Revelations of Municipal Corruption
By L. A. S.
REVELATIONS of municipal corruption in American cities which have often of late years been the theme of newspaper and magazine writers, have accustomed the American people to startling statements on this subject; but a considerable stir has been created by the following recent statement by District Attorney Jerome, of New York City, relative to prevailing conditions there:— There is not a place in the city of New York where street-cars run that the pickpockets are not working under distinct contract with the central office men. There is a crook in the Tombs now whom I asked about the division of the spoils, and I want to say right here that I believe what he told me. He said that the whack-up was made on a basis of fifty per cent for each side, except in some cases where the pickpocket gets an unusually fine stone, and then the officer takes it all. The district attorney of New York City is the leading figure among several millions of people in the business of prosecuting criminals, and may properly be supposed to know fully whether such a statement is warranted by existing facts. If it is, then government in the nation’s metropolis has seemingly about reached the possible limit of corruption. From almost any other source, such a statement would be considered a gross exaggeration of the truth. But coming from Mr. Jerome, and made by him, as it was, at a public meeting, there must be behind it evidence at least strongly tending to establish its correctness. It seems incumbent on the district attorney to produce the evidence. L. A. S.