New-York tribune., 1902-05-09
PHILBIN ON CORRUPTION.
EX-DIsTRICT ATTORNEY TELLS MUNICH
PAL LEAGUE ABOUT TAMMANY.

Boston. May Sin paper "A Non-Parti-
san Administration read before the National
Municipal League to-day, ex-District Attorney
Eugene A. Phbin. of New-York gave an interest
ing review of the methods Of Tammany Hall and
the corruption which hourished in the metropolis
under the rule OF that organization In his intro
duction he declared his belief that Governor Roose
vets action in refraning from taking advantage Of
the removal of Asa Bird Gardiner to give the Re-
publican party the important Office of District At
torney appreciated by the people and contrib
uted not little to the election of Mayor Low He
added that when Colonel Roosevelt appointed him
to succeed Gardiner he left him absolutely free to
administer the Office he (the speaker) thought
best. OF Colonel Gardeners administration Mr..
Phibin said:
was member Of the 9FganizatSn and his i4eS
BY saying that his one claim upon fame based
upon o TasaIre9 9nfe @ m maze 6o soeietr
Mr. Philbin told Of the difficulty of reorganz-
ing Gardeners staff and of his treatment of the
county detectives. in whom. he said, he had placed
confidence. although they were all Tammany men.
He added
To-day I can say that there has not been
subpoena servers NV successor was only short
time in office when one of his men apPGintMed tee IN IN
moved was dismissed FOR hlackmailing.
Touching on the great hold of Tammany on the
government Of New-York. Mr.. Phlbin said that
the organization was supported Dy wealthy CUT
porations they found that organized black
mail was easier deal With and less likely to in
volve consequences 10 themselves than Uansac-
tons with free lances whose individual demands
would come increasingly and whose discretion could
he relied upon. Continuing. Mr.. Philbin said in
part:
From one point of view there is no more sat;
isfactory person deal with than the practical
with the vcissitudes of politics enables him to at
once adapt himself TO the circumstances. ana nine
times out of ten he bears no resentment for q de,
NAL If he is satisfied that you are not actuated
purely pTgeT GT yoa
very distinguished Judge Of NeT-XorE @ York CITY; ,t
me that his official experience With politicians % was was
above politics il was very common to make
quests that involved nothing less than viola
TO think that such consideration should not be
regarded except in the case OF politicians or per-
The low standard of official duty in our munich
ardce Of the upper classes than to any other
cause. The substantial business man particularly
dread of offending the influential politician. The
n nS 0 the Tp %h Witch he
treated. but in applications for irregular lar fayors
high standing social equals on those public and
They are appealed to when the law places It in
their power 10 exact a duty. and asked to waive
the inconvenience expense would he compare
yeX trivial ana cerany SO Theh tn bribe
policemen to refrain from performing duty and
attack police corruption.
When the representative citizen shall stand
shoulder to shoulder in maintaining the law, no
matter what the consequences may be, We snail
have a higher standard of official duty and not
before The first cost will he more than made up
BY reduction in taxation and freedom from black
mail. Let us not demand enforcement OF the gen
eral law while ourselves seek evasion.
Mr.. Phbin discussed conditions in the Police
Department under the Devcry rule at some length.
going thoroughly into the subject Of police cor
ruptlon and protection. He then made this inter
esting statement:
As an indication Of the possibilities OF the once
of police captain, I will that l was rehably
informed during my administration in the District
Attorneys office that certain police captain was
receiving from places where the law was violated
over 5000 year in other words, nearly SSp each
month in excess OF his annual salary. Not great
while ago a police captain showed great zeal and
energy in suppressing various places wheTe me
law was being violated. and won the admiration
and approval Of the community A resident OF his
precinct Informed me, however that the captain
crusade was directed only against the customers
so 10 call them, Of his predecessor. and that ne
was establishing his own trade or patronage .
An opportunity is given "a the present head or
the Police Department 10 put II in better condi-
| ton than It has ever known. and there is reason
TO believe that before his term Of Office has eX-
| pired he will have accomplished that result