The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-17
so Far 1t Has
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Copyright; all rights reservoir
NEW YORK, Feb. 16.-The reform wave.
that swept the city six or eight weeks ago,
as a result of the vice exposures, .ras dp-
parently spent its force. Ii the NsbrlouSs
ORGANIZATIONS with imposing amefnoet-
ship that were appointed to eltect oee'e'
conditions are doing anything, 1he i:ct
rs not >1parent Iammanys puiuiieaeiotA
committee processes to nave iooiio o 500
evidence that may send a fe" ooscuie . .iita
uninfluential lawbreai1ers to state p ii'oi'
and have handed it over 70 the ire" ie
form District Attorney, but ne mas NO.
deemed it of sufficient importance ~
Law it before the grand jury
I'm to Albany there is ostensipiy an
effort being made to secure the retoI1ha-
ton of the police department, which -
really the headquarters o. all me coi-
rfption that exists, but no one expects
that much good will follow from any
measure that may be devised or any
change that may be made The eXplana-
ton of it all is that the organized army
of crime has a "biggar pull IN ,bouh par
ties than the llrorganized multitude OF
respectable citizens opposed to the law
less classes. On electiOn-da:y, the FORMER
are the most efficient workers IN ninety
out of every one hundred elecuon aAs
tricts, and. practically, they nod the pal
ance of power The truth is that many OF
the politicians On both sldes lear G'ess
criminal vagabonds, and hesitate to press
vigorous, radical action against them.
ONLY A FARCE
When the Crusade as it was called,
against vice began last OCTOBER, the
Chamber of Conmercs, under the hEpho-
tic influence of some one that wanted 70
pos before the metropolitan community
II; fall fO
front. That is the usual style OF the
Chamber" There is no subject in the
heavens above, or on the earth beneath,
which ..the Chamber does not deem It
self wise enough to settle. 1t lnstructs
Congress whenever the opportunity pre-
sents itself, and, in the plent1tude or It's
wisdom, it spins out yards OF ADVICE IN
the shape of resolutions to the President
and his Cabinet. In his own opinion, The
Chamber is invested with the author
itative regulation of the republic. and
when it passes a set OF resolutions and
names a committee, it complacently
plumes itself that the thing, whatever 1t
may be, is settled. and wraps itself up
in the mantle of its imaginary dignity
This is what has taken place in the
case of the regeneration of the metrop-
oils In the closing days OF last Novem-
Der the regulation Chamber Of Commerce
committee to purify New York and put
an end to the rule of the criminal classes
was appointed. All the great dailies'
hailed the event with delight. Whatever
.he Chamber does is always acclaimed by
them One of these newspaper worship
pers, in commenting on the personnel of
the committee, said at the time: This
is a very strong committee. Every mem
Der of it has won the cordial respect and
confidence of the community 1t includes
representatives of a number of classes,
each one capable of supplying under the
lead of its representative, energy and
resources of it's own for the prosecution
of the work. We think that it would be
very difficult to select an equal number
of men of greater influence, of more va
RED and recognized ability, or of higher
character
HAVEN'T DONE A THING.
That Mds the gloHns; premise of the
proclaEat ton. What has been done the
performance? Absolutely nothing, so far
as the public has been able to learn.
Two and one-half months have slipped