The New York Police Force 209 



and the city. But as a whole they had not reached 

 such a standard. There were some who had reached 

 it; there were others who, though perfectly honest, 

 and wishing to see good government prosper, yet 

 felt that somehow it ought to be combined with 

 party advantage of a tangible sort ; and finally, there 

 were yet others who were not honest at all and 

 cared nothing for the victory unless it resulted in 

 some way to their own personal advantage. In 

 short, the problem presented was of the kind which 

 usually is presented when dealing with men as a 

 mass. The Mayor and his administration had to 

 keep in touch with the Republican party or they 

 could have accomplished nothing; and on the other 

 hand there was much that the Republican machine 

 asked which they could not do, because a surrender 

 on certain vital points meant the abandonment of 

 the effort to obtain good administration. 



The undesirability of breaking with the Repub- 

 lican organization was shown by what happened in 

 the administration of the police department. This 

 being the great centre of power was the especial 

 object of the Republican machine leaders. Toward 

 the close of Tammany rule, of the four Police Com- 

 missioners, two had been machine Republicans, 

 whose actions were in no wise to be distinguished 

 from those of their Tammany colleagues; and im- 

 mediately after the new board was appointed to 

 office the machine got through the Legislature the 

 so-called bi-partisan or Lexow law, under which 

 the department is at present administered; and a 



