The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-10-20

fully has this been done that nowadays
one hardly ever hears an oath uttered
in the streets Of London. To sum up.
the metropolitan police are the very
embodiment Of duty; they know neither
fear nor favor; their dignified and Off
cial appearance commands respect and
in many creates terror. The unfortu-
nate or indiscreet miscreant who falls
foul of the police in London must needs
plead in vain for mercy or considera-
ton. He is an offender, that is enough,
and he must march off to the nearest
police station to render an account Of
himself, and. if necessary. submit him
self to law and justice, whether he be
peer or pauper, saint or criminal, rela-
ton or friend
What difference in New York.
That the police administration here is,
to say the least of it. faulty, is common
knowledge, and this is amply proved by
! the present vigorous attempt at reform.
One hears and reads of a Police Up
heaval Expected Soon," of Proposed
New Legislation" of shifting" men
from one precinct to another, and of the
Dismissal of others The upheaval by
shifting or dismissal may cause tenn
porary flutter or reaction, but it will
never alter the unWholesome ''system"
now in existence nor the consequent
farclcal and insufficient personnel of
the force. New legislation" obeyed
and not evaded, can be the only effica-
cious remedy, and, if it were possible,
the law and system now in vogue in
London might we'll be initiated in New
York
The office of chief commissioner, as
well as the chief himself, should be en-
tirely free from political bias, influence
and contamination. The chief should,
moreover, be given greater independent
latitude and power, and should intro
duce military training and greater dis
ciplne into the force. Bribery and cor
ruption and "winking the other eye" at
offences and Indicators should be
dealt with severely. The force is dtci-
dedly undermined, and especially in
the supervision department.
1t Is a notable fact that in this re-
spect the metropolitan district of Lon
don-which has population Of only
million moro than New York-has six
hundred superintendent and inspectors
and two thousand sergeants, whereas
in New York there are barely one hun
dred inspectors and captains, and only
about seven hundred sergeants and
roundsmen! Greater attention too
should be paid to the selection of can
didates for the police force. Their
physical appearance and integrity
should require more consideration, and
their faithfulness to duty free from
monetary or other influences or induce
ments should be sine qua mon. The
men comprising the Broadway squad
are admittedly fine-looking fellows, or,
at least, were so at one time Unfortu-
nately an easy-going life and the want
of regular training have made them
more 'round-shouldered than erect,
more clumsy than alert. There are
plenty of other would-be good types of
policemen all over the city, but in COM
mon parlance they are allowed to grow
to Seed and almost without exception
they all make very Indifferent guardi
ans of law and order and prove signal
preventing street obstruction. Appa-
rently, and judging from the recent
atrocious and cold blooded murders and
the bare-faced undetected burglaries
committed, the police do not consider it
very essential part of their duty to
protect life or property.
THE TYPICAL NEW YORK PA
TROLMAN.
Unlike the London Bobby" the New
oYrk cop" presents the very essence of
ease, comfort, Indifference and self-in-
portance. This easy-going, good-na-
tured-looking dlgnltary, suitably
clothed in the garb of officialdom and
armed with his primitive and comical-
looking cudgel, moves about, alternate
yly clapping his white-gloved hands and
swinging his cudgel. with an air Of dor
mant authority and independence be-
coming the typical possessor of an an
cient civic sinecure. While the rest of
the world around him is going ahead
and apace Mr.. Cop" glides along
dreamly gazing and as unconcernedly
as if nothing which happened-right or
W
he is to be seen leaning leisurely against
wall, at another supporting a lamp
post or resting idly on a letter-b box or
hydrant. Occasionally he saunterss to
the scene of a scrap" or an accident.
Most of his time is spent in chatting
with passing friends, colleagues and
confederates, and when not engaged in
serious conversation he is relishing a
humorous joke or story retailed to him
Perchance he can be seen emitting a
chew preparatory to strolling round
the corner" with a companion to quench
an imaginary thirst. He knows no SUI
perior evidently, and cares little If at
all for public opinion. Withal he is as
rule very good tempered. Whenever
his aid is sought by women or children,
he exhibits the utmost care and atten-
ton, and behaves generally like a big,
kind-hearted father.
1t is as deplorable as it is notorious
that the New York police are as in
competent to govern public traffic, to
prevent street obstruction public
swearing, and the infringement of the
license laws as they are of maintaining
law and order and of safeguarding the
morals of the city, They are in fact as
bad now as in the early sixties, when
well-knOWn and fearless author wrote
of the then police force: New York is
growing more like Paris in respect to
the police. 1t is literally governed by
them. They have almost everything in