The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-15
TALKS ABOUT
POLICE CRAFTS
Commissioner Green Admits
BIackmaII Is Levied.
JUDGE H0GAN'S laid ASKED
Reply 10 Magistrates Statement That Graft
Now Is Morse Than Ever to
His knowledge.
JUDGE HOGAN'S laid ASKED

New York. Aug. l5.-"That there ar,
is very probable. and 1 will be glad oi
any assistance that Magistrate Hogan oi
any one else will give me 10 ferret II
out"
Thus spoke Police Commissioner Greene
Thursday afternoon after he had read
an article In the morning newspaper. in
which Magistrate Edward Hogan was
quoted as saying that never In his Ions
service on the police bench had he seen
the police graft" so bad as Il Is at pre-
sent.
II have tried TO get help from a great
many sources In the last SIX months. ''
continued the commissioner. ITO say
that petty blackmatl is stamped out of
the police department is to say what is
aot so. But to say that II is tolerated
d: not true. II there is the slightest evil
dcnce the policeman Is Immediately put
on trial. My belief is that there is less
tiackmali in the department than here
tofore, but that II Is not entirely exter-
up ated"
us IT possible to extermnate it?" ask
cd reporter.
We'll" answered the commissioner,
II think II Is very difficult to absolutely
eSterminate It,
II i may ask a question" continued
the commissioner. II would like To in
ouire II Magistrate Hogan had facts
about blackmail and corruption in his
possession. might he not have sent for
me? I think he might have given me
IN opportunity to investigate them.
They would have been very promptly
acted upon. I assure you. II Magistrate
Hogan or any one else will bring me
any Information OF that kind against
any policeman and It can be substan-
tiated, l will have the guilty man ar
rested within two hours. Every officer in
this department welcomes information
that will lead TO the detection OF cor
ruption and instantly acts on It, We
even exhaust every means to get at the
writers Of anonymous letters. so that we
may better substantiate their aIlega-
tions.'
Would ~ be within the bounds OF
proprety TO call on Magistrate Hogan
for such assistance as he can give you
In the cases that he refers tor"
Yes" Gen. Greene, answered. "I
shall ask him for assistance in investi-
has knowledge Of"
Referring 10 the arrest OF disorderly
women, notably in the Tenderloin, and
the bailing of the prisoners by one or
two bondsmen, who seem 10 enjoy
monopoly of that business In that part
OF the city. the commissioner said he
saw no way In which the business OF
these professional bondsmen could be
broken UP. because. under the law. as
well as In accordance with the rules OF
the police department the sergeant was
obliged 10 accept their security so long
as they established their right to be
bondsmen by qualifying in the necessary
amount"
Don't you think II strange the Mag
istrate did not personally call your at
tention tn the matters referred TO in his
interview" Gen. Greene was asked
IT think not" answered the general;
"his motive seems TO be plain"
Magistrate Hogan In the Tombs court
yesterday. adversely criticised the atti-
tude OF the municipal adminstra ton to-
ward push-cart peddlers. He discharged
two men who were charged with peddlng
without licenses saying:
Ia few years ago the man who was
giving out licenses at the city hall acted
as the champion OF these poor people.
Now things have changed"