New-York tribune., 1901-08-06
mURPHYS PTCKWICKTAy DENIALS.

Police Commissioner Murphy Is unfortunate
in having from time to time made rashly virtu-
ous statements which the exigencles of Tam
many politics have not permitted him 10 live up
TO- Last winter, when a bill was before the
legislature TO establish the three platoon sys-
TEN, Colonel Murphy could not he severe enough
in characterizing the iniquity of that plan.
declaring that ii would make necessary a large
increase in the force and add tremendously to
the expenses of the department The legis-
lature did not pass the bin, the corruption fund
raised 10 push il remained in the hands Of the
promoters, and II has been definitely asserted
within a few days that the policemen who did
not contribute last winter are now being sub
jected TO pressure 10 put up and swell the
fund TO the proportion required by the Tam
many powers before they viii advise Colonel
Murphy that ii is time 10 adopt the three platoon
system which he has already announced he will
do at the proper season. He now says that the
three platoons will not call for more policemen
or larger expenditure, and when confronted with
his statements of last winter denies that he
ever made them
Such denials are understood 10 be Pickwick-
ian A statesman in Colonel Murphy's position
always has the right to repudiate anything he
says if he finds it incOnyenient, but there ought
to be some statute Of limitations in such mat
ters 1t is not fair for n man TO let himself be
misquoted 50 long as those Interpretations serve
his mOmeniaFy ends. and then long after, when
his purposes Aave changed, discover that he
never said what AZ the time he was extremely
glad 10 have people believe he said That sort
of denial gets "A little bit TOO Pickwckian. even
for people who realize how things said after
dinner may read the next morning. and who
sympathize with a man who with reasonable
prOmptness seeks TO relieve himself from the
effect of his indiscretions
The reception Of Colonel Murphy's three
platoon denials ought 10 have put him on his
guard against neglect which might embarrass
him in carrying out Devery's other orders.
Whenever he says anything incapable Of two
Numerically opposite interpretations when APP
piled 10 any practical, definite matter, he
should always the next day complain at least
that he was lnaccurately quoted ana did not
mean exactly what he appeared 10 say. Then
nobody will ever be sure exactly what he com
nitted himself to. Mr. Murphy, however, I'M
fortunately failed 10 do this with regard TO de-
tective sergeants. Last March he publicly prom
sed that he would make man a detective
sergeant who had not earned the promotion by
good detective work. Early in July. however.
he had occasion TO promote three political favor
ites-one an errand runner for Devery. one from
the mechanical squad and one Il green hand in
the detective bureau. To square that with his
promise he explained that he had merely given
these men brevet rank, so 10 speak, and that
they would not draw the pay of detective ser
geants. Yesterday il appeared that they had
drawn the pay OF detective sergeants for July
OF course, Colonel Murphy filed a Pickwickian
denial That was his privilege. When however,
he found some persons OF tenacious memories
recalling circumstances which tended TO estab-
lish the truth Of what he denied he grew angry.
and that was unreasonable. He cannot expect
90 use and then repudiate statements. When
his unfit promotions made it was con-
venient for him 10 have people accept them