New-York tribune., 1910-10-07
THE POLICE AND CRIME
Correspondent Thinks Politics He-
sponsihle for Present Conditions.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir; I have been struck with fhesS X
tracts from Commissioner Baksr
published by you on October A.
There are many problems IN thls
city which are more important In tns hne
or police work than the regulation -
morals of the community By the pouce'
and Criminals dock 20 New Tork C'ty
from all parts Of the world. and u re-
quires the active vigilance Of the members
Of the detective bureau TO know wnat Is
being contemplated by these men ana
women
Is there. in view OF the last statement
anything moro important than police FsSu-
latton OF vice? Thanks 20 Mr- Baker We
are now approaching the kernel OF the po-
lice problem and remedial measures are
also suggested The first extract reVsaiS
a fair sample OF tho policeman view ot
crime and the manner I'm which ne dp
proaches II. The regulation Of the hiorals
of the community, In the case OF inert i'r
instance, has slight interest but the re-
ward offered Is very absorbing The pawn
shop seems to be the limit of investigation
and the identity Of the thief and his dan-
ger to the community are secondary con-
sideratious
The second extract suggests the iafnen-
table condition which threatens our com
munity under free immigration and also
implies extreme vigilance for possible ousl-
ness reasons.
As 70 d remedy for police conditions.
The main objection 10 our police system.
always overlooked, is what may be termed
it's incentive for promotion. and until this
Is recognized and altered We can look Tor
no better conditions Recruits are offered
promotion III rank and not 10 any extent
promotion in pay, for lifetime of service
Now, what does this mean 70 recruits ~
too often means that If they can buy 4
place on the force and viii agres 10 obey
the political dictates and perform the
maneuvres Of their supertors they VIII
eventually be promoted. in accordance with
their skill, not TO a post promising better
pav and an opportunity 70 save Legitimate
" as time goes on SO much as 20 . rank
in which tolls may be exacted from cen
tain protected institutions over and above
& salary which az best would afford them
only 2 living.
As TO d remedy for the immigration sit
ustion in it's relation to police vigilance.
Probably - IS hopeless 70 speak seriously
OF this now. Too many contra dictory
prelUQlCsS exist Tor ORGANIZED dCIIon- q h7-
cessitv IN ths case. Then, too. the average
reformsr misses the vital facts that W
were al immigrants who were not red Ind
tans. but that while hfry Years ago the
country was properly azsimilating q few
thousands OF industrious and decent aliens,
today IL Is unable even 10 care for as
many millions Of every creed and dtsrosi
ton
II Is hardly conceivable that the latter
predominating class in our city VIII stand
for the abcIishment Of free immigration,
even IN the face Of an incoming horde Of
business competitors, which further sug-
gssts that their business IS largely nefar1-
clIs and not subject 70 the rule Of Compsti-
tion. more On the order Of 2 combination.
Interested in protecting them are the
steamship companies and the politicians,
the latter including the police who are 50
loudly lamenting the presence Of the for
eigner. without whom, hovbeit. the police
mans luxurious living would be q thing OF
the past 3 BROWN.
Nev York. oct s. 1917