New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-15
rur sr,rr CoysTABULARY SCHEME.

Tho ronorts current since the election thar the
ponu,Iicon organization controlling the Legs
| ,otrre had determined and was already prephr-
inc N mt through State Constabulary pIIi
similar IN the one which was defeated near the
close Of the last session have probably been ac-
conted ms authentic by many persons III Is
cuita natural that they should have been pe
,io,od for thc measure is known TO be essen
TALLY satisfactory to the Republican machine
and the tanning through process is one in
which the machine takes particular pleasure.
Nevertheless II is now announced by MI. Platt
himself that these reports are premature ana III
correct: that if the constabulary scheme which
ho forored before and favOrs now. * introduced
and advocated as a party measure IT VIII DC
done deliberately and. above all not lor re-
vcnco but in the interest of good government.
Governor Roosevelt also. who was stanch sup
porter of the bill in its most general form last
,,,+or is ouoted as saving that 1t is TOO early to
predict what action will be urged at the next
session. and that present reports are guesswork.
Intelligent citizens will not have to PUT an uh-
due strain upon their creduty in order 10 accept
the view that there is considerable measure OF
sincerity in Mr.. Platts remarks on this SupJec'
Largely through the insrumentality OF seVerai
influential upstate politicians who had oIoNen
faith" with Mr.. Plat the consiaDuiary Schenne
was beaten last winter. But there mas Deen
mutual forgvng and forgetting since 'heh' anu
the present era of reconciliation IS presumed ~
be favorable TO the jamming through OF parry
bills. But ii needs TO be remembered OH ''le
other hand that the political SITUATION mas
changed in several cities of the second class' anu
that the Republican Mayors of Albany Ito!
and Rochester are not likely TO advocate WIN
enthusiasm the passage OF measure WITCH
would have at least the superficial aspect OF III
af1ront to their administrations, ana "hch
would actually deprive them OF one OF thelI
chief sources of power. 1t is 10 De cohslueie"
also that even if ii were deemed safe ana agree
able TO make Tammany miserable, large hepuo
Ican constituencies in the interior might reseht
IN n costly manner so serious curtaiment OF
home rule. The party majority in the Assembly
i. 1oroar than il was last year. but how conn
dcntlv II can be depended upon TO obey per
-.onaI orders in case they should run counter 10
,ocoI oninion remains TO be seen. The majority
in the Senate is numerically unchanged ana
,bouqb for reasons already suggested some
,oon,hors are expected to be more docile than
tbov were last winter all possibility OF reDellOh
hos NOT been removed On the whole 1t appears
to be a wise policy to refrain from eXplicIt ueo-
Iarations that any such scheme as that ior
State constabu has been adopted ana VIII he
nut through at all hazards
As for the intrinsic merits of the proposition
there is good deal to be said on both sizes
Historically it is defensbe, and the practice oil
other countries can be cited in it's support But
NJ course such considerations are not conclusive
hero If is orr own conditions and prospects
with which we are concerned. State police CON
troll might prove convenient and bencllclal III
come respects but il is extremely rasn 10 assert
nc q chief reason for putting the principle INTO
| ororotion In Nev-York that it would take the
| nolice ont of politics There is AT least as much
| warrant for the conjecture that II would create
n great political machine which the two paIlleS
,could alternately use 10 the limit of its capacity
| for mischief One thing Is absolutely certain
namely. that such radical and far reaching
| change in our system of police administration
| should be brought about only with the u'ihos'
| elaboration after full free and partisan
| debate and solely in the interest of good govern
| ment as Mr.. Plat. with all the emphasis "e
rived from his record and character. so impress
sively remarks The reputable people oil thiS
| CITY and State are bearing and will long continue
! n hear heavy burdens contemptuousy imposed
unon them by brutal processes OF legislation III
snhservience to selfish ambitions. they are not
! inclined 10 carry bigger load or 10 make any
doroerous oxperimonts Least Of all do they de-
/ sire 70 become tho agents ana NlcllmS OF per-
sonal or fractional reprsals