New-York tribune., 1901-02-23
THE NEW CHIEF.

Mayor Van Wyck Yesterday appointed Colonel
Michael c. Murphy to be the new single head
Of ihe Police Department. As an executive and
commander cf the uniformed force Colenel
Murphy is an absurdity. He is the person who.
as president OF the Health BOARD some time
ago made himself ridiculous by his ignorant
talk about the aroma or miasma or something
or other "ooZing through the asphalt" He was
also an instrument 81 the Tammany attempt 10
punish the Manhattan Elevated Railway Com
pany for not protecting the politicians gambling
i'm its stock. IN was I'm the district Of which he
is the Tammany leader thar the poolroom raid
was made the other day. much 10 the di>comft-
ure Of the Hon. Maurice =. Holahan. who hap
pened 20 lac i'm the place. Colonel Murphy il
generally regarded. nevertheless. rs better
sort Of man than the average Tammany leader
He is in morals and administrative spirit a
slight Improvement on Commissioner Sexton
who takes his place in the Health Board. He
is. however. something OF an invalid. has been
obliged 10 he away from his office a consider
able part Of each day. and il IS not 10 he ex-
pected that he will he physically able TO do the
hard work which the sole head Of the Police
Department should do.
lie is not wanted by Tammany 10 do any such
work. hut rather 10 let things run along. and
system, which is directed not from police bur
from political headquarters. His appointment
avoids the extreme of manifest indecency which
would have made removal by the Governor
inevitable within a short time, and also the
extreme Of efficiency which might have inter
fered with the vested rights Of vice and crime
intrenched in tho Tammany organization.
There Is no reason 10 expect from the new head
of the Police Department any real improvement
in existing conditions. The chief advantage 70
be looked for from the change is the centring
of responsibility. Nothing could be worse than
the four headed arrangement under which
bold and clever man like Sexton. with the aid
Of Hess and Abel. could demOralize the force
without having 10 bear the blame for il. Even If
Colonel Murphy allows continued police protec-
tiOn Of vice and partnership with crime under
Devery, he will at least have 10 answer for II.
Lacking the aggressyeness and ability Of Sex
ton, he is more likely 10 bunder and disturb
the plans Of those Tho are expected 10 carry on
the old business under his easy sway lie is a
less dangerous man 20 the community than
Mayor Van Wyek might have been expected 10
appoint, in view Of his newly reiterated friend
ship for Sexton and Devery and the defiantly
corrupt elements Of Tammany
Devery as Deputy Commissioner will Of
course. dominate the situation BY retaining
him Tammany declares its complete devotion
10 the policy hitherto followed in spite of its
reform pretences. II Acknowledges that the old
Commission faithfully represented its views
and that IL has no intention 10 better conditions
under a single headed administration. hut means
IL possible. 10 perpetuate the old evils. Such an
arowal will go far 10 reconcile mprejudiced
men 10 the violation OF theoretical home rule
principles in giving the Governor power OF re-
movaE