New-York tribune., 1886-02-08
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BILL PROPOSING TWO COMMISSIONERS


HOW THE MEASURE is REGARDED-w0BK DONE Bf
THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
The Introduction of bill in the Assembly
by Robert Ray Hamilton 10 egslate out OF once the
present Police Commissioners and give Mayor Grace the
power to appoint their has created surprise
among Republicans. The bill provides for only TWO
commissioners, who shall belong to opposite political
parties. That Republican Assemblyman should pre-
sent measure end the terms OF two Republican om-
oias whose title to office recently been confirmed
by the Court of Appeals and give tho appointment OF
their SUCCESSORS TO whoever snce he has been In
Office has consistent in tho declaration that no
would appoint no Republican to Office unless compelled
to- is con sderod singular to the least Tho most
plausible theory advanced ia that tho bill is merely
cloak for something else The joint committees OF the
Senate and Assembly will meet tomorrow 10
consider matters connected with Nnw-York CITY and this
bill NAV havo been put forward with the intention OF
opening up question of reducing the number OF heads
Of the city departments
Mayor Grace tt. well known, favors sngle-headed
commissions. provided he can appoint tho commits
sioners. Ex-Polce Commissioner Joel b. Erhardt called
at Police Headquarters early last week and announced
that he was going TO Albany 10 have bill introduced
Iecsating the present Police Board out OF existence
and was going to stay there until II was passed MI.
Hamilton introduced the bill at Mr.. Erhardts request
1t is further asserted that the appointoes OF Mayor
Grace In case the bill becomes law, VIII be MI
Erhardt and ohm voorhis. OF the present board
There is OF much doubt that Mr. Yoorhs would bc re-
appointed, but there Republicans who are unk nj
enough to say that Mr. Erhardt would do well TO foify
himself in advance with an iron-clad pledge
from the Mayor or he may fare as badly
at the Mayors hands the ato Police Justice Gardner
Thomas s. Asten, President OF the Department
OF Taxes and Assessments
Stephen B. French, president OF the Police Board was
asked yesterday II the plan to reduce the number OF
police commissioners to two wise one. He replied
81 do not think So Few persons have any idea of The
ToLa fla m ffaF
OF police trials alone During the year 1850 there we're
257O charges OF all kinds against officers OF all grades
for violation OF the rules These ranged all the way
from such offences as being OF post or taking
while duty TO Grayer ones. In some cases
dozen or moro witnesses are examined This
testimony, oftentmes very vOluminous, Is written
out and read by all the commissioners be-
fore Judgment is rendered There during the year
sixteen dismssals mostly for intoxcAtion, l,62O lines
and 3l7 rcprimauds, and 5l7 complaints we're dis
missed. The remainder still pending All these
first be submitted TO the president OF the
Board for his approval one Of the commissioners is
chairman OF the Committee Repairs and Supplies
He is charged with tho duty of purchasing all the sup
plies and carefully scrutniZng all the bills rendered
therefor. lie must visit all satonhous and Inspect
their condition. Another commissioner Is chairman OF
the Committee Pensions. good part OF his time Is
ocupled I'm examining applications for pensions by Wild
ows petitions to be retired by old members of the
force and other matters OF this nature The fourth
commissioner is treasurer OF the Board ana or
the Pension Fund. As more than SfoOoOOo
passes through his hands every year. you
may imagine that great OF his time Is taken up by
this branch OF his duties. have said nothing OF the
many other things that engross the attention Of the
individual commissioners and the Board. have given
eyuush. however. to show that each member of the
his defined duties and that no one o ua pos
c"mmissioner John McClave. the treasurer of tho
Board " fully agree with what the president h's
-hid Iuc
partment call for expenditure OI tlmo hnd atonIOh
necessarily very great The treasurer w disputse uur
lug the year 1856 the OF S3s5J12. this being Tue
approp ration made py the Board OF Esuhate BeslIes
tins LARGE sum- over 500 900 Ia collected from multi
tuGe OF aud paid over 10 pensioners Tue pas
law establishing The Police Relief Fnnd snias
"A good deal work and spOnsibity. Tue president
Board almost constantly BUSY 10 receiving ah
ausweIiug communications from all parts OF the world
ou police subjects; ie must apProhe %i ar ~,
made against the force Allte CuhIniH-nct- ae
for appointment pJrOmpn aud To aid the Clv ser
examiners In all particulars Promotions oil mem
lers force from grade To another tle al-
polntmcnt Of special patrolmen ana lhcldehtaI uues
demand Tar greater labor tah one man or even No cs
well per The entire of the pension list ana
every thing Herewith Is greater task than
one man should be burdoned with. Besides the responsl
hity Of managing properly the police force tho add
tOua Labor OF the appointment OF inspectors ana pol
clerks selecting places OF registry etc, aud the nnum-
erabe changes occurring therein Is aid on the Police
commissioners Other bureaus Including the eNaniha'
OF engineers steam boilers, etc require cOhsueIS
Assem6lyman Robert Ray Hamilton was asked why hc
had introduced the bill. fe replied " The fact IL. 10.
ruduced this bill at tho request OF friend and Without
that II would be passed Personally am uot
Interested In tbs bill | suppose Will be
discussed on Tuesday by joint committee OF both
Houses together other bills affecting NewIOrk
of which this session Is pr0lhc tulnk the Dlll
intended much To lead to discussion OF the PO-
lice Department and It's methods rs to serve any other
purpose" -,,,. =, -,-,-,. =. .
thing concerning Asscmb ymau HamtOnr bill, runor
had connected him with It's parentage, said do not
care TO thing about this bill al present
But will In favor OF reducing tho nutnber
of ads OF departments. cinnOt see any reason why
therc should COmmissOn0rs OF Police; TWO would
do IN iusf as
nf Elections Is uader The control OF tue pOHce,
there he two commissioners. representing the TWO
great political parties Otherwise cannot SEQ "hy
there need than head, with chiefs OF bureaus
under him. The Tax Department has such vast
amount work especially III the matter OF nearing APP
pcaons for the reduction Of taxes, that TWO cOmms-
sinners necessary. The department OF CHARITIES
and Correction has a number OF institutions under us
care some OF them widely separated these must be
visited daily by OF the Commissioners and tho other
should the headquarters TO answer any call madc
some OF them legislative for IT enacts sanitary
code the violation Of or the provisions OF when IL
a misde eanor-that IL would not 10 well TO c0nfer
these on The DOCK Department IN the same
Way possesses great powers and is virtually indcpcn
dent of This requires two heads, as so much
power should not be lodged In the hands OF one man
The Park Department ] would put Dack III the
M. .iton where IL WAS originally When II was nIst
created IL was composed OF gentlemen who served with
ont pay and who allowed 500 for incidental OK
uens,g Then afcrward there executive officer,
tue Fire Department and as there is no need OF
s,ngling that out one-headed commission would
alsn have that double headed These merely specu
atIons however. have no idea that the Legislature
will give tho present Mayor any further power"
FOR ROBBlNG AN EXPRESS MESSENGER
BLOOMINGTON, Ind, Feb. 6.--The jury in