New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-22
A State Police Wanted

It is gratifying to find that residents OF
the states rural districts, more particu-
larly organizations which may unquestion-
ably be taken to represent rural sentiment
accurately. are heartily in favor OF the
establishment of a state police force. The
New York State Agricultural Society,
winding up its annual meeting the other
day. adopted strong resolutions tavoring
such a course. These recited that rural
territory was inadequately policed, that
crime in consequence was not prevented
detected or punished with certainty and
efficiency, that the improvement OF high
WAYS and the general use of AUTOMOBILES
made even remote country districts acces-
sibe to the criminal classes, and that petty
thieving and lawlessness, in addition TO
fragrant violations of the automobile laws,
were constantly increasing.
These statements are true, as any per-
son who will take the trouble TO lnvesu-
gate the crime records of any rural or
semi-rural upstate county can easily as
certain. 1t is not only the lesser crimes
that go Undecided and unpublished.
Highway robbery, burglary Of rail-
road stations and pOstoffices, murder,
NAV be included in the list. Miss Rather
inc MAYO, who has recently written book
on this subject, says it owed its inception
to a case which came under her immediate
personal notice. A paymaster was as
saulted on a country road by four men,
two of whom he recognized positively.
Although wounded, he managed to get to
his place of employment and give the
alarm. His assailants, meantime, had
taken refuge in small piece of woods.
This was surrounded by men from the
lneighborhood and workmen, but all re-
fused to go in to capture the would-be
lmurderers, and one frankly said that such
action would be equivalent to signing their
death warrant, for they had to work IN
the country, and the robbers or friends
would get" them. The robbers, of course,
escaped.
When any real emergency arises the
sheriff and constable system, which is the
sole protection" of the rural dweller OF
the workman in rural sections, breaks
down. On the other hand, the state police
system Of Pennsylvania, the model pro-
posed for this state, has a steadily better
ling record of handling not only rural
crimes, but of preserving the peace and
protecting life and property in time OF
riot, disaster and the like. Pending be
fore the Massachusetts Legislature is a
bill TO establish there a state police system,
not like the Pennsylvania model, since
the commission would be a central body
having jurisdiction over local municipa
forces. But under this commission would
be a rural patrol force precisely like the
Pennsylvania body. OF this, "The Boston
Transcript" says: provision of some such
agency as this is badly needed in Massa
chusetts."
It is badly needed in New York State
Establishment of state police force
would require a considerable initial in
vestment and fairly large annual main
tenance charge thereafter. The none!
would be well spent. If the force were
kept as efficient and as free from politics
and the influence of special interests a.
Pennsylvania has been, the state would
be an actual gamer for it would save
money now spent on sheriffs and thei
posses with no result, and there would b.
a encouragement or prevention of crim
which would represent much value to thu
taxpayers. New Yorks Legislature shoulc
b enact this year the bill it failed to adop
p. last winter.