Life — April 4, 1901 — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“ While there is Life there’s Hope.” VOL. XXXVII. APRIL 4. 1901. No. 961. 19 West Tunry-Finst St., New Yore. Pabtt yan every Thursday. $5008 year In ad- ostage (0 foreign countries in the Postal Ua 04 a year extra Single current copies, 10 Back numbers, after three munths from date of publication, cents, No contribution will be returned unless accompanied by stamped and addressed envelope ‘The illustrations in Lure are copyrighted, and are not to be reproduced without special arrangement with the publishers, Prompt notification should be sent by sud- soribers of any change of address. HE return of the native is again being discouraged, especially at the Port of New York, The Treasury Depart- ment, through its employees. in the New York Custom House, hinders the returning native’s friends from meet- ing him on the pier when his ship comes in, strews 2S’ the dock with his own and his wife's underclothes, and makes him sorry he came home. This sort of harrying of travelers coming back from Europe is an old story, and bad in the telling. Periodically the Treasury Department has a spasm of vigilance and insists that there sball be no smuggling in passengers’ bag- gage. There are reasons for these spasms, for a good many passengers will smuggle if they can, especially passengers of the gentler persuasion. Dressmakers also beat the Government out of the duties on a good many gowns in the course of every year. ‘These evasions can be stopped, and the way to stop them is probably the way the Government is now pursuing. But is it worth while to stir up such a prodigious amount of irritation over what is, after all, a trifling matter? The duties collected from travelers cut a very sinall figure in the Government revenues anyway, and the difference between the amount collected when travelers are generously and courte- ously used, and the total got by treating all travelers as suspicious characters, and harrying and insulting them, is a “LIFE mere bagatelle. If Mr. Gage only bothered the rogues there would be litle complaint that was worth notice. But in order to thwart a few rogues in their malfeasances he outrages the feelings and the tempers of thousands of decent people who are perfectly ready to pay anything they owe, It is a very small business, and a nuisance, and itis to be hoped that the present infliction of it may soon be abated. §p2___ eet Rs we F HAS it really come to the parting of . the ways between Platt and Odell? Has the old jackal become so nearly toothless that the lion cubs are going to repudiate his leadership? It is inevitable that that should happen presently, and at this writing it seems quite possible that it has happened Colonel San was made Assistant Secretary of War the other day, though the appointment was not to Mr. Platt’s taste. It seems an admirable appoint- ment. That was in Washington. Now, in Albany, there are excellent reasons to believe that Governor Odell has declined to accept the State Constabu- lary bill which Mr. Platt has insisted on passing. There is something to be said for the bill. New York has been cursed for three years with a rotten police organization which has levied toll for Tammany or Tammany workers on vice, on trade, on everything which it is the business of the police either to restrain or to protect. The Tammany ized police force is a tremendous evil. We all know that in theory, and thousands of us know it by personal experience. Mr. Platt says: ‘I will have my Legislature legislate the con- trol of the New York police out of Tammany’s hands altogether.” The answer is, ‘You can’t do it constitutionally, and if you could, it ought not to be done, because it conflicts with the right of local self-government. Let New York cleanse itself or go dirty. Bad as it is, it would lose more than it would gain by having its police force run at Albany.”’ Public sentiment is very strong against this reform proposed by Mr. Platt, and it inclades the best senti- ment in the State. Governor Odell apparently shares it, and certainly recognizes it, and Mr. Platt has had notice that his Police bill cannot become a law. The Governor has done right, and no doubt is felt that he will stick. He did not scek a difference with Platt. Mr. Platt got him in a corner where he had either to stand up or lie down, and he has stood up. Really that seems the proper attitude for a Governor of New York. OVERNOR ODELL is an interest- ing figure nowadays. Since Mr. Platt has managed New York State Republican politics, no Republican has been allowed to grow big enough to endanger the mastership. To Mr. Depew a Senatorship was given. Some one had to have it, and Depew was a safe man with restricted ambitions, and trained to listen to reason. Roose- velt shot up after the Spanish war and was Governor. He was a dangerous man in the State, and Platt got him out of it. To be sure Platt kicked him upstairs, but he had to go. How will it be with Odell? Will he be suffered to develop? Will it be possible to stunt him? He is no novice; no chicken, It is possible there is in him the making ofa statesman, and it is many a long day since the Republicans in New York have produced one. That each party in a State should have an author- ized leader isa part of the system of republican government which our country now enjoys. The passing of the sceptre in New York from the hands of Piatt must come soon, and whenever it comes it will be a moment- ous change. If it goes to Odell we shall see what we shall see, but we shall look on hopefully, for while Odell is not too good for human nature's daily food, he has qualities that excite hope. But there is not likely to be a public squabble over the change. There is no need of violence or an open breach; no need of any knocking-down and drag- ging-out. If the sceptre changes hands the transfer is likely to be gradual and decorous. comicbooks.com