The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-11-15
PLATT AS A REF0RMER

IhoInas c. Plat and his HeutelfaIlts
have not let the grass grow beneath their
feet while contemplating the best means
to avail themselves Of all the fruits of
the remarkable political victory which
the Republican organization has lust
achieved in New York Th9re has
already been prepared by them for intro
duction in the incoming legislature a
measure known as the state constabulary
bill which will hand over completely TO
the state officials the work of policing
the principal cities of the state.
1t will be remembered that in the last
legislature Mr.. Plat had such a 1ness,
ure introduced 1t was progressing sat-
isfactorily until certain complications
arose in connection with the Mazet IN
vestigating committee concerning the
Ramapo water steal which involved Mr..
Plat himself, his son and his sons Law
firm, and which made it Desirable that
haste should he made slowly in arous>
ing political bitterness. And accordingly
Mr. Platt ordered the bill withdrawn. ar.6
1T was withdrawn.
1t is now reintroduced, and will, of
course, become q law since Democratic
folly has successfully driven the party
from anything like a substantial repre-
sentation even in the legislature. The
measure is quite as far-reaching in its
consequences as it might be expected,
considering its source and purpose. II
involves the most serious assault vet
made on the principle Of local home rule.
and it places the vast metropolis and
other of the large cities in the manage
ment Of their own concerns subject 20 The
orders and direction of a number of
bucolic statesmen who sneeze when the
great senator takes snuff and who are
little more in political life with reference
to Plat than the performing animals in a
circus are with reference to the ring
master
AS an indication Of the influence which
the spells idea has cut in the framing of
the proposed bill 1t may be polnted out
that it provides for a commissioner of
state constabulary, salary, 5000, and
$l,5C0 expenses. The commissioner will
appoint a chief deputy commissioner. sad
airy, $3.50, and 81 800 expenses. two deputy
commissioners, $1,000 salary and 81, 900 ex-
penses each; a treasurer, salary. So 500; a
deputy treasurer, salary, 1880; a secre,
tary, salary, 81 500; a stenographer, sal,
airy, $780, and four commissioners O,
division and four treasurers of division
each with a good salary and necessary
Expenses
The cities affected by the proposed Law
are arranged in four divisions; first
division, the city of New York; second
division, the cities Of Albany and Troy
third division, the cities Of Syracuse ant
Rochester; fourth division, the city OF
Buffalo. There is to be a commissioner
of division and a deputy commissioner
of division for each of the divisions Sc
created.
This beautiful scheme is put forward
IN the name Of reform. 1t is absolutel,
necessary to reform the police force. Mr.
Platts great ambition is to take tn,
police of the big cities out of politics, ant
indeed to take everybody else cut VIII,
does not think as Mr. Plat thinks, an,
do as AIR. Plat says. OF course, it cut
no figure whatever that the people VIII
immediately pay the taxes which main
tain the police force and the othel