New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-12
Plans Board Of Public Morals.

The Mayors plan for the control of
vice and the publication of the Police
Department was outlined in two letters
he made public yesterday. one vas
addressed to Allan Robinson. chairman
Of the committee of citizens named a.
the Cooper Union mass meeting TO con-
slider means for improving conditions
in the city. The other was TO Assem-
blyman Meyer Greenberg, representing
the 10th Assembly District. who had
already drafted a bill. with the Mayors
cooperation TO provide for the new
Department of Public Morals.
The Mayor asked Assemblyman
Greenbcrg not 10 introduce his bill in
the Legislature until ii had been fully
considered by the citizens committee.
He said that he would prefer sucn Z
bill TO he introduced under the auspices
of the committee lie would be glad
10 have an early conference with the
committee. he said.
While the Mayor admitted that the
only way properly 10 handle the vice
problem was 10 take it from the police,
he was inclined to minimize the exist
ence of graft, and declared that ii has
never been less in the department than
during the last two years. He de-
Tended Commissioner WalCJ by saying
that the very prosecution Of gambling
and vice under his administration was
responsible for the recent revelations.
He suggested that there were mot as
many as one hundred" policemen in
the department who have been cor
rupted.
While the Mayor admitted that the
new force also might be corrupted, ne
suggested that the possibilities Tor
graft might be greatly reduced by CIV
jnr the Commissioner the power OF
appointment and dismissal at will He
WAS not in favor Of putting the new
force under board Of commissioners
TO serve without pay. TO be enectiVc
il ought to be under paid comms-
sioner and paid deputies. who could
devote all their time 10 their duties;
Eliminated Much Graft. He Says.
The MAYOR could not refrain IN his
letter 10 Mr.. Robinson from telling him
that his police policy had practically
eliminated saloon and hotel graft, and
he wrote that he knew he had meas
ura bly, succeeded in respect OF gam
bling houses and disorderly houses"
Commenting the work of the Police
Department, he wrote:
Police Commissioners Cropsey and Waldo
have put many gamblers and keepers OF
disorderlV houses OutOf business. The re-
suit has been 10 provoke some or them to
reveal facts with regard To the bribery or
the police 1t seems TO be lost sight Of
to some extent that all Of these revela-
tions of police bribery came from this en-
forcemcnt Of the law against the persons
who made such revelations or their part
pers in crime.
make il appcar that these revelations are
of occurrences which TOOK place since
Waldo became Police commissioner VIII
not / am certain, deceive any intelligent
ncreon Meanwhile. a considerable num-
her of corrupt officials In the Police De-
partment have been removed OF c0mpcnHd
10 resign. The great pody OF me ioFce
omeens in The Bronx. i'm Richmond and
i1 most of Manhattan-is doing its duty
faithfully day after day.
The dereliction of few. however.
had such "A bad effect on the whole
force the Mayor declared. that IT
.oon,ed wise to remove the temptation
entirely. but he acknowledged that ito
,oavo all the captains. and inspectors
free 70 deal with the liquor saloons,
Gambling houses and disorderly houses
e. only 10 make extensive corruption
certain"
Commends Vice Squads.
Referring 20 his policy o. placing the
speclal vice squads under direct con-
troll of the Police Commissioner. which
Continued on fourth page. third column.
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