that he cares TO sell. But the mention of his
property by persons In the Police Department as
suitable site suggests that Tammany real
estate owners are not lost sight Of by the pro-
Jectors of this building scheme. We may be
sure that city money will not be wasted on out
siders. Before asking for new building Chief
Deyery ought TO show that he is giving the city
the best possible service from the old. This he
is not doing. and he knows IL. Police discipline
alertness and efficiency are potently inferior to
what they were three years ago. 1t is perfectly
plain 10 every man with his eyes open. and Chief
Devery has not taken his famous midnight
walks near his house without being aware Of
the fact and the reason for it. Mulberry-st. is
quite as good as he is faithful.