The Minneapolis journal., 1901-03-04
PLAYING THE GAME
Shrewd Political Moves in New
York City.
JUGGLING WITH THE POLICE
An Amazing Exhibition of IndifRer-
ence to the Popular
Interests.
JUGGLING WITH THE POLICE

New York, March A most amazing
exhibition of the utter Indifference of the
Tammany organization to public senti-
ment was given in New York as the re-
suit of the signing by Governor Odell Of
the single-headed police commission bill.
No sooner had the incompetent bi-parti-
Zan board, which had become notorious
as an annex to the Croker organization,
been swept out of Office than Mayor Van
Wyck appointed as the head of the po-
lice department Colonel Michael G. Muir
ply, one of Croker's most trusted friends
and the leader in a district where vice
has been found to thrive more vigorous
ly than in any other section of the city,
and Colonel Murphy's first official act
was to continue in office, but under a
different title, the former chief Of police,
William S. Devery, under whose admin
istration New York has become more
wide open" than ever before and crime
has fourished unchecked.
The single-headed police bill was passed
to rid New York of Devery and all that
his reign meant, but unless further ac-
tion is taken Immediately the lawless
element will undoubtedly come even more
prominently to the front; for, as deputy
commissioner, Devery will certainly not
be any more anxious to enforce the law
than he was when chief This fact is all
the more evident when it is taken into
consideration that Devery has now only
one superior, and one whose past record
is assurance that a good Tammanyite
whether a criminal or law abiding, will
be allowed to do pretty much as he
pleases whereas, under the old law he
was responsible to a board which made
some pretense occasionally of trying to
curb the more brazen Of the lawless ele-
ment
The action of Mayor Van Wyck in turn
ing the police department over to the
tender mercies of through and through
Tammany leader seems like flying in the
very face of fate BY the provisions Of
the new bill the governor exercises a
supervisory power over the mayors ap-
pointment and can remove the new COM
missioner Even more, he could, if he
thought Van Wyck's act warranted it,
remove the mayor But there is a sus-
picion that Tammany is even playing the
game Of politics here, and that Colonel
Murphy's appointment and Chief Dew
ery's retention were planned solely to in
vite interference from Albany Such in
reference would be construed by Tam
many politicians as violation of the
principle Of home rule and would
probably afford good material for the
spellbinders in the coming municipal
fight
There is still one other remedy for the
existing conditions, but the decent ele-
ment has hesitated to indorse this for
the reason that it is feared it may prove
boomerang This is the passage Of
the state constabulary bill, placing the
police in all the large cities under the
control Of the state commissioner with
headquarters at Albany In effect, this
law would make the police force of New
York city state institution The passage
of such a law would result only in a.
change of masters of the police Now
Croker controls the force; then Platt
would control it The republicans are
furious at Colonel Murphy's appoint
ment, and the hotter heads advise the
immediate passage of the constabulary
BILL but hasty action is opposed by others.