The age-herald., 1901-03-22
SENATOR PLATT
 MAKES STATEMENT Says He Does Not Propose to
 Quarrel With 0deII.
THE GOVERNOR IS HONEST
Police Laws Enacted By the Legisla- ture are Inadequate and the Stat utes as They Stand are Not
 Enforced In New York.

New York, March 2.-Senator Thomas c. Platt tonight gave out the following statement concerning police legislation:
 'Some newspapers are trying to make a quarrel between Governor Odell dnd myself. They will not succeed. While l have decided views about police legisla- ton, the Governor Is an honest and capable man, whose only desire Is to do what he believes to be best, and no differ ence of opinion about any question Of policy can disturb the relations which have existed between us for so many years.
 'As so much has been said about police legislation, 1t seems to me proper that should state my own position. The laws against gambling, disorderly resorts, the sale of liquor under prohibited conditions and other laws for the suppression of vice in the city of New York are not en- forced by the police. The police appear to be protecting the law-breakers. Such protection can only be explained on the theory that money Is being paid there by law-breakers. The conditions have become so bad tAat citizens have been lOIC6u lO O SOiAii'AASSoS w 0S N0 work which ought to be done by the po- lice. This committee is employing it's own detectives.
 "The necessity for such a committee and the protection of vice and crime by the police have been concluslvely demon strated to my mind by the successful raids upon gambling houses and pool rooms recently made by the district at torney and the committee. It Is evident that such illegal resorts as gambling houses and poolrooms cannot exist unless their location and the facilities which they offer are generally known, and the claim made by the high police officials that they are unable to suppress illegal resorts which are known to every driver of a cab Is obviously absurd.
 Legislation Was Inadequate.
 .'The police legislation enacted at the present session of the Legislature was thought by some to be an adequate rem eedy for the evils then existing. The only effect of this legislation seems to have been to increase the malign efficien- cy of the police force as an agency Tor the encouragement of crime and the collec- ton of money from criminals l do not understand that the Governor takes issue with me upon any of the facts above stated. I understand that he does not de- sire to propose additional police legisla- tion for the city of New York during the present session of the Legislature, be- cause the promotion by him of any new legislation at this session would place him in a more or less antagonistic posi- ton to the views expressed by him in his first message to the Legislature, and because if the citizens of New York city do not like police blackmail their best remedy is to be found not by an appeal to the Legislature, but at the polls
 "The Governor considers these objec- tons to additional police legislation at this session of the Legislature sound. do not. It is the only difference between us.
 Tn the near future there will probabls , be a conference of some leaders of the Republican party. I have confidence in the wisdom of these leaders. I have no interest in this matter except to advance what seems to me for the public good am ready to accept any conclusion which may be reached at such a confer ence, and assume that the Governor will not be entirely influenced by the views of the leaders of his party"