New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-01-21
TILE POLICE ELTrATION.

T. q, ,r,+;prin, IN observe that the Police
Commissioner has almost recovered IIoii ue
attack of nerves which presumably caused MN
one day last week TO publish hghly Improper
rejoinder TO criticism of the shortcomings OF lhe
department. It is not surprising that an honest
man In his position suffers distress OF mlhu ana
occasionally feels like freeing his feelings, but
he ought to be very careful how he lets OH
steam.
For a full year after he came into office Mr..
McAdoo was unusually fortunate in the treat
ment he received. Nearly everybody seemed
disposed to believe that he was doing his best
and TO think that more experience would enable
him to accomplish fairly satisfactory results, so
that he shot very wide of the mark in declaring
himself to be the object of malicious and igno-
rant hostility. Since then events have moved
fast. The District Attorneys proceedings have
brought many things to light, some striking
crimes have fixed public attention, and the
Commissioner himself has acknowledged, both
by acts and utterances that his department
needs thorough oyerhauling. The natural ef-
feet Of these occurrences has been to set the
public talking in a critical strain, but even now
there is no evidence Of a general desire TO make
the Commissioners task unnecessarily hard or
to force him into retirement
Mr.. McAdoo shows, we think, that he has not
yet quite recovered his normal condition in say
ing that his Office and himself "are made the
football Of a fierce scrimmage to get possession
"of the city government in the election of the
next Mayor, in a campaign which began the
day after the last election and which is now
raging fercely as 1t usually does in the mid
IDLE of October" There is some general dis
cusson of local politics, and we dare say that
behind the scenes things are going on which the
public does not see; but there is no such des-
perate conflict In progress as Mr.. McAdOo i'm
AGNES, and no conspiracy has been formed to
embarrass and defame his administration. 1t is
obvious that police conditions are unsatisfactory
the Commissioner comedies as much-but as
yet there is no strong demand that another man
should be appointed in his place. A great ma
jority of good citizens are hoping, on the con-
trary. that Mr.. McAdoo himself will be able TO
rise to the emergency, and are pleased to have
seen within few days Indications that he is
getting stronger grip on the situation.
With the exception already noted, the Com
missioner's statement published in 1.-THE New
York World" yesterday is excellent, and we
particularly like the spirit of these paragraphs:
cannot add anything to what have already
said with reference TO vice in general. We must
keep it down TO the extent of the police power;
but above all am deeply concerned that the
police shall not profit by its existence and per-
sistence. We must strive to make it hazard
Gus as 1t is Infamous and we must use every
means possible to prevent 1t being profitable to
those whose duty it is to suppress it.
The CRATER is the worst enemy OF the police
and the greatest menace to the public, and next
TO him comes the snirk. The Police Commits
sioner must constantly be camping on the trail
of both We cannot afford to let a crooked man
on the police force think he is safe for minute.
The Commissioner is convinced that the law
governing his department is in need of amend
ment, and we have little doubt that he is right
1t certainly ought to be made easier for him to
put out and keep out subordinates who are cor
rupt or inefficient. He is apparently resolved
to begin a cleansing process with such resources
as he now has at command, and we earnestly
hope that he viii at least prove his possession
of unfaltering courage.