New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-03
IS THE ROCHESTER POLICE FORCE CORRUPT?
EXCISE LAWS VIOLATED, SOCIAL EVIL SPREADING,
THEATRES OPEN ON SUNDAY

after evidence in civilian dress and Mayor Cutler
is also averse 10 obtaining evidence in this man
ner. Both the Mayor and the Police Chief say
the laws be enforced by officers IN uniform
without recourse TO questionable methods of OBJ
tanning evidence. The present system Of dealing
with alleged offenders against the excise laws as
outlined by the chief and the Mayor TO a Tribune
correspondent. IS whenever a complaint is received
against liquor license holder to station an officer
in uniform before the mans place Of business. with
instructions TO maintain strict surveillance
The place As r result OF this system It is said
patronage is soon driven from the place. and the
offender. IT, indeed. he has offended is soon ready
TO observe the letter Of the law
Chief Cleary, when by The Tribune corre-
spondent. was unable 10 say Just how many ar
rests for violation OF the excise law, other than
those evidence procured by the AntI-Saloon
League had been made recently.
Mayor Cutler frankly admitted his dissatIsfac-
ton with the work Of the Police Department but
aosoiEed the force from any attempt to secure
grant The Mayor ave-se to discussing the
situation and especially DESTROYS Of not being
placed in the light OF critcisng the grand Jury
he authorized. however. the publication Of this
statement in The Tribune:
nave no reason to suppose that there is any
SOIislderaple violation OF In ROen-
ester at the present time In the three months
ony one complaint OF saloon alleged to have been
open on Sunday.
1t would OF course. not be true to saw that the
police work IN Rochester is SATISFACTORY because I
am at present engaged on plans for somewhat radi-
cal changes in IL. This has special reference
excise law enforcement. however. as there IS not
the slghtest reason to suppose that any system
under which police protection IS given for con-
soeraton has any foothold In Rochester.
One Of the chief features OF the changes in the
management OF the police force TO which the Mayor
alludes IS his scheme 10 build and equip five new
police precinct stations with dorrnitores and esab-
ish reserve system. For the execution of this
plan OF the Mayor the City Council recently au-
thorized the sale Of $500 900 the Genesee Valley
Railroad stock 1t was during the discussion over
the sale OF this stock that Alderman William
Ward made some interesting statements concern
Ing the management OF the Police Department
he said he opposed TO the building OF more
precinct stations because he thought IL would tie
too many men I'D IN the houses. The alderman
said he believed that policemen were originally
Intended TO be more useful than ornamental. In
1881, with 10 men on the police force there were
seventy five men on night DUTY. he said while in
1903, after the precinct stations established
there were two hundred policemen and only sixty
three night duty. The alderman said he
wanted policeman within call when needed He
did not like TO have TO telephone for one The
Mayor is confident that his plan will put the force
on better working basis than It now is and put
end to criticism OF Il.