New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-25
Low MORAL TONE CAUSE
OF GRAFT, FOSD|CK SAYS
"GOvernment Will Not Rise
Above Level of Citizens Be-
hind It," Church Folk Hear.
"THIEVERY DISAPPEARING"
Contractors Bride to Evade
Law-Pharasaic Attitude OF
People Causes 80 Per Cent
of Police Graft.

Raymond h. FosdlCk, former Commas
sionCr of Accounts, in speaking last night
at the Manhattan Congregational Church
Broadway and 10th street, upon the SUD
ject How the Peoples Money Is spent
laid upon the citizenship Of New York. De-
cause of its low moral tone response
bility for the graft in the Police Depart
ment and in other public departments,
Were it not for the pharisaical atti-
tude of the respectable element he as
serted there would be upon the statue
books laws which would permit an Ell
fective handling Of such evils as prosu-
tuition. The address was one OF series
on public affairs arranged by the pastor
Of the church. the Rev. II. A. Stlmson'
for presentation at secular meetings MT
Fosdick said:
We are hearing great deal these
days about graft, and il undoubtedly
exists in the Police Department MI
Jerome not long ago made the state
ment that il exists in every city ue-
partment This statement Will have u
be taken with some qualifications: 49,
Graft is not nearly SO prevalent IN CITY
departments as il was four years ago,
although IL perhaps exists In petty lorii,s Us
in some departments, just as II exists III
petty form IN most business enterprises.
There is not concern to-day in the Clty
Of New York doing business OF over
100000 a year that does not have various
small leaks, que to dishonesty. The same
condition is true Of cur city departments.
Ii is important to distinguish between
the various kinds Of graft. Graft can ne
roughly classified under two headS' FlrsI
dishonest practices by which public mon
eys are distracted for private purposes
and. second. dishonest practices by WhlCh
concessions or privileges are sold 10 IN
dividuat for consideration. rms idSt
form does not directly AFFECT the pubic
treasury.
Graft in the first form which I have
mentioned, that is. money stolen by TRICKS
and devices from the public treasury, -
rapidly disappearing from our mumclPd'
life, both i'm New York and other clues
Modern business systems, improved meth
DDS along accounting lines and other
systems o. control, are rapidly max ne
this form OF graft extremely dlincull II
not practically impossible.
! do not believe that there IS any more
graft along this line i'm the city OF Ne"
York to-day than there would De- IN
business concern of equal size. hal ~,
if "A business concern expended $iH"N'V'l
year. ] don't think there WOuid DE any
less money stolen IN us operauVHs t'. o.
is stolen from the city of New YORK TO-
cay.
Graft in tie second form. that is, the sell
ing of privileges, concessions ana prQts,,
ton. the kind OF graft that las beeh
shown to exist i'm the Police DtpdI tIhtlt,
is the. predominant vital pIobleih III O"'
municipal government Mt NJ
Tho recent exposure in the Ponce bt-
partment is call To arms to az clur
zens who believe that the principles OF
democracy can be successfully appHeu 70
our American cities. We are coIlroIll,u
With a condition Whlch affects the N'rE
90 eTnN4Tgnmgnt. and our gen
Grafton Is called upon TO fight an lnsldl-
Gus foe.
In this connection ! would call your al,
tention 10 tins fact, that the Successl ~
solution Of this problem Involves NOT oi'is
better officials but better citizens; II ~
the citizen who wants 10 get something l"
which ne is not entitled that CONSTITUTES
the chief difficulty. tit,
under the law he ought not 10 get or
protection in the conduct of some i!leSal
business rs willing TO pay the price WIN
the result that public oihcidls succuihO 10
temptation. 81. ,,,,,,
wanted 10 eliminate the graft in the
building Department they could 90 II ~
ton days. The trouble is they all dOn I
want to eliminate it. They need II IN
their business. Some Of them want 10
have the opportunity Of putting IN d
three-inch beam where siX-inch beam
is required They want 10 avoid some OF
the strict sections OF the building code.
n is Chcgper 10 pay an inspector than to
but up a building that is safe. And yet
when these same gentlemen PICK up the
morning newspapers and read OF graft IN
the Building Department they hold up
tbe;r hands I'm horror and bemOan the
lack Of honest men in office.
When | think Of the graft that undoubt-
odly exists i'm some Of our building de-
partmcnts my indignation runs not
against the inspectors who take a brine,
weak and contemplate as they are. but
against the respectable contractors VINO
made the graft possible at the beginning