The sun., 1903-10-25
Mayor Lows Latest Ideas on Law
Enforcement.

In the hard school Of practical ex-
periencs Mayor Low has been q pupil
now for twenty-five months. The re-
suit Of the training he has received is
complete change in his views on the
enforcement OF law. When he entered
upon the Office Of Mayor Of New York
he believed that in the administration OF
the laws he had sworn to enforce degree
Of executive latitude might be allowed
In order that those statutes and sections
of statutes distasteful to portions Of the
population should become dead letters
where they condicted with the sentiments
Of the people.
This belief he held in October Of 1907,
when he was composing his letter ac-
cepting the Anti Tammany nominations
for Mayor. In that letter he discussed
the Liquor TaI law and declared that
some Of its requirements were out OF
harmony with the ideals Of the cosmo-
politan population Of New York city
He declared his belief that the sections
prohibiting the sale Of liquor at all hours
on Sunday could not be enforced in New
York, and suggested that the Legislature
study the conditions here with great care
to see If some regulation more effective
In controlling the liquor traffic on Sum
days than an absolute prohibition could
not be devised. OF the interval be-
tween his election and the enactment OF
amendments to the law he said:
In the meantime. the law as ls stands. while It
remains unaltered, must be Administered In the
best practicable manner should spare no effort
10 put 9 stop during my term. TO the bribery and
corruption naceabie TO it, forgetting In the pres
ence Of the facts have outlined them. that the
extreme Of the law IS the extreme OF injustice
For nearly two years Mr.. Low has
been trying to match the necessities OF
administration to the theory that the
law should be enforced to the extent
that is pleasing to the people, and no
further. He has endeavored to have
the law as it stands on the statute books
cut to fit the personal wishes Of various
factions Of the population. The out
come OF all his efforts, the lesson he has
learned in the administration of the
municipal affairs, is that his theory was
wrong. He has acknowledged it, and
now his views on the regulation OF the
liquor business, as expressed in Brook
lyn last week, are these:
Payment Of money deternined the admins
tration Of tho excise law This was the system
that was elected to break up. 1t has involved an
administration of the excise law that many Of you
do no, like, but l am prepared to say. after my
experience Of the last two years that no other
administration OF this Law Is possible without 70.
storing the intoersble conditions from which the
city has bee freed.
Il used 70 think otherwise. bu; then had not
como into close contact with the conditions that
Tammany had created all along the line.
Il must frankly say that there Is no relief from
this dilemma as TO tho excise law except in change
of the law itself In view Of tho great differences
Of opinion prevailing among our citizens In this
respec, the Mayor ought, in my Judgment. to keep
himself entirely uncommitted and he must also
keep an open mind
That Is, the Mayors present theory OF
administration contemplates nor merely
the enforcement Of law in places, or
spots, or sections, or clauses, but the
enforcement OF the whole law in every
place.
This declaration squares well with the
situation, though it is perhaps humiliat-
ing that candidate should be obliged to
pledge himself before election to obedi-
ence to his oath Of Office and confess his
persistent violation of it in the past.
On the other hand, it Is refreshing to
have all open. clean-cut declaration Of
intention take the place Of the foggy
talk Of liberal construction that once
filed the atmosphere.