New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-29
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS.
Who Is to Make the Selection if All Are Not
To Be Strictly Observed!
To the editor Of The Tribune.

10 the Editor OF iTlbuHc'
Sir: A few days since. Julius HarburGer' the
Tanmanv Hall leader OF the Xth Assembly DIS
trict. speaking OF the administration OF the FOiioe
Department. said: We favor the CommlssloneI
policy partly but do not favor II all we
condemn the enforcement OF all prohibitive ana
Puritanical laws the persecution of the Respectable
German saloonkeeper on Sunday or other days
cloud chcersD
But there is hardly a law the statute books
IL a single one that some persons do not Ike anu
think ought not to be enforced. No doubt even
thieves believe they unjustly treated when the
law interferes with their business as many such
persons think they have right to living ana
can find no convenient and congenial way OF max
ing a living except by stealing.
People who were long accustomed TO i've Dy
piracy believed that they were cruelty and unjusty
treated when the power of the State was used to
break up their business. as they CONSIDERED tna'
one man had a right to anything which by superior
force or cunning he could take from any one else
OF those who want to infringe upon the rights
of others or do what It is against the public IN
terest to have DONE there perhaps very 1e"
who do not regard as unwise and unjust the laws
which stand in the way Of thei- doing what they
want to do.
OF course. It would not be possible to get every
one to agree to the enactment or repeal OF any
law but a law can be in effect repealed by not
enforcing IT, and this is what Mr.. Hamburger sug-
gests shall be done with respect TO certain laws
which he and others do not like
But II all laws are not TO De enIoTCeu' VIM - ~
determine what laws shall be enforced and what
shall not be enforced? Shall it be Mr.. HarburseE
or those whom he means by the term we WHAT
more right has Mr.. Hamburger or those he means
by the term we to demand that certain laws
shall not be enforced than any other citizen or group
of citizens have to demand that some other ID"
or laws, all laws. for that matter snaIi not
be enforced2
1t may be that some Of the laws which Mr.. Har-
burger does not want enforced are unnecessary
and unwise. and tyrannical. Personally am
inclined TO think that some Of them are So anu
that they ought to be repealed -. -. 49,
But people viii differ in opinion about Tha avoid
anarchy. a condition similar TO or perhaps WpIss
ityeit nor one person or a certain number pro-
portion of all the people-to determine what 'he
While l thini; that we have some unnecessary,
unwse and even tyrannical laws YET at tne ste
law the statute books that 1t would serlousy
laws can at tho worst do harm few. and little
harm 10 any. while the annoyance pam i assii
by violations Of law enormous There IS sSareG -
person. If single one who does nor nuInbers
suffer terribly different ways from violations OF
And the main reason why there are so many
violations % law is OF the frequent negiec'
ana s segGS o emocr3tc just principles that
when a law has been duly and properly enacted ~
Persons in the jurisdiction which the law is
applicable: that the law shou11 ,Tat evecntiVe
and judicial officers not the proper JUDGES y.
tba vyisdon or expeliency Of laws, but must 10 the
hest 81 their ability without fear or favor enforce
all lavra "a thew fud them. which Is TO 90 WhaleNt
&C. ,sresssry ana proper TO secure respect foT ahd
/ obedience 10. all laws. ,.s .-bt-
/ NVbcre tbes. urfncplea not observed. ar ol,
,rar, nower IS exercised by every policeman
every Judge Arbitrary power exercised ~ sInsi.
ar' - "a onourh such power exercised by MANY
! Is worse and certain to result In gross IhJuS4Oo
ana It t ibc police commissioners duty TO enforce
| Ali laws II he wfuly refused or neglectep, nc ~
/ No. any law he would he guilty OF a crlins
fnr which he could be sent 70 the penitentay ailu
dismissed from his office or course the OH he
to1er v,ouid not be guilty of n crime simply pc
cause he failed prevent or punish an S TineS
/ otbcrvIas his place would he n hard one lnuetH
81 ~ tho Commissone-, having good reason to
believe that any law being violated. Iaei .,
/ ,efnscd IN make reasonable effort 10 prevenI W
rrlsb such violation he would be guilty OF ~ ny,
/ IT, demanding that the Commissioner sna' IT, -,
! ..forco certain laws. Mr. hamburger ASKS WA,
| MIR Nc Adoo shall not only commit cIlih'' 'U
Teneat Il every day that he is in once -r-rzrDy
! %ew-York April 10. 1901. CAAA"1'''