New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

The Mayor mad TINS to say ABOUT MS
policy with reference 10 the enforce
ment of the law against disorderly
houses:
have never laid down any policy with
regard TO them. When | became Mayor
they were going on in tho humdrum way
dealing with that evil. ] had been some
thing of "a student OF II, If you will al
low me TO say so, from what 81. Angus
tine says about II down 10 modern writer's
Ike Lecky In his European Morals
80 ] know the literature OF all that bust
ness and the evils of 1t and the difficulty
of dealing with IL, and I never formu-
lated any policy When do 80 IL VIII
be in letter. Just like the excise letter;
| had a notion OF doing II very soon, and
l am not afraid to do IT, either-I want
you to know that-and to lay down
policy.
They have been doing the best they
could with IT, At one time these women
were scattered all over this city. in our
fats and in our private places, and cor
rupting the daughters and wives OF the
city. As you know, one bad woman In
Il house will do moro harm than dozen
bad men under the same roof.
have seen. here in the city. these
women carried down the stoops. and scat
tered all over the city. but gradually
they have collected themselves again In
the certain sections. and when | came
police were dealing with them, and while
/ have thought OF II a great deal and
| hope with a great deal Of charity for
these unfortunate people. ! I,,,b never YER
gard to &. except one, that | in,
sisted on keeping the streets decent and
orderly; and In the second place, when
] came in the police administration be
fore, for at least four years, was-the
policeman was selected and sent 10 these
houses 10 get evidence.
Stopped Detectives Bills.
And the bills came into the Controllers
Office for four years before | became
Mayor with these Infamous things on
them. and were paid. and ! did write
letter 10 the department that that In
famous business had 10 stop, and iInme-
diately. and could not be done while l
was Mayor.
That Is all have ever done about that
business. and ] would not have the police
force degraded in that way for anything
on this earth: not only that, but police
grading work. Now you know what my
policy, SO far as l have detailed II. has
been. 1t has been that and no more.
Q.-Now. Mr.. Mayor, ] am sure that
with a great deal OF what you have said.
Al do not know whether they do or
not. II | looked them over carefully
might say they had not ought 10 try TO
embarrass the Mayor anyhow, and neither
should you.
Q.-We are not criticsing you. Al
have tried TO DO good deal since | have
been Mayor
Q-And we are not criticising anybody
but am asking - Al am not able 10
do so much as could do formerly, but
have still kept up doing all that ! could
do, and ! intend to do Il until the last
day OF my term, and no embarrassment
no yelling, no barking dogs OF the news
M Of
and scoundrels-will deter me q particle,
not particle, not 80 much as particle;
nor any committee OF the Board OF Alder
men nor anybody else. although the
spect. and many men In Il are III 10 be
Mayor. and President even-some OF
them. not all Of them.
Q.-Can you assist the committee in any
way on hand as 10 what you think is
the best way to divorce police graft from
the dlsorderly house enforcement OF the
law? A.-The way | told you now Is the
only way which has ever occurred 10 me,
that is to say, TO keep the police out
OF them.
An you give the police the right OF
visitation and inspection. they will take
that right TO go In, and then they will
take hundred dollars to stay out. 1t
is as plain as anything can be;
Q.-ls to keep the police out virtually
suspension of the enforcement of the law?
A.-Oh, no. They enforce II just as they
do all over the world.
Men Now Run Houses.
Q-You mean by the outward order
and decency OF the place? A.-No.
you get a warrant and arrest the keeper
and try her and convict her Now we
have men keeping them. a thing UNI
known In the history Of the world up to
W. hot
the houses OF defamation here are syn
dicated by q certain class OF men. When
you get evidence one night against a
woman in charge. the next night they
Is the way IT Is done. although l am not
familiar with II. l have heard So
Q.--Can you tell the committee how the
keepers OF the disorderly houses are 20
be identified and arrested and convicted
II the officers are not to go into the
houses? A.-Why. the person who keeps
II will DO found out by tho officer going
In. That is one way
OIL thought you had Just stated the
way TO divorce graft was 10 keep the Off,
GERS out entirely. A.-Not allowing them
10 go In promiscuously.
Q.--You mean have men specially de-
tailed to go In carefully selected. You
Yes, It is the only way. II you let every
policeman go where he likes-dcar me.
graft. graft-there will be no end OF
graft
Q.-Have YOU had any Investigation into
the dlsorderly house situation I'm a par
tlcular way? Al never made an inves-
tigation of II.
Q.--You never did? A.-No. | never
had the time I took the gambling busl-
ness, and you see what / came 10. /
took II all out OF the hands OF all the
police. rs | recommended to Mayor Nc
Clellan's committee, and as they sent TO
the Legislature and unanimously recon-
mended, and I instituted the very force
that was recommended by that COMMITTEES.
OF one hundred and fifty men to deal
with gambling. and I put them at the
head OF three lieutenants. I did not
do IT, The Commissioner did IT, am
speaking now generally. They are sub
ject to no ones orders except the Com
And yet one OF these three
lieutenants turned out to be CRATER
right In headquarters with them, so you
see the difficulties Of the thing. or
course, felt awfully hurt. He felt hurt |
But tell you 1t did not deter me
particle
Waldo Sold Out by Scamp.
/ have Just gathered myself up, and
now. after two weeks vacation, I am go !
ing right on as though nothing happened
and continue that work. II l can devise
a better system I will. But l doubt II /
can. l think will continue that very
same system Of keeping the gambling
business down to one special squad under
the Commissioner himself. II ] thought
Waldo was cuipable at all | would not