New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-18
FOR A NEW POLICE BOARD.
CHARLES S. SMITH WOULD HAVE ONE
COMMISSIONER ONLY.
TEXT OF ASSEMBLYMAN LAWsONS Nun
PARTISAN BILI-MR. FISH FAVORS
THE FORMER PLAN.

PARTISAN BILI.-MR FISH FAVoRS
THE FORMER PLAN.
syRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
Albany. jan l7-Hamlton Fish. the chairman
OF the Assembly Committee Cities. received
to-day letter from Charles S Smith, the president
Of the Chamber of Commerce Of New-fork, faVor-
ing slngle-headed Police Department In New-iork
City Mr. Fish, commenting upon this letter, SAID:
.I rather favor the idea of having only one Police
Commissioner in Hew- York, thus making some one
man responsible for the government of the Police
Department. as Mr.. Smith suggests in his letter
would you intrust to this one Police Commits
sioner the naming OF the election inspectors OF
New-York?" inquired The Tribune correspondent.
NO" replied Mr. Fish. decsively II would
separate the B.reau of Elections from the Police
Department. and put it in charge of either two or
four members to be equally divided between the
Republican and the Democratic parties There are
other bureaus also OF the Police Department
which perhaps should be detached from 1t TO
tighten the labors of one Police Commissioner and
enable him TO attend exclusively to the police
affairs of the city"
The letter which Mr.. Fish received from Mr.
Smith is given below:
Dear Mr. Fish: l want 10 express to you the great
qualification with which ! saw in the papers this
Police Board OF this city should be abolished ana
ment / have taken pains to inquire OF our men,
bers regarding their views in this regard and
have not FOUND single man connected win tnls
Chamber who is not absolutely and decidedly IN
favor of one responsible head of the Police Depart
psce all am good ed CITIZENS of this city under great
obligations TO you II you will cause this needed re-
form TO be put in force. CHARLES 5. SMITH.
Assembyman Lawson. Republican, of the NNllld
Assembly District of New-York. has introduced
the following BILL providing for the election Of
Police Commissioners in the city Of New-York:
on and after the first day Of January. 1895: the
York is hereby abolished and the terms of ONCE
of the said Police Commissioners are hereby termi-
mated on said first day of January 1895. And there
after the head of the Police Departmheni. which
Of oa four e n to b known as Police Comm
sioners of the city of NewYork, not more than
political party or be of the same political faith
and opinions in state or National issues At the
this act. each political party shall nominate two
Police Commissioners. to be voted for in the city
from the said nominees the two having the highest
number of votes. and the two having the mex,
of Police in said city, provided however, that not
more than two Of said commissioners snail be OF
Two Of the saii Commissioners Of different. 20.
years. and two Of said Commissioners Of different
four years. and until their respective successors
shall have been elected or appointed and qualified
nation or other disability of either Of said Police
Commissioners his successor shall within Ten days
the remainder Of the unexpred term. and the sue
o
and opinion belong to the same political party as
the Commissioner whose removal, resignation or
death shall have created such vacancy, and al the
expiration of the term of office of any Police Com
missioner. the successor 70 such COMMISSIONER
shall be Of the same political faith as the Com
missioner whom he succeeds.
Another conference OF the Committee OF Republi
cans, designated to perfect non-partisan measure
for the reorganization of the Police Board, was
held yesterday afternoon the Republican Club
No. $50 Fifth-ave Two hours spent in dis
cussing the various provisions Chauncey NJ Depew
was able to be present for the first time Others
present were Edward Mitchell. John f. Milholand
Robert i. Porter and John a. Sleicher.
Mr. Depew argued with Mr. Mitchell that theo
retically, Police Commissioner was preferable
TO two or four. but took the view of the majority
that such a plan not practicable In New-York.
He held that both the great political parties must
have equal representation to make the plan
II Is understood that a new bill resoevd upon,
which gives Police Superintendent Byrnes enlarged
powers, lodging in him the assignment and trans
fer of inspectors, captains and other officers; places
in his hands exclusively the enforcement of the EX
else law and all the statutes and regulations against
vice and crime. and makes 1t impossible for the
Board of Commissioners to interfere with him in
the discharge of his duty.
The revised measure will be put In shape at once
and another meeting will be called for its final
consideration Mr.. Root Is able to at
tend 1t.