New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
Police Chaos Again

Mr.. Bugher is to be congratulated that
his dismissal as Police Commissioner
came now rather than later. 1t is evident
from his letter to Mayor Hylan that, far
from having the free hand which had been
promised to him, without which no man
can be Police Commissioner and retain
his self-respect, he was expected to be
merely window dressing-a rubber stamp.
His excellent personal reputation and So
cial standing were to be used as a mask,
behind which some power other than his
was to operate, making even the petty ap-
pointments of that office, administering
the Police Department of which he was
rominally the head.
Whether that masked power was to be
Mayor Hylan personally, or Tammany
Hall, is beside the point. The point is
that if there is to be an honest abe eff
cient police force in this city there must
be man at the head of it who is actually
the head. There can be no interference
with him, either official or POLITICAL There
must be no grounds on which any member
Of the force may have reason to believe
that favoritism or pull can gain him ad
vantage.
It was by such absolute power, absolute
independence, that Police Commissioner
Woods was able to reorganze the depart
ment into one of which this city was de-
servedly proud. For the first time within
the memory of this generation the per-
sonnel of the force was rendered honest
and efficient; organized graft was rooted
out by him; politics and pull were routed.
This is not to say that the millennium
was brought about. What was accom-
plished was that the police force was made
into what it should be--a splendid ma
chine for the protection of the property
and lives of the people Of this city with
as little ineficiency, as little corruption.
among its members as it is humanity pos
sible to have in a body Of men of that size
The contrast between the police force
under Commissioner Woods and it's con-
dition under Tammany administrator
was notable. Mr.. Bugher, on taking Office
expressed his intention of being his cwr
man. Moreover, he praised the achieve
ments of his predecessor, and promised not
only that he would not disrupt so fine an
organization, but that he would endeavor
TO retain its good points and keep it at
the maximum Of efficiency. Now. after
twenty three days Of office under Mayor
Hylan, days filled with constant resist
ance to the Mayors attempt to force ap-
pointments on him, according to his letter
of protest, days filed with opposition to
suggestions that he was to take the advice
and recommendations as to policy of
subordinate in his department, Mr.. Bugher
is out He should sleep easier because
he Is out.
AS to Lieutenant Richard Enright, ap-
pointed Acting Commissioner by Mayor
Hyan, it need only be said that he was
the man three times passed over by Com
missioner Woods when promotions were
being made, although be stood at the head
Of the eligible list. The new head of the
force has been president Of the Lieuten-
ants Benevolent Association for years-an
organization which never won the gratitude
Of any Police Commissioner by its en-
deavor to cooperate in bringing about po-
lice reforms. He antagonized Commits
sioner Bingham,
1He pune may De SnCcked and gr1eVed
by these developments. 1t should not be
surprised. Tammany never has been able
to keep its hands off the Police Depart
ment. The only Mayor in recent years
who has been wise enough and public
spirited enough to do so was John Purrov
Mitchell. The voters. in the exercise of
their supreme powers, rejected this Mavor
a ha hoi Sc
candidate who had Tammany's nomlna-
tion. If police conditions here gradually
slip back toward what they were in the
days of Devery and Mike Murphy, if the
force disintegrates and the lid blows off.
the facts will be lamentabe but not un-
foreseen. History does repeat itself, and
the chief value of the written record is to
serve as q Warninr