New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-28
ONLY FIFTY

Ex MAYOR McClcllan'S comment OH
Manor GaynorS census OF corrupt
policcmen is much 10 the point; III
there are only fifty they are yer!
able and active body of men. they
also are astOniShingly SuccessIul III
reaching the strategic places III the
department from which they can over
awe the honest men and use TN" forc'
Systematically a an instrument 81
extortion. That j. Il phase or the
matter which Mr.. Gayuor studiousN
ignores. The exact proportion oi grant
rrS in the department il of no lnoliieh'.
fl is the way those grafters. DE- lheF
ever sO few. have been allowed H.
dominate the department that counts.
II is The way the Mayor and his f"lice
commissioner have encouraged them
and antagonized efforts 10 break the"
strange bold on police administration
hat is most scandalouS.
Mayor GaynOr's figures may y"
ronghlv correct If 81. why out oi the
vast army of honest men were 80 Few
picked for the places offering Speclai
temptation for grating tha' III" pun
chaSers Of protection recognized -
rare and notable figures the two OF
three higher officers in contact win
them who would not take money: II
il be said that the temptations oI th'S'
POSITIONS were So great that almost
any policeman detailed I" them WolId
have fallen. then il must be- concluded
that the policemen ~ body are la'k
Ing in character and the Mayors cu-
logy i discredited The Commissioners
has practically unlimited discretion III
assigning men 10 the supervision 81
vice II he couldn't 90 any better than
he did. and any other selections w"ulh
have maintained the system 81 grHi'.
then il is time for him 10 stop DEFEND
ING the force aud 10 seek a complete
reorganization. IT. oil the other hand.
the force ~ - whole i good then rY
what strange i'll luck or fatuouS iudg-
meuI has he left the honest men I" Il"
the routine work 0f the department.
while putting the raScalS in the place.
where the highest moral character wa
most in demand: How did Becker
happcn 10 head the vice squat How
came Sweeney and Walsh th land
where grating was easy. Will" honest
men found themselves rclegaicd 10 III"
palroling Of goat pastures
Mr.. Mcclellan is exactly right when
he JwellS on the system" which DOM
mates the department. He knew ID"
system when he was Mayor ANA
Commits >ioncr Bingham had constant
war with II. Commissioner Waldo has
had no war with it, II seems 10 hav"
fooled him or ovcrridden him. ana
when ii is attacked from the outside
if has found in him an effective II IN
knowing support. The system has
been in evidence AL through the events
growing ont of KoscnthaTS accusa-
lions. Whether il was "onc little lieu
tenant" or the whole fifty corrupt
policemen under fire ~ any lime.
fusing evidence. Spriting away Wit
nesses. shadowing prosecutors. threat
eming "squcacrs." And the Mayor and
Mr.. Waldo have deliberately closed
their eyes Ia this evidently organized
effort 10 safeguard grating and peg
sisted IN treating police corruption -
mere sporadic acts of Il few Isolated
individuals. Mr.. Waldo Yesterday
could see much wrOugdoing. but II
was all the work OF individual mem
bers Of the department. That there
is any relation between the individuals
and any system lay which the ma
chincry Of corruption Is kept going h"
is apparently unable To understand
There are none 50 blind rs those who
won't see.