New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-03
HOW TO PREVENT FRAUD.
TIL: CIVIL. SERVICE REFORM ASSOCIATION HEGS
THE rOLdCE BOARD TO CONFER WITH ITS
COMMITTEE UN THE sunIECi.

THE rOLIcE BOARD TO CONFER WITH ITS
COMMITTEE oN TIE sUnEci
The Police Commissioners a. their meeting ycs-
terlay afternoon received communication from a
committee OF the Ciyil Service Reform Association.
saving that the committee had addressed 10 the
Municipal Supervisory Clyil Service Commission
letter. Of which copy was incios"d. rugg"StinG
changes In such II the Civil Service rules re-
late 10 appointments and promotions In the Police
Department. The communication goes on TO say:
I'VE would be greatly rrathcd II the assistance OF
your honorable body In securing the improve
mcnts sought could be given and your cooperation
i'm the proposed conference assured We would
respectfully submit that appointments and pro
motion for merit alone are essential 10 the main
tennncc Of proper discipline In the Police Depart
ment We refer tc the practical views OF Superln-
tendcnt Bryncs in this regard contained In his
report OF September 8. The present civil Service
rules If modified In the manner we have sug-
gestod to the commission. would remove the posi-
billty Of such practices. both In and out Of the
department. have recently been 40 freely and
publicly charged.
I'VE would respectfully suggest that the nlng
Of the vacancies now existing Ia the high grades
Of the service by the appointment OF the officers
standing highest as the result Of open competitive
examination would do much toward Fastening the
Improvement 1t IL desired TO bring about and We
would be glad to consult with your honorable
body personally, az well AZ with the civil Service
Commission"
The committee Is composed OF G. ". Watson. 4.
Il. MacDonugh. Alfred Bishop Mason and Seth Il.
Sprague Terry.
4 part Of the letter sent to the Supervisory
Board by this committee IS follows
The testimony taken before the senate Investi-
eating Committee establishes the fact that I'm many
Instances appointments and promotions are made
for reasons other than those OF merit anu fitness
publlcly credited that these other reasons are in
instances payment
places received. 1t is unfortunately true that the
materially hinder the existence OF such practice
The remedy for this abuse would be that all per
order OF merit We feel strongly that # f. in this
respect that the first steps toward Improvement
should be taken. BY requiring that appointments
and promotions be based absolutely upon the prcce
dencc obtained through merit and by bringing the
examinations wholly within the control OF the civil
Service Commission. the defects Will BE- largely II
not wholly, eradicated The members OF the com
could be arranged between the Police Board. the
cy Service Board and themselves at which this
rTeiaen Martin said r TsgaTd to the letter
q examinations made b, The CivIl Service Board
The Cvil Service Reform Association suggests that
lists The examiner cold place whom@ver i they
pleased at the head of the lists and we would have
have something to say in making promotions. am
willing hoW ,n at any time to attend confer
We are all In favor of IT," remarked Commits
'"rhe writer's Of this communication" said Com
missioner Sheehan. speak Of the detective service
In which they say, merit has control II seems 10
me that they do not know what they are talking
about, the Detective Bureau is the worst feature
OF the Police Departm'nt
The chief clerk was directed 10 advise the com
mittee Of the desire on the part OF the board 10
confer with 1t.
THIS CLUBBING CASE TO BE LOOKED INTO
Superintendent Byrnes has ordered an investiga-
ton into the alleged clubbing OF Thomas Lucas OF
NO u king-st, who was arrested on Sunday night
last charged with assaulting Policeman Bernard