New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-13

r. Fulton Cutting chairman OF the city COM
mittee of the Citizens Union. last evening. gave
out the following open letter. to the public:
To the Public.
IL OF the year of the administration now draw
m coss mas oeen generally rndrke1 eg
OF the good government OF this community, yet
lions 1t IS the habit Of mind Of our felioW cti-
zens in passing Judgment upon successive admin
their virtues. This administration will be meas
on November q the Citizens Union issued a
statement showing the results OF its investiga-
In that statement it referred to the gem
sral disappointment with the Police DEPARTMENT
The Citizens Union. therefore. ventures 10 call atten
ton TO some features OF the administration which
The ,prevaence Of vice and crime. the glarins Of
FENCES against decency and order and the con-
Illicit business that characterized the last admin
is na0 m, hVe o not been fa mn
OF the citizens is concentrated At the election Of
main factor in the overthrow Of the organization
then in power and the people demand of its chosen
this branch OF the city's service.
for Years has been believed 10 have been engaged
In sysema tic corruption is gigantic task, and the
ment even a greater one. That Colonel Partridge
has faithfully and honestly strived to accomplish
these purposes admits OF no question. IL Is now
ever. in our judgement equally certain that It, the
has been wholly insufficient.
During the year, through the employment of de-
zens Union has endeavored to cooperate with the
Police Department. and has brought TO the atten-
of his subordinates; 1t has gained a fairly extern
sive knowledge of the condition of the force OF the
regulation of vice. In this city and It's Information
leads 1t the conclusion that the popular criticism
of the work of the department is well founded.
The union is fully aware OF the tremendous diff
fculties that surrounded Colonel Partridge. and
recognized his earnest efforts 10 overcome Them
but the fact remains that after twelve months OF
his enthusiastically the police force is practically
impotent and unwilling TO detect violations of the
law. The county detectives OF the District Attor-
ney's Office and employees of the Citizens Union
Illegal resorts. but the detective bureau OF the
Police Department does. It Is indsputable that
material change for the better In police service
can be effected until this suspicious tncapacity is
corrected The conduct of the Police Department Is
not question of utility. 1t is one OF morals and
the ethics OF the movement that piaced III power
the present administration demand a heroic pol
icy In the Police Department. We earnestly nope
that the Mavor will find man whose conduct in
purpose in battling with corruption that the de-
partment will regain the confidence and co-opera-
The civil Service Commission is another depart
rnent of the city government which demands at
understood other departments the TACT is mat
upon this commission largely depends the question
of enlightened and efficient service in every de-
partment. In a word, the prime duty or the com
mission is to provide without delay an honest ell
gible list as result of fair, sensible examinato lions
in which the questions are propounded ana the
answers tested by men of expert skill In the par
ticular field of the examna ton.
INQUIRY of the heads of the departments leads
sion is dscharging this duty as 1t should There is
no doubt OF the high and honorable purpose OF the
commission, and it is quite likely that the trouble
lies in the present methods Of the constitution.
The present commission seems unwieldy and in
accessible We respectfully urge upon 1he mayor
sion of three well paid members who would and
could devote all their time to this work would
not place this department upon plane or greater
efficiency.