The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-22
Soldiers in Civil Service.

There IS nothing more significant among
The results OF the reform victory in the
recent municipal election in New York
than the popular desire that Mavor. Seth
Low shall entrust the task OF reorganiz-
Ing the police force To man OF prac-
tical military training and experience
THIS desire is entirely unselnah It Is
not confined ia the membership OF any
party. u is free from the suspicion OF
political axe c-grinding and IL represents
the profound belief of a large body OF
good citizens that the present situations
offer an opportunity To- give force and
effect to the non-partisan principle In
municipal administration
Experience. and especially the eXperi-
ence of the last four years has con-
NiHced unprciudiced observers that good
government and public morals can never
he secure I'm a city like New York So long
as the police organization is subject 10
the arbitrary control of party bosses The
abuses which have developed in the sys-
tenn during the present administration
differ in degree not in kind from those
which existed under partisan control I'm
former years. There will always be found
in both parties politicians eager 10 use
the police Tor corrupt purposes II permit
ted 20 do so, ana In the Ions run partisan
sqntrol Is pernicous control no matter
how honestly instituted
u l. not surprising. therefore that a
vast number of men who are profoundly
anterested ia the success OF Mayor Lows
administration should urge him To uamc
as commissioner Of police a ullitsr, man
one who Is independent OF party innu-
once ane Indifferent to political ambition
The police force OF New York city is in
grieNous condition II needs the strong
hand ~ = discipnnarian who Is iust
fearless and practical. and who has the
faculty of Organization which the'soldicr
acquires az part of his professional edu-
cation With such a man 10 head "a "A
man whom politicians can neither csiols
nor intimidatc. the police force can be re-
lievod of lis abuses and renrered capable
81 the useful service for which a was de-
signed. But under the control OF \ man
who lacks those qualities, or who takes
orders from his political boss rather than
from his own conscience, there will bs
littie 10 hope for IN the way OF improve
infnt.
The record 81 Seth Low ss mayor OF
Bfooklyn encourages the hope that he
may choose a military man FOR poiice
commissioner During the FIRST term I'm
BROOKLYN his commissioner OF police was
General james Jourdan. a veteran Of The
tiNil war. aud during his second term the
onice Vas held by Colonel John y. Part
ridge. also veteran, And their services
anply Justihcd he experiment Of intr1ist-
ING tho police administration 10 men of
,nHitary training. Wherever such men
hsNe been placed IN petitions OF civil su-
shDriiy requiring thorough discipline and
strung executive capacity. their work has
been almost invariably eatlsfactorv and
Sreditahle 20 themselves. Fortunately
there are capable officers available FOR
civil duty under Mavor Low. should be
gpe ia 20 call them. One who IS conspfcu.
ously qualified Tor the duties OF the head
cf the department. OF street clesninfr is
Captain n. NJ. Gibson, ". & A.. who he
came deputy commissioner OF the street
cleaning under Colonel George y wariue
end who has since the death OF Warinr
hem confessvdfy the rial executive force
of the department With Captain Gin
son or another man ef equal energy. ex-
D9knce and courage In the direction OF
large bodise OF men at the head OF the
sfrst cleaning force. the organization
would be lifted TO the plane Of dscency
nDd efficiency where II belongs, snd one
of The most perpiering % all the prob
1erps which confront Mayor Lows ad-
sniristrst0n would ge solved N the right
S<s,-Agny a.. Say. journal