New-York tribune., 1902-04-27

tegrity of his own subordiuates In the conduct
of an inquiry. it is open TO him TO obtain the
services of officer Of the headquarters STAN
to take charge of it in connection with the local.
officers. The importance Of being able in this
way to different officers. and officers with
dinerent associations. in the same duty. VIII
be obvious TO every one. IF police work wers
like military duty nothing would be easier than
to embarraSS any system of corruption by the
frequent transfer OF officers But the effect of
this would be not only TO discourage and harass
good officers but also to lose the value OF local
knowledge, which Is element Of great value.
These objections. however. as experience proves.
do not obtain in working the system above in
dicated, and there is nothing in the nature OF
spying in It, But the best possible system will
not avail unless it is administered with perfect
integrity and fairness The principal officers OF
police force must not only be honest and
upright and fair, but all ranks must be made
to feel that these qualities are in the ascendant;
and. OF course they must be competent. An
inefficient chief. however excellent his character
may be. will never command the respect of his
suoOrdinateS The worst system. If administered
by able and honest man. is better than the
best conceivable system in the hands of one
who is wanting in these respects
And unity of administrat ton Is also a matter
of principal importance. Every police force has
nominal chief. But what is wanted is real
chief. a who will have in his hands all
the complicated threads Of police duty The
mere patrOing the streets. to say nothing of
the pipeclay and buttons part of the business,
may to large extent be dealt with through
subOrdinates- for all such matters are open to
public observation, and abuses cannot easily be
concealed. But in regard 10 the more delicate
and difficult spheres Of police duty. as. for ex-
ample. keeping order under the surface. so to
speak. and especially checking and detecting
crime, everything should come under the same
eye. The chief Of a force numbering many
thousands of men cannot be in personal contact
with them. But he cannot Fail to remark. for
example. the difference in the number and char
RCter of the reports which come from this sta
ton or that respecting drinking houses or
brotheIs and those received from other parts OF
the town. What Is the explanation OF it? Does
1t Indicate better control? Or does t raise
suspicion OF corruption? And with crime.
How is it that certain officers make so many
arrests and others so few? How is Ii that
on A chief OF police thus gains general
view and maintains a general control He sends
for different superintenGents and inspectors
these questions arise and arrives at decision
respecting them.
I do not suggest Of course that every police
would be impossible in great city. for every
crime without exception and every occurrence
of importance should be reported 10 headquar-
terS. But If a chief has efficient assistance the
gfst OF everything will be put before him. and
his attention will be specially called TO what
to add that my knowledge of the cleverness Of
dishonest officers forbids my suppOsfng that
they he caught easily Immediately but
I do say empha tfCaIly that. with sound in
the higher ranks. and good moral tone pre-
vailinc lly in the force, systematic cor
ruption would be impossible. and black
sheep would long escape detection. But I again
repeat. appointments to the force. promotions
IN the force. and the grant. of rewards for zeal
or skill in the discharge of duty-One of several
Incidental matters that the limits OF space pre-
cude my dealing with-mUst be wholly un-
biasSed by fear. favor or affection wholly n
marked by favOritism any ground whatever.
personal. social or political