New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-07
FRUITS OF REFORM RIFLE
"o'h'1 lemons IN GOOD GOVERNMENT StyOu,N pp
Il COMPARISON OF DEPARTMENTS UNDER
TAAM4NT and UNDER LOU
lhE NEW-lORk CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TAMM4NT,S RECORD.

1he POlIoe lOrce was a hOtbed of corruption
grsoua4iy increasing in stencil until the appall-
ing roe'eilIiess OF the Devery days was reached.
Directly through the police force was drawn
the money for political conquest ans r-i,-..a
gain Even though the uniformed protectors
% the city"-vhat a nisnomer-zere execu+inr
their Instructions TO levy toll on gambler and
street walker. the policemen themselves vrsra
the objects OF extortion and bIackmail. Places
on the police force az that time were lucrative
and much TO be desired. A man who vvan+e5
appointment knew the one he seem
sn6 the price 70 be paid
Higher up" was a term in great use in those
DAYS The highest Up" was never mentioned
TIE great John Doe" who controlled the vas,
machinery OF the Police Department and used
I; for his own welfare was Tammanv. While
large part Of the loot. as it passed through the
devious course higher up" stuck TO the dirty,
fingers which handled il the largest ro--ior
went 20 the men who ruled-the political bosx,
whose favor meant continued security for the
hooters, whose punishment meant not only DO
ntical and financial death. but the liability 70
criminal prosecution.
CHIEF SOURCES OF GRAFT
From two sources the man higher up" col
lecced graft in the Police Department. A pa
trolnan, Joining the force. paid his 800 or 5000
more in case he had 10 political sponsor and
wanted the JOB badly. To be made wardnan-
e some cases the most lucrative place in the
disposal OF the ''boss'-neant payment Of thou
sands. and proved capacity for extortion and
ability 70 keep q still tongue. a captain paid
from $1,000 20 $4,000 for his place This was
Increased often when the man was known to be
well heeled~ and anxious 10 get the job.
Thousands Of dollars a year poured into the
mysterious Golfers OF the higher UP" in this
way. A not inconsiderable source Of income.
which went. however more directly 10 the dis
trict political organizations. was the sale OF
tickets for clambakes. excursions and the sub
scriptions for balls and benefits" To support
a. this the patrolmen resorted 70 stiu more
petty grating. extortion from street pedlers.
ssloonkeepe-s and guerilla foraging on the vice
which their superiors were paid 70 protect
The most valuable source OF income was the
protection" Of vice That was where the ''sys-
ter" got in its fine work The warduan. a
plain clothes orderly attached 70 the captains
ofSce. supposed 20 be OF detective service, was
The collector OF tribute under the system
Through him the captain kept il touch with
every gambling den and house OF II fame in his
precinct The wardulan gave permission for
new places 70 open; he tipped OF the favored
houses when there was &c be a raid. To HIM
was paid the regular monthly toll from each
den Of iniquity. he was the personal repre-
70 speak for those higher ID"
THE RED LIGHT" DISTRICT.
The awful condition of TIE red light district.
that sewer Of debaUchery and crime which
dourished under Devery and the Tamu1any
regime, has been told often Inspector Cross Of
Unsavory memory, was in power then: Captain
Herlihy had command Of the Eldridge-st. sta
ton. By residents OF that terrible plague spot.
devoted ministers OF every creed who were
ling 70 cleanse the sore, by the public press.
he police officials were told Of the prostitution
Ehlch infested every house and ran rampant in
he streets; % the shameless women who seized
men and almost bodily dragged them into their
rooms; OF the regular traffic in girls brought il
from nearby country towns and kept prisoners
I'll they had lost all sense Of shame: Of the pro-
cUrers and cadets" who betrayed girls and then
sold them into bawdv houses; OF the children
who were paid 10 solicit for those houses. chill
oren who became partners in scenes Of the
utmost vileness Calmly the police went on col
lecting their tribute. giving their protection 70
tbs Unspeaks bic crime. Tammany itself. 10
quiet % hlic indignation. appointed z Committee
% Five 70 investigate the relations between the
police and vice. There was a decent man. Lewis
NiXoE. al the head. who really Investigated and
The findings were made public only in
strictly censored edition. which by its incOm-
pleteness showed how much Tamrlany had con-
cesled
THE GAMBLING SYNDICATE
Then there was the gambling syndicate"
also under the direct protection OF the police and
the political bosses Frank Farrell. the pool
room king" was a close personal friend Of Dew
ery. Devery's nephew. Burns. was also close
70 Farrell Poolroonns. poker dens and gambling
houses ran in all parts OF the city. while policy.
just as profitable but infinitely more despicable.
was general In March. 1900. the grand jury
took W this subject, and found about forty in
clements for gambling II severely arraigned
the police, saying:
The root OF the evil is much in the gam
blDE poolselling. or in the disOrcery resorts
y E in the system OF police administrator. which.
either tiindly cOrruqtly- permits open and ia
grant violations Of the law 70 20 unpunished and
unchecked The inference Is unavoidable that the
neglect and the blindness under the present police
system due. not 10 lack OF intelligence % OF
know edge. but direct interest IN tn man
tehance u these places
The Fsrroluler themselves, seeing the carnival
o. vice and graft on every side. and being men
% not too high morality. swung into lire 10
accumulate riches. As each one had some po-
Hllcal pull" they felt safe from punishment
lor neglect OF duty. Drunkenness was common.
e-1st-ei Nnlle citizen who urged a patrolman
s ne performance OF his Suty or resisted his
s1-l--as was likely 10 be bTutaIly dubbed.
Nl----e OF post was not confined 10 the men in
80 = y ne otlcers in the stations might be
- AZ pam clothes. hobnobbing with poll
rs3 ~ PROSTITUTES II hey could be found
- Folce plotters were frco77rlere or often
falslfleo- The force was sIo,,eyi,- E.,,sl 80
fsst "e-eing upon moral degeneTs.,, arls f-co-D,-
peteut- > anu ii'1'