New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-24
VIEWS ON REFORM WORK.
SOME SUGGESTIONS OF A wELL-KNowN
LAWYER NOW ABROAD.

FUNCTIONS OF THE CHIEF OF PoLIcE-A
PROPOSITION FOR THE REoRGAN-
IzATIoN OF THE FORCE.
Srhe following letter, recently received by a
member-elect of the Assembly. gives the views of
a well-known lawyer. who is easily identihed'
mon some public questions. 1t says:
People in New-York seem to be in such spasm
~ excitement over the victory there that fear
!, will be difficult If not impossible. for men,
hers of the Legislature to act upon their own
i,,dgments-if they are allowed to have any say
as 10 what measures Of reform should DC enacted
AS I have given much thought for many years. 10
matters relating to our city government ana nave
had much TO do with drawing laws relating 10 H.
7 nropose to make you or two suggestions
You may not know that the present city charter
that Of 1S73-proceeded chiefly from me. In my
action was the chairman of a committee OF the
republican County Committee appointed to pre-
nare amendments to the charter. We confined
ourselves to amendments. The Legislature miro
arced changes and also re-enacted many or the
.ac,ions of the old charter which we had lett uf-
amended. A year or two ago looked 'he pies-
ont city charter over with some care ana was
rleased TO find that. without exception every pro-
vision in IT which has worked well and met puoHc
annroval was drawn by me- while every c'auSe
bich has opened the door to fraud and misgov-
eminent was, so far as could see. added at AL
banv after our draft was sent there.
NAV add, also. that drew and procured 'he
massage of the bill which relieved the Mayor OF
the necessity of having his nominations cohnr"ieo
nv the Board of Aldermen
,a,tion these things TO remind you. as one
=, tho Younger Republicans that am not without
Justification in thinking that the following sug-
restjons from me may be of some value
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS.
Frst-There seems to be universal agreement
that the Mayor ought TO have the power 10 seiec'
the heads Of department who are 10 administer
the city government under him. This Is SO oo-
xiousv the correct principle that wonder II was
not introduced long ago; or. rather shouio "o"
aor n 7 did not know the influences which were
against IT, Some years ago. when there Was
Damocra,ic Mayor drew such Dill ana came
near procuring its passage. 1t was however ue
feated by Republicans who desired TO retain III
mca unworthy Republican Police Commissioners
Rut while the Mayor should nave the apsoiu'e
,Ich, 70 select the heads of department. do not
think It follows that he should after he mas once
selected them. have the absolute ana uhquaineu
rich, 20 remove them. If he has that power theh
,,s heads of department to have any inde-
nendence He can require them to appoint TINS OF
that subordinate He could in this way coh.roi
,rac.;caIv the 1900 or 1900 employees Of the city
He could dictate his own denomination or seec' MS
successor excepting in times OF extraoru''ia'! pu'
n, interest In enacting laws now. 1t should be
remembeTed that Mr. strong rSson i be enacted with
reference TO correct principles not WIN reference "
wv We're me law-makng power. would accomplish
the TWO purposes OF giving a new , Ma!vn me and
Of giving such heads OF department some ln1epel-
dence. in this way: ! would give a new Nv M:
absolute power of removing the heads OF a
whom he finds in office wher ne taxes ms o ia'ii
and appointing their SUCCESSOR pu nua n he
require him exercise this unlimited poWeh,s a.,er
exercised It at all within say three m snch could
comes into Ose Mayer M rH De five months
after his election-decide which Of the EXISTING heau
Of department he desired to continue IN 4fter that
period would not allow him to remove neai o
or one whom he had allowed to hold over-eNcepi-
ing upon definite charges OF mfsconuuC, ma th,
in the accused 10 be heard and defend himself
as may be found expeaien If the ns maS' n the
officer and Of his salary DO not mink tb he is in
s,sap9 would M Be and%y hss upon s the
absolute power of new Mayor 70 apron, ms oi i'm
dependence and permanence on the part OF heads
Of department when appointed ines puf ~ 81
nee OF heads Of department concdent with that
Of the Mayor But there seems to be strong OBJ o.
the term of Office Of the Mayor Wh he ,e snk Of
wSua b be b very on Necessarily
short term A Mayor coming into Once once nsH f
fce while ne might be willing TO leave MN unns
urbed We all know how personal anu poi'''0a'
reasons might produce such result
POLICE GOVERNMENT.
Second-After the exposition when the LeAo"
Committee has given of the enormous power OF
tho ,o,,ce for evil / cannot imagine any. thinking
man being willing vest all that power In one
man. whether you call him commissioner. superh-
tendent angel, something else To say as see
Is said in New-York. that Police Commissioner
with such powers could be removed by the Mayor
II he misconducted himself did not properly con-
troll his subordnates. seems 10 me childish taxi
The Mayor Of New-York cannot be constantly ana
daily supervising the acts of the police iorce' lie
could only be called into action in extreme cases OF
after long course Of wrong-doing by the head
OF the Police Department. see public opnioh-apt
sometimes to be run away with by names ana
analogies-seems to look with favor upon military
organization of the police department. But wha'
Is military organization? The general Q. an an
subora in nor selects his pr1vstes. He simply
and directs the force given e &c MN naces
his divisions brigades regiments and companies des
chooses and desgna'es their commsn an of
from The officers given TO him. He relieves MS OF
fcers from commands and reports them TO MS su'
p Wby nS for ,bs6 Poew or this military idea to
tain extent 10 the same extent as II IS done IN an
You can him Superintendent general. the absolute
head Of the police force so far as It's execu'e
to assign his men to such positions he chooses
and change them as he chooses Why not i gM
according 10 their rank and transfer them as he
wills? Why not give him the sole power ,b, a and
10 refrain from doing that? II you accompany
these powers with a limited power or puhishnsnt
and Of suspension. have you not In your supern-
tendent or your general all the powers necessary
10 make him responsible for giving 10 the CITY an
efficient and-so far as any one can 90 tan honest
force? such a system as this would leave the APP
pontments 10 the force. the power OF promotion
and the power Of removal in some supervisory or
superior body. calling it what you please. you VIII MI
then have put a power as to everything eNcep, .ne
executive powers Of the force. elsewhere than IN the
chief who exercises those executive powers nhcoiii
trolled and urauestioned excepting as ne, IKE an
the subordinates be disciplined by superior au-
thorlty: though II he chooses. not removaDe WIN
out the Mayors consent. 1t might be well 70 aIIow
promo,ions only the report OF the superintenu-
ent or al least to give him some voice IN promo
tons
REORGANIZATION OF THE FORCE.
Third-These matters have spoken OF are mat