The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-13
THE LAWS AND THE POLICE.
An Upstate Social philosopher on the
New "NaNe or Reform" In Thi, Town.


New "MaNe OF Reform" In Thi, Town.
70 THE EpITog or The SuS SIR see
that New York Is having another spasn Of
reform The same laws regulating or pro-
hibi,ng vice. gambling and the sale of IN
toNicatiug Liquors which are in force IN
New York are applicable to the rest of the
State where their strict enforcement Is
not insisted upon. In most OF the other
cities and towns gambling Is not intcrfered
with: the social evil while not Counte
nanced il tolerated; excise violations arc
not much regarded SO long a. order and
decency are observed yet there is little if
any talk of police corruption.
| cannot but think. however. that the
people of New York do not greatly differ
from those Of the rest Of the State, and that
there have been elements in the situation
there other than a desire to see the laws
enforced The camor for the enforcement
Of certain laws resulted in your local Off
cials ordering such enforcement, although
the public and the police knew they We're
not in sympathy with the orders which they
gave This In turn led the police. for a
consideration, to wink at their violation and
no doubt bred corruption in the depart
for this neither would they stand for strict
enforcement As Mr. jerome we'll says;
NO party can enforce them and live. "
so il has become a case of You will be
damned if you do, and you will be damned
If you don't
Does it not seem that the reformers who
have kept New York in turmoil for the
past ten years or more and caused her
reputation TO be unJustly smirched in the
eyes OF the outside world should go 70 the
rear and let common sense have sway Tor
u while?
Good order and public decency are the
primary objects Of police regulation. and
III every civilized community they will al
ways have the overwhelming sentiment
of the people in their support; but when the
question whether or not man shall pur-
chase glass OF beer on Sunday or at a
prohibited hour becomes more importa"t
for police attention than any other duty.
the people will not hold the law or the
method of its administration in high re-
gard. and Will notice its non observance
with equanimity and approval Tie more
enlightened and civilized man is the less
value Is attached to forms and rules lie
goes to the pith Of the matter and regards
the substance only. When that is secured.
he Is indifferent IA to the method There
are offences that there * never any sub
stantial difference Of opinion about which
all right minded citizens including saloon
keepers will condemn. IL is Theses mat
tiers which should enlist the vigilance OF
the police. In their suppression the po-
hcemRn acquires sense Of right doing and
has the satisfaction of realizing that his
services are contributing to the public
veal, and thereby his character and man
hood are improved
II such an enforcement Of the criminal
laws was required it would produce greater
satisfaction than present methods. and do
much to abate blackmai for technical
violations. But It Is noticed that az the
law IA now enforced the usual arrest Is for
uu offence which does not shock the moral
sense at all This demorazes the police
officer. by creating in his mind the impress
sion that the moral character of the act Is
not regarded, and the right or wrong of the
matter is immatcrial. To this is largely due
the corruption in the Police Department and
hepurists and reformers are mainly respon-
sible for it, Their interference may have
been productive Of some good. but on the
whole it has been hurtful and demoralizing;
for they have not had sympathy with those
they wished to govern. A CovNTRYMAS.
ONEIDA y Y. Jan. II.