New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-28
now HE DEALT WITH VICE
IN HIS TERM
TELLS CHAMBER MEETING OF 4 FRANK
AVOWAL FROM POLICE sUPERIN-
TENDENT RRAY-CONIMITTEE
OF FIFTEEN ORDERED

ber Of Commerce yesterday 20 discuss the prob
Lem Of restraining vice in tbs city and OF cor
recting the abuses in The administration OF the
Police Department which permi, open and
fragrant violations OF law and order
In many respects the meeting was most re-
markable one. II was composed Of men who
have served their country State and city in
high official capacities. OF men Of the greatest
prominence in finance. commerce and the pro-
fessons. and Of men whose energies are largely
devoted to missionary work in the thtckIy popu-
lated districts OF the metropolis All were i'm
bued with the same idea-the imperative need
Of bringing about a betterment OF the city's
social conditions The proceedings were calm
and temperate throughout the spirit OF the
meeting being marked Oy almost judicial
verify and seriousness Not one OF the speakers
allowed himself give way 20 denunciatory
defamation or TO attempt 70 make political
capital out Of the administrative negligence and
official conuivance which are responsible for the
cesspooIs of vice and immortality in many parts
OF the city
FORCIBLE AND POINTED ADDRESSED
But the addresses that were heard were not
the less pointed or forcibIe; they were on the
contrary. full OF expressed determination
wipe out the evils that have prevailed FOR the
last two years Perhaps the address which at
Mayor Abram s. Hewitt. Going back to the
time when he occupied the Mayors chair Mr.
Hewitt described his efforts 70 enforce the law
and spoke of the ease with which it could be
accomplished when the authorities we're so in
clined. The responsibility for the prevailing
state OF affairs he placed upon the Mayor. al
though in caustic language, which when oc-
casion warrants he so effectively uses, he sug-
gested that it needed only word from Richard
,~fr-
city. Some OF MI Hewitt's revelations as to the
experiences which ne encountered when he
tered office were peculiarly interesting.
Particularly so was his account OF an inter
view he had with Superintendent Murray. who
was then the head Of the police. Murray Mr.
Hewitt said. frankly told him that he vas a rich
man. that he possessed something like 100000.
and that there were captains on the force who
were men Of fortune In that conference. which
told Of Yesterday for the first time Superin-
tendent Murray told Mr.. Hewitt that it required
only a word to close tightly every law breaking
and vicious resort in the city, but he warned the
newly elected Mayor that b shutting down the
places referred to he would he striking at the
politicians who had worked for his success. and
that such step on his part would mean the
termination Of his political career
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The action taken by the meeting is contained
in the following resolution which was proposed
by John 5 Kennedy. seconded ny William E
Dodge and unanimously adopted:
Resolved. That a committee Of fifteen be aP-
pointed by the Chair. with power % add 70 is
number the duty OF which II shall be 70 CO.
operate with other committees or organizations.
in their discretion. having kindred objects in
view and which shall carefully watch the ac-
tions Of the constituted authorities. whether or
not they will perform % their full extent the
duty imposed upon them by law. 70 prevent and
F0-r~T E~rTr~ h1r
Pesolved. That this meeting pledges itself that
every support shall he given to the committee to
be appointed in any action 1t may deem il neces-
sary 10 take as 70 give proper effect 70 the
purposes OF this resolution
Charles Stewart Smith who presided over the
meeting will select this committee probably to-
day hut IL is understood that the appointment
IS in the nature Of preliminary step in the
movement outlined in the resolution, and that
from time time representative meetings. sirli-
lar TO the one held yesterday will Be called 20
deliberate and 10 acr further upon the situation.
ADMISSIONS LIMITED
Inasnuch as the accommodations Of the Cham
ber Of Commerce quarters are limited IN seating
capacity admission TO the meeting granted
only TO those who had been invited The I'M
preston generally prevailed that the gathering
was solely one Of members OF the Chamber OF
Commerce Morris X Jesup. president OF the
that the meeting was not one % the Chamber
Of Commerce. but of citizens generally He
added that the Chamber was heartily IN sym
pathy with the movement. as II was with all
movements which tended 70 the bertertng OF the
social and moral conditions OF the city and the
uplifting of its inhabitants. Mr.. Jesup said the
Chamber was a business organization. and he
made the explanation he did thar the body might
be placed in a proper light before the COM
munity al large
BISHOP POTTER'S POSITION
Charles Stewart Smith was elected chairman
OF the meeting. and George Foster Peabody was
CHOSEN as secretary. When ne took his seat Mr.
Smith asked permission 70 read a letter which
he had received from Bishop Potter. wherein the
head OF the Episcopal Diocese OF New-YoriS held
that, as a representative OF one religious de-
nomination. il was not advisable that he should
pose as a leader in a movement that should
include all ecclesiastical bodies. Bishop Potter
wrote:
NV Dear Sir No; I shall not be able owing
10 a trust meeting 10 attend the meeting OF
the Chamber OF Commerce today, nor. think !
ought 10 add should I do IL I were free
The aim or such meeting should be prirna-
rily 10 unity the forces on the side OF law.
decency and the protection Of the weak in this
community But IN such effort an ecClesi-
astIc is not the best instrument His particular
Affiliations make him distinctly not a persona
grata to priests and ministers tard sometimes
people) OF other CommUnions, with whom the
odium theologicum is still ? very active senti-
ment. The clergy may htly exercise the pro-
phetic office Of rousins. warning. entTeattns. but
in social and political movements their best
service will be in the ranks, where. in times
OF stress and siege. they may patrol. mount
guard. keep watch but leave 70 others the task
OF generaIship
AS TO this in the present emergency l am
quite clear New-York wants strong commit