The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-01
MAYOR, HIT BY CRITIC,
URGES HOME RULE


mmissioners come and 60. but II also
knows that tho powers against enforce
ment are bound TO return some day. The
inspectors stay and the politicians stay
and they have long memories
do tho people want the laws enforced
II anybody thought they did they had only
to remember the case Of two policemen
several years ago. who tried to enforce
the excise laws. They were tried and dis
missed.
III the policeman under the proposed
laws enforces the laws he will take the
chance that Col Goethals's successor may
not approve Of that and where will that
policeman be?
THE legislation leaving the policeman
where he doesn't know whether he will
be disciplined for enforcing the law or
for not enforcing Il will introduce into the
city a decentralization Of the police force
never before dreamed Of. It 10 therefore
unsafe to amend the present laws simply
because temporarily we have chance to
get q man like 0osthals.
"If Col. Cocktails has the genius We
believe he has," said Mr.. Cans, "hs could
come here with tho laws a. they stand
and inject into the Police Department an
esprit de corps, which will accomplish the
end for which we are all striving" 1t
was then that Mr.. Cans referred TO Dev-
cry and Waldo.
The Mayor was getting ready to 20
down to Henry street after Mr.. Cans
spoke. but he remained and his face was
a little flushed as he arose TO reply.
lie thought Mr.. Cans had said about
everything that could he said in favor or
the opposition. He noticed that he mon
toned men who fear the lower strata In
the department and other men who do
nothing because OF that fact Tho new
laws are to protect these very men and
they cannot be protected under existing
laws. He told OF Police Commissioner
who ordered an inspector 10 clean UP his
district under penalty OF punishment
The inspector turned on his heel with.
You cant do anything to me unless YOU
can get something on me-" and left the
office.
Those kind OF men will have something
done to them. The Mayor and the Police
Commissioner cannot reach the men who
sit supinely and do nothing. They want
10 reach them. A police department must
reflect tho character OF Its Mayor ant
Police Commissioner, and II New York
wants a Van Wyck with his Devery It has
only to vote into Office that kind Of q man
to get them
The now laws want the force responsive
to the Commissioner. who Is responsible
to the Mayor II the Police Commits
s.oner's policy Is bad The Mayor can hold
him TO account; II the Mayors policy 10
bad the public should hold him TO account.
II am and I have always been an earn
est advocate of the recall Of the Mayor by
the people of the city" he declared. 1T
Is true" he added. that We have laws not
IN accord with the views of a large por-
ton OF the city, but whether they are OPP
posed to the moral conscience Of ma
jority of this city neither Mr. Cans nor
can say ; we do not know.
II think II would be a mighty good
thing for New York II We had here a sum
cient measure OF home rule to enable the
citizens TO settle for themselves these
matters. Then II We made mistakes those
mistakes would be our own and We would
have only ourselves TO blame for them"
The Mayor said he had not intended 20
talk about the charter. but he could not
help saying:
II hope that when the new charter Is
passed II will contain provision for the
recall OF the Mayor SO that the people
may have the control over him that he has
over the heads of his departments"