New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-21
LEXOW POLICE BILL VETOED
FLOWER OBEYS HIS MASTERS.
THE GOVERNORS ARGUMENT AGAINST
A BIPARTISAN POLICE BOARD HERE.

TENDENT BYRNES'S AUTHORITN-BllLS
FOR POLICE REFORM IN AL
BA,Y. TROY AND RICH
MoND COUNTY ALSO
DIsAPPROvED.
FROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF iIrE TRrrr'~r
Albany. May Ex-Governor Flower has obeyed
his masters the Democratic bosses In the
cities Of the State once more by vetoing at their
command several bills passed by the Republican
Legislature to improve ;he police administration
Of three OF the cities Of the State. Incidentally
also he has followed the directions OF a rural
Democratic boss in the county OF Richmond
TO veto n bill in relation to the police OF that
county which threatened to put stop to ballot
box stu1lng and repeating In the interest OF the
Democratic party.
Mr. Flower vetoes the Lexow bill to create
non-partisan Board Of Police for New-York with
n Superintendent OF Police clothed with far
amper powers than at present. That veto mes
sage was written unquestionably at the COM
mand Of Richard Croker. Thomas F. Gilroy,
James j. Martin. John McQuade and other ram
many Hall leaders Mr. Flower then goes on
N veto Senator Saxtons bill creating a nom
partisan Board OF Police for the city Of Troy.
The wanton murder Of Robert Ross. q Republi-
can watcher at the polls in Troy recently and
the inactivity Of the Troy police on that occasion
showed the need Of a partisan police force;
but Governor Flower at the dictation OF Edward
Murphy. jr. United States Senator and Demo-
cratic boss" II Troy refuses to sign Senator
Saxton's act
ALpANY.s NEED or POLICE REFORM
But this does not end Mr.. Flowers action as
the official agent Of Democratic leaders. AT the
command Of John Bowe. member Of the Demo-
cratic State Committee. and the Democratic
boss" Of Albany. he has vetoed an act creating
slngle-headel police department for the CITY Oh
Albany In the fall of 1893 prodlgious election
frauds were committed in this city by Democratic
repeaiers and 1t was shown clearly tnat the
pole, winked at these violations OF law. Inc
management Of this police force obviously ought
90 be changed. and power should be given the re-
| Gently elected Mayor oi Albany 10 make such
| changes I'm the police department as Will insure
rs enforcing the Election laws Mr.. Flower
IS a candidate for reelection az Governor IL IS
! said he was threatened with a savage knhng at
the polls by the Clachine Democrats OF Albany II
he should sign the Police bill He must nave
known from his observation As resident ot ~ ~
b'ny for the last three years ina, me dc' "u'h'
| - bc signed in the public interest but he mas
/ vetoed II.
Finally. Mr Flower. AT the command of NichO.
/ las Muller. the Democratic boss Of Richmond
/ County has vetoed the BIZ giving the peop.e
! II that county an opportunity TO elect a fohce
! Commissioner. Election frauds OF an abomi-
/ nsblc nature were committed IN that county
/ last fall a. behalf u the Democratic party ana
/ the police force did not check the repeating
| There could not be a measure more In the inter-
! est II home rule" apparently than THIS one
! according 20 Governor Flowers own doctrine
! since the people Of Richmond County NOT the
| Legislature. are TO choose this Police Commis-
! soncr. But Mr.. Flower VIII not permit II; ne
vctoes the measure and thus deprives the voters
/ Of Richmond County Of any opportunity 10 I'M
| prove their police system
BYRNEs THE BURDEN OF HIS ARGUMENT.
The Governor. in his veto Of the New-York
! ild-
the large amount OF authority granted under 1t
10 Superintendent Byrnes. His whole argument
| is against having one man responsible for the
police administration of the city. While the con-
| n,cton Of the Police department with elections
makes IL unsafe. in the opinion 81 many. 20 nave
| only one Police Commissioner the Idea that ne
| Superintendent Of Police should have more au
| thoriy In purely police matters found genera
support In New-York: therefore Mt Flower diS-
approval OF the bin this ground WIZ 1nd little
support there. But IL IS apparent that TINS argu-
ment was only an excuse by Mr.. Flower. Nhat
| induced him 10 veto the bill was the command OF
| tho Tammauy Hall leaders. and they opposed
the bill because the Police Department ls their
greatest weapon on election day. Anything
| which would transform the Police department
| from A Democratic machine into non-partlSah
| body keepinR Its hands off politics. has their
| hostility. Mr.. Flower accordingly has vetoed the
| bill.
| "pOss', M'IATGHIIN VISITS MR. FLOWER.
Hugh Mclaughlin the Democratic "boss' OF
Rrooklvn. whose machine went 10 smash last
fall had n conference all day yesterday with
Mr. Flower II is difficult to sec Of what special
value Mr. McIaugAns views are TO Rosweh T..
| Flower lust now Indeed I'm view OF the happy
| results 10 the people Of Brooklyn which followed
| Mr. NcI,aughlin's nomination II Body Tor
| Mayor II may b" hoped that he gave Mr. Flower
| a good deal ~ advice and that the latter swai-
| Inved Il all Possibly 1t was Mr.. Mclaughlin
who gave MIR Flowor the last push toward
| votolpg all tie Police K"formatory bills r1erreu
| lou pfpO #
| FOr.R POLICE BILLS VETOED.
Mr. Flowers veto message on the four Police
| bills Is given below;
state Of New-York. Executive Chamber.
| Albany y. Y. May 10.
ueroron1urn filed with Assembly bill No. 1854.
on,,,led AN act TO amend Title u Of Chapter Il
NJ the Laws OF 1870 entitled An act TO amend the
net 10 combine into one act the several acts reiat-
ing to the city OF Albany. passed April T. lZ anu
the several acts amendatory thereof. and also 10
repeal the act to establish police district ana 10
proyide for the government thereof. passed Aprll
% 1868 and the several acts amendatory thereof
IN far as they relate to !hs cl,y OF 10 estsbsh
and maintain a police force In the city of Troy
senate bill No 9G9 entitled AN act IN reiat@on @ 10
the police force Richmond COUNTY ana Senaeg
40 OF the Laws OF 1852. entitled An act to con-
and local laws affecting public interests in The CITY
OF NewYork. ." with reference 10 the nppo%.ntt %nt an
Of Police Commissioners in said city Not "P
proved
THE BILLS FROM FLOWERS POINT OF WEI"
These bills embody attempts by the Legislature
TO reorgarlze the police departments OF four H'h'c
| paities They all legislate out OF ONCE presen'
| Commissioners OF Police appointed FOR ueil''''
| term They are all directed against municipahues
I'm which the present control is usually heid py '''
party opposed 20 that represented by the majority
in the present Legislature. They are al ,ntehue :.
give political advantage TO the party whose rrp,e re-
sentatlyes passed them. They are framed upon II. ~
general or consistent principle of legislation oi
municipal administration. one reposes the man man,
ogement OF the Police Department In the ,alayoi
and Chief OF Police to be appointed by the Mayor
Another virtually takes away from the Mayor 'h'
power to appoint Commissioners anu ailo,iuaIv o