The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-06-05
ALDERMEN SHY ON
GAMBLING REPORT
Only Four Of Curran Committee
at Meeting Called to
Pass It.
POLICE BLACKMAIL FOUND
Waldo and GaynOr Only Keep
Outward Order. Re-
port Says.
POLICE BLACKMAIL FOUND

The row among tho members Of the
Curran Aldcrmanic Comntte" resulted
in the lack Of a quorum at the meeting
called for I o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Three of the four "pitiful little Alder
men" as Mayor Gaynor characterized
Curran. Folks. Esterbrook and Hamil-
ton. We're in Chairman Curran's office at
the time set. Alderman Esterbrook was
at home with tonsillitis Aldermen Dowl-
ing. Smith and Kerncy. the Tammany
minority. and Downing and Shipley. the
two Republicans who refused To vote on
the recommendation To ask the Mayor
| To- oust Waldo. We're absent
I'll" minority sent word by Alderman
Smith that they wouldn't he presen;
until Monday morning, when the whole
report Will be voted on in accordance
with Downing's motion last Monday.
! Downing and Shipley are following the
same policy.
! The meeting was called TO pass upon
tho second section OF the final report,
dealing with gambling and tho social
evil The lack Of "A quorum made IL
| Impossible to vote on the report. As II
stands : bears the individual approval
of each Of the four Aldermen who voted
: f"r Waldo's removal on Monday.
! The report as prepared says that al
though tho present Mavor and Police
commissioner have cndcavorod to en-
force laws against gambling their cf-
| forts have not been effective. and that
It has bcen their policy to enforce laws
against the social evil only where out
ward conditions were disordcrly or upon
persistent complaint
! Widespread Black mail.
There has been widespread blackmail
levied by police officials upon the keep
crs Of gambling houses and other re-
sorts III" report continues. and adds
that this "xtortion has been in'de possi-
lhlr "hy weakened discipline and "a fail
urc t" employ proper administrative
methods"
The report says that tho exposures
made disclosed only "A small fraction of
lne corruption existing in the depart
| ment.'
We have received sufficient evidence
OF criminal connection between the po-
! lice and vinlators Of the law" il SAYS.
| TO become convinced that a large per-
| ccntagc of the force having to dea,
with gambling and the social evil have
! participated in the spoils collected from
these fertile sources OF graft.
I'm view ot these indictments and
disclosures IT is astonishing To- note that
on September 20. 1912. Police Commits
sioncr Waldo, tcstifying before MS, de
clared. There is nothing tho matter
with tho Police Department except pub
lie clamor"
Mention Is made Of the testimony
given before tho committee that police
men received money for throwing"
cases in court.
We have found no indication" the
| report goes on. that the Commissioner
has caused investigation To lie mad,
Of this. although he has on many o.
casions condemned the courts for dis
charging prisoners in this class of
| cases
The committeeman found an eXplana-
tion for the possibility of an alliance
between policemen and violators of the
law in "a total failure effectively to
check the work of police officials and
10 discipline those officers shown 10 he
ncglcctfn Of their duties. IN the COM
missloner's stubborn confidence IN the
Integrity of men selected by him to
supervise this work" and in tho general
police system,
The report recommends more secure
crease in the number Of deputies and
tho abolition ~ the inspection districts.
with the establishment Of the precinct
as the police unit.
Vice squads Urged.
II also recommends more effective use
iof Headquarters vice squads; the cs-
tablishment OF small secret service
squad, composed Of men other than po.
Ilcemen. to secure evidence against cor.
rupt police officials. and "A change in
method Of handling complaints.
The report gives n table showing
that forty-fve indictments against
twenty different persons have resulted
from III" testimony given before tn"
committee. Fourteen OF the twenty
, were policemen.
The testimony Of ex-Inspector Hayes