New-York tribune., 1904-09-23
THE POLICE STILL SHIRK.
INDIFFERENT TO WATCH.
Harlem FIathouse Section Left I'm
guarded in Early Morning Hours.

After provlng through a series OF careful investi-
cations that the city is not properly patroled by
the police force 'gThe Evening World Is keeping
up its midnight and eSrly morning tours Of in
spection and reports that the department which is
supposed to guard the public is still in deplorable
condition.
The investigation made on wednesday night
through the West Side from Twenty-third-st. to
Harlem showed that there was some improvement
in the Tender!oin early after midnight. but that
the patrOlng fell off amazingly as the morning
wore on In Harlem. where especial vigilance is
necessary TO protect the quiet fiathouse section.
there was mere semblance OF police activity. In
the tour over half of Harlem only six policemen
were seen According TO this statement. there was
most excellent opportunity for the hOusebreakers
of Harlem to tinker with locks in the secluded
Railways OF thousands Of lathouses.
With the exposure of this absolute indifference
on the part OF policemen in performing their duty
there is bound to be a still greater epidemic OF
hold-ups and burglaries, The police know that
they are being watched. but are as INDIFFERENT as
ever.
The latest Evening World investigation lays
large measure OF the blame on the roundsmen'
who are as Indifferent the men. In tours OF nve
nights. embracing q territory bounded by Irahu-
St. one-hundred-a -and-twenty-ffth and the
rivers less than six IOundsmen were seen.
The question now presents itself. What VIII COM
missioner McAdoo's seventy-niEe disgruhGeu anu
dethroned detective sergeants do toward sPufFlhs
duty that goes against the grain ana IheiI auui-
ton 10 the force Of roundsmen apparently ooeS not
promise much In the way OF helping lhe pEeseAt
deplorable condition. ,.,, a.
That these detective seTgeants have no Ahlhs AOi
their new assignment. in which they VIII nave 10
work for a living, may be seen in the fact that
motion was made yesterday in the Supreme court,
in Rrooklyn by James A. Burr. representing the
deposed serEeants for a writ Of peremptory man
damus 10 issue against the Police Commissioner
compelling him to recognize the men as detective
sergeants. with pay SUCH The application was
made in behalf of w B. Gilooly. Henry HeiwlG.
Rafael Nugent Henry Woodruff. Frank Stoney.
Charles n. Murphy and Daniel whitaker; VINO VINO
and Rafael were reduced to rounoSfnen ana the
others 10 patrolmen. Their counsel contended that
the commissioner had no right 10 make the chahse
compelling them TO do their preSent Work
Assistant Corporation Counsel Cailahan arBueu
that the commissioner was acting Well WITHIN MS
authority; that the men were appointed from the
Civil Service list and were really promoted and not
assigned. when they took positions as detectives.
This. he contended. in conformity with the
pers were taken ny Justice Maddox.
Commissioner McAdOO had an opportunity late
manGuvres Of automobiles. as described in The
Tribune Of Wednesday. The Commissioner was az
Broadway and Forty -ninth-st. when huge auto
mobile shot down Broadway a. a speed OF thirty
'It vent by like fash" said AIr McAdoo. "and
before I could start after it the machine was we'll
out of reach
Reckless driving may be seen in that neighbor-
hood any morning between and o'clock.
The Commissioner. in view of the accident IN
Captain O'Brien. requested President Nreeland
that motormen be instructed 70 look out for police
men on duty in streetcav tracks while regulating
traffic ard caring for pedestrians. Mr. Nreeland's
telephone that Mr. Vreeland would be pleased TO
issue such an order