The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-07
REFORM IN NEW YORK AND IN
ST, PAUL.


The entire country is watching with
| deep interest the progress of affairs in
the great metropolis. Even the scant
news which the press dispatches offer of
| the developments of each day are most
| interesting. 1t is all like the effect Of
| witnessing a kaleidoscope For many
| weeks the new administration was quies-
cent. Then DR. Parkhurst leaped to tEae
center of the stage and declared that.
Mayor Low was evidently intent on do
ing what he had done while acting as re-
form mayor Of observation-disclosures wholly
his obligation to close the saloons on
Sunday Mayor Low protested. The pub
lie remained silent and observant Then
Mr. Jerome the public prosecutor, takes
a hand. He declares that practically
nothing is being done, and that the may
or cannot ignore the demand that the
liquor law shall be enforced Then there
comes an outbreak of public indignation,
alike from the friends and the enemies of
Mayor Lows administration. It is ac-
cepted as a matter Of public notoriety,
that the conditions complained of as ex-
listing under Tammany and on account
of, which it was driven from power are
being maintained undiEturbed in their en-
tirety.
This was the stage reached some weeks
ago. Tammany men rejoiced over it, and
Republicans and reformers alike were
much downcast. But matters were not
long allowed to continue in that state.
The prosecuting officer is Of an active
turn, and he at least is not likely to let
monotony beset the political situation in
Greater New York, while he is permitted
either to act or talk Under his inspira-
precinct proceeded III concert to enforce
the Sunday closing law. They visit the
saloons in their precinct secure evidence
against the keepers of many of them,
and bring them into court. They are ap-
plauded and the head of the police de-
pa1tment, whom people were beginning
to look on as a nice quiet old gentleman,
is once more reinstated in the public
good will. The captain of that precinct
has charges preferred against him by
Mr.. Jerome in person, and they await
action by the head of the police depart
ment.
Meanwhile the gambling houses run full
blast. and other houses also; and it is ac-
copied generally as true that they run
under police protection One of the
younger Vanderbilts is understood to
have lost big money in a resort, ire
| quented alone by the jeunesse dore'. But
! the police say the place Is not a gam
bling house, and the captain Of that pre-
cinct declares that he has spent many
sIeepless days and nights trying to get
/ evidence against the place, but without
result. Mr. Jerome declares that he can
produce the necessary evidence if fine
comptroller will pay his bills, but adds
that there is no chance that that official
will do so, and therefore nothing is cone.
He cannot do it and the police will rot.
iiO shy AOChSlS sui ascend, out the
offensive conditions remain undisturbed
notwithstanding all the interesting and
picturesque displays.
| While the reformers stand on the
Threshold Of action in one direction or
another the head Of Tammany, Mr..
Lewis Nixon, is given the floor, and he
! declares that the administration should
adopt the plan outlined by the Tammany
investigating committee, of which he
was chairman. That plan was to hold
the captains of the several precincts re-
sponsible, personally and officially, for
the existence of notorious vice within
their precincts. He quotes from his re-
port the following language:
| The gambling situation is in Central
OF the police as, according to all cap