Satan's Invisible World Displayed or, Despairing Democracy

f dead men's bones and of all uncleanness. Hardly a single thing that was proved to exist could have existed if the laws, rules and regulations had been faithfully enforced. Therefore until the searc

s armed with authority as great as that of an

ong in the Police Department? might be summed up in one word-Everything. From the crown of the head down to the sole of the fee

ow Repo

rganising elements at work in the Police Department are such that operate from

icians in the interest of their party, and that the real governing power in the force lay outside of it. Two of the Police Commissioners in whose hands the control of the force was nominally lodged wer

juncts of a political organisation, and will be used to perpetuate its power. A police c

executive committee of Tammany Hall, came much nearer to the ideal of a Municipal Assembly than the Board of Aldermen. It was to Tammany Hall, and not to the Board of Aldermen, that the Police Commissioners appealed when they wanted to enforce their authority over the men under their

id you g

I could reach people from different assembly districts; I have spoke

heir co-operation in securing greater effic

aking it effic

e there was no oth

o go to that would be as effe

he Committe

political faction had impressed itself so strongly upon the police force that its autho

. Tammany Hall naturally and inevitably became the one living centre of popular authority in the city. Its moral authority in New York was something like that of the Land League over Ireland under Mr. Parnell. The Lexow Committee report with a certain jealous awe

t up all the pool-rooms then in full operation, and which, according to the testimony up to that time, neither the whole forc

pregnated with the political influence of Tammany Hall"; and they add, what naturally follows, "that the suppression and repression of crime depended not so

s, or, in plain English, by the rustic vote of the rural districts of the State of New York. One redoubtable worthy, Judge and ex-Senator Roesch, who figures conspicuously in this American Tartarus as one of the minor Plutonian deities, gave very interesting evidence on this point. He was a Judge, an ex-Senator, and a leader of Tammany Hall. His aid in the latter capacity seems

as a political leader in carrying out your advice." Mr. Senator Roesch is in many ways a more typical representative of Tammany than Mr. Croker himself. Both, however, agree on one principle. They always stick by their friends, and when anything is going they see that, their supporters are not left out in the cold. This, which would be denounced as scandalous nepotism on the part of a less democratic Government,

e that, I never stop to consider who is in the place he wants to go to, but my object is to get him the

orce, or get him a promotion or positi

r not the man who is going to suffe

e to know the man they appointed to that place was compe

entirely of the merits of the man whom he seeks to remove, when requested by one of his friends-politi

his f

we have it that

erta

epublican leaders

the majority; New York city is more a

for a political comrade, was ample justification for insisting upon the removal of any officer who might happen to be in the way. Let no one imagine that this was an exceptional case. Commissioner Martin admitted frankly that from eig

was equally frank. He was questioned very closely as to whether he had ever promoted an officer simply

you have been police commissioner, you have not recommended for appointment, pro

others. I think there are oth

out on top. If they were tolerably near the top, it was held to be sufficient. The second answer is much more extraordinary. It was proved before the Committee that by connivance with a police clerk it was quite possible for candidates to be returned as having passed their examinations who had never been in the examination-hall, and who never had written a single answer to any of the questions! This was done b

L PARK,

, described how one of the person

aid, "How did you get that?" He said, "That is one of my students;" I said, "What do you mean?" he said, "I passed for them people;" he said, "That is good;" so we went and had a d

oint was overwhelming. It appeared that in a very great number of cases-so many indeed as practically to establish the rule-candidates who wished to be appointed to the force had to pay 300 dollars to a go-between, who negotiated the matter with the police authorities. How

dollars! The police who had purchased their promotion in this fashion naturally felt that they had a vested interest in their posts. In the British army a similar system of purchase grew up, but it was one

neys loaned to him by his friends by resorting to the practices which have been disclosed in the record before us. It seems incredible that men who are otherwise law-abiding and efficient should stoop to the perpetration of the monstrous and debasing practices revealed by this record, unless influenced by a

was being established in their midst? The answer is that the evil began at the top and spread downwards. Hence, it was impossible for the private constable to make a stand without exposing himsel

coll, and I knew the power that a police commissioner has got, to use every bit of the dep

. McC

dless power he

he said in h

er than the President of the United States h

ice to remember that they were living in a city the whole

Chamberlain, estimated that in his time "assessments"-that is, money paid by candida

o man, is thus at once cut off from all political ambition, because the only key to success is wealth or machine power. The ablest lawyer at our Bar could not secure a nomination for a judgeship unless he were able to pay an assessment of from 10,000 dollars to 20,000 dol

he police without making due allowance

ttee was Captain Creedon. It was in his case that the facts con

ntered the police he had served with great gallantry in the Union army. He served with his regiment in no fewer than twenty-three engagements. He entered as a private, rose to be a sergeant, and his name was down for a first lieutenancy when he left the ar

nment had given time for reflection, the worthy Captain came to the stand and explained that he had denied everything because he was an Irish revolutionist, and that he had such a dread and terror of being regarded as an informer, that he preferre

could possibly say on the stand could expose him to the imputation of being an inf

. Reppenhagen, the representative of the New York Democracy in his district, was indicated as the man to approach Police Commissioner Voorhis. Mr. Reppenhagen saw the Commissioner, and reported to the Captain that the place could be had for 12,000 dollars. Creedon had not at that time 12,000 dollars to invest in the purchase of a captaincy, but on talking it over with his friends, they agreed to make up a purse, so as to enable him to acquire the position which he coveted. While they were raising the money, Reppenhagen reappeared, and announced that a certain sergeant named Weigand had offered 12,000 dollars for the captaincy, and that if Creedon wished to secure it, it would cost him 15,000 dollars. Creedon's

tains the foll

long as Creedon's friends had put up more money than Weigand was reported to have put up, th

said that.-Vol

d and in substance as follows: "I will go right down and I will see Voorhis

remember

ed fist, didn't he say those words, "That Voorhis wanted everything, almost the earth; he was hoggish, a

said that-yes.-Vo

of fingering any of the money was to see that Creedon's appointment went through, otherwise he would not make a cent. Thus pressed, Martin went off to see Voorhis. When he next saw Reppenhagen he assured him that it was all right, and that Voor

until the appointment is made." Thus adjured, John went down, vowing that he would not lea

had refused to hand over the money until the Captain was duly appointed. But now that Creedon was a captain at last they released the money. When Reppenhagen handed over the fifteen thousand dollars to Martin, that functionary handed him back five thousand dollars for himself. How much of the ten thousand dolla

aged in ferreting out how the money was paid which secured Captain Creedon his captaincy, a startling rumour reached the Committee that the Police Board had suspended Cap

secution and prosecution, and for the Police Board to use his own admissions against him, which were privileged communications, the making of which secured him protection from any action based upon such admissions, was an indictable offence at the common law. But what made things worse was that, when the Captain left the stand, he had been addressed in eulogistic terms by counsel. This was not without cause. His candour in owning up and admitting everyt

had been removed from duty. Only when this honest officer had admitted the truth did they pounce down upon him and make an example. It is only fair to say that the Board was not aware when it suspended Creedon of the remarks that had been made by the counsel of the Committee as he left the witness stand. When they were rebuked

ising that until the Lexow Committee sat the authorities were utterly unable to dis

IN CR

AX F. SCH