The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-18
FRANK MOSS PRAISES POLICE.
PJTIES NICE COMMISSIONER
FROM SOME OTHER CITY.

Odd Raps az Societies, Wise Men and Fusay
IeriElation In Cooper Union Talk
Appeal TO Peoples Sober sense and
Conscl ence-TOO Many Thieves Stll'
Frank Moss. formerly a Police Commits
sioner, talked about the Police Department
It's past, present and probable future to
a good sized audience In Cooper Union
last night. Aside from one or two inter-
ruptions made by an overlubrlcated lis
tener, there was nothing but applause Tor
the speaker.
The past Of the department, Mr.. Moss
said, was pretty bad and he drew ilustra-
tons from his own experiences. BY them
he tried 10 show that well regulated COL
fusion existed between criminals and cops
In the days gone by.
"A police ofioer IL primarily peace
officer said Mr.. Moss. His business Is
to protect life and property and a police
force Is we'll organized when this protection
Ia given. Then, too, he Is expected 70 give
information to anybody who desires II.
don't mean that a police officer should be
Obliged TO lose his self respect; but he Is
paid TO be the guardian Of peace and TO
give directions
MIR. Moss then told a little story illus
trating the extreme politeness practised
by London policemen, and how patrolmen
there are allowed to talk With their friends
while on beat or TO take siXpence II 1t Is
offered them.
Here a policeman would be insulted II
YOU offered him a siXpence,' added the
sneaker, because 1t Is 90 small.
Mr.. Moss told how much more efficient
the police forces Of Continental cities seemed
TO him TO be, because they were under
national control. He did not advise such
control In New York, because conditions
we're different In this country, he said.
He went on; ,.. l., A.. 4.
partment itself and In the city and among
! the people. believe II we set up reason
I able standards we will soon get 70 be the
best CITY In the world. And this Is because
! the public have known and are finding out
| more every day. about the department
in earlier days man risked his prop
! erty and his life II he stood up for the right
| Now there are hundreds and thousands
! who are enlightened as to the conditions,
| and who are patriotic TO the last drop OF
| blood This city Is to be saved not by
! laws or societies or wise men, but by the
| good, sober sense and judgment and con-
J science Of the common people,
/ The speaker then paid high tributes
! TO the patrolmen. He said that most OF
the trouble was caused through the con-
/ niysnce of higher officials. Speaking Of
, the requirements OF Commissioner lot
] New York, he continued:
/ 1T Il cruelty 10 animals 70 bring DE-
| cent, nice, honorable man from some other
| oity and put him down in that cage IN
| Mulberry street, at the mercy Of the other
| men who are there. He should be man
| horn and reared in New York
The former Commissioner declared that
the lawlessness Of police forces, more than
anything else, had fostered the growth
| Of anarchy.
THE greatest problems Of the police here,
he said are not the excise violations, nor
the gambling houses, nor disorderly places
hut what we want 10 get at Ia that kind OF
Improvement in the force that will stop
burglary, robbery and foOtpadding. Our
city is fuller Of burglars and thieves than
ever before. Legislation that goes fusslng
around doesn't accomplish anything. We
should live up to the laws we have. Inc
roundsman should be out spotting the
patrolman, the sergeant should be out spot
ting the roundsman, and the captain should
be watching the sergeant. You know
how Teddy used to start out and walk from
one end OF the city to the other. Then, and
only then, will the roundsmen come Out
Of their holes and get busy.
Become familiar with the police force
Know something about the men and the
system, and realize how the interests OF
the city are locked up in the police depart
ment. Then, some day, we will have q
Police Department to be proud Of.