New-York tribune., 1899-02-09
THE POLICE BILLS.

No logical defence has ever been made Of the
present constitution of the Police Board. The
Commissioners who drew the charter announced
that their principle was TO intrust executive
functions to single-headed departments. Then
they violated their own principle by establish
ing a four-headed Police Department. One Of
the main reasons given for this was the neces-
sity of keeping the elections machinery free
from partisanship. This might have been ef-
fected by adopting the Brooklyn system of a
separate Bureau of Elections. which was be
fore the eyes Of the Commissioners The al
tentative settled upon has given the people
neither the advantage of single responsibility
in police administration nor impartial conduct
Of elections The bipartisan scheme has been
failure and a farce, for the Mayor has been
able to select members of the opposite party
completely subservient TO his WILL and really
make the department a more effective and op-
presslve partisan instrument than If the oppo-
sition had no nominal share in its manage
mCnt. At last even the Republican politicians
who fastened this system upon the city admit
its weakness. and. being no longer able to profit
by 1t. have apparently consented to its aboli-
ton.
The bills introduced in both houses Of the
Legislature yesterday do not 90 so far as these
politicians wish, but they seem to be all that
Governor Roosevelt will concede. He has no
desire to provide patronage for them, and he
is entirely free from the rural tendency to
regulate the domestic affairs Of this city more
than the general welfare makes absolutely
necessary. A perusal of the bills will show that
the object aimed at is not general purIica-
tion Of the police force, however much that
may be needed, but the safeguarding Of tho
franchise Of the citizens of NewYork City, in
which the people Of the State and even of the
Nation have lcgitmatey quite as much in
terest as the local voters. Election frauds and
intimidation here may control a Presidential
election. and are n proper subject of State
oversight. Police blackmaling is an evil which
the city itself must cure or endure until ii be
comes so scandalous as to require the State for
the sake Of public decency. practically TO take
back the municipal privileges which It be-
slowed. The law cannot attempt TO save the
people from the merely local consequences Of
their own folly. II they choose bad rulers they
must expect bad rule.
This theory is distinctly embodied in the
bills IT will be noted that the provision for
the removal by the Governor of a Police Com
missioner does not authorize the exercise Of
executive power for general maIfeasance or un-
fitness, but only when a more faithful obcdi-
ence is required of the law against police in
reference IN politics. The Governor NAV re-
move II he thinks necessary TO stop political
contributions, transfers intimidations and the
like. but the most outrageous system of black
mail and protection Is no affair of his. Tie
city authorities cannot say that the home-rule
ic oil al
matter removed from their control. The Mayor
and his Commissioner are still masters of gen
eral police administration. Even if the Gov
ernor removes the latter the municipal author
ity is not invaded since the Mayor fills the
vacancy. On the whole the bills are exceed
ingly conservative in character. The threat
ened extension of the Governors power to re-
move the Mayor does not materiallze. The
present charter provision for removal under
charges remains undsturbed and that power
will hardly be exercised without absolute JUS
tiAcation by any Governor. Nor is the Gov
ernor permitted 20 go over the head OF the PO-
lice Commissioner and interfere in his depart
ment. The Chief is, as he should be, removable
only by the local authorities.
IN establishing a Bureau Of Elections n mod
crate course is likewise followed. The party
machines have wanted more ana more 10 make
their organizations States within the State.
They have demanded governmental powers,
and under the ballot and primary laws have
obtained some. 1t has been proposed 10 make
them the nomnators of the Election Commis-
GiOners Such Il plan would make appointing n
mere form. not an exercise of discretion. The
bills rs introduced however leave the appoint
ments absolutely in the hands Of the Mayor,
subject only to the requirement that no more