New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-08
POLITICS or TIE METROPOLIS
AGAINST \ BIPARTISAN BOARD.

SEVERAL. CONSIDERATIONS URGED IN OPPOSITION
To THE LExow BLI-CRITICIsM OF THE
COMMITTEE or TENS MEASURE.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The chief objections to the so-cailed 81
partisan or Lexow, bill for the government OF 'he
police force and department are
First that police board or commission consist
ing of more than one person DIVIDES responsibility
which experience shows tends to laXiy ana in
efficiency
Second and principally that the proposed require
nent of equal recognition Of the two parties Dem
ocratic and Republican. in the composition OF 'he
said board or commission. invites l'ruS"hshlP J"
the general government of the department. ana
especially IN the making OF appointments to the
force and promotions therein, Tor the pro
vision for such recognition namely. the d.
vlding of the comnissionorshps between the two
parties as il stands in the bills provision ior
and not against partisanship. 1t Is evident that
the provision is a safeguard against undue re'os-
ni,ion only namely that in the making Of appoint
ments and promotions. as well as in the Eeherai
government of the department. neither party shall
receive undue recognition. but due recognition But
y is morally certain that in practice "duc recogni
ton would be considered ry the Commissioners
TO be nothing short of equal recosnitloh' 'hh' Is
an equal division Of the patronage OF the uepalt-
men, including appointments ana promotions ne
txeen the two parties And in so considering the
commissioners would naturally feel that they were
IN limo with the Legislature in dividing the commits
sonerships.
In other words while the avowed object OF the
hill in respect to the division Of the commissioners
ships is solely 10 prevent either party from OBTAIN
inc n predominant influence in the force Ivy con
trolling the appointments promotions ETC., therein.
tho nracc1l effect would be to cause an equal III
vision of the patronage of the department. includ-
ing appontments and promotions between the par
ties. SO that each and every appointment and pro-
motion would be strictly partisan. And this WouI1
result, not merely from the invitation 70 parsanship
arising from the meaning | have given The pro-
vision but also because the experience Of the past
shows that sooner or later. the Commissioners
would. as n matter Of convenience. fan mo inc
habit of dividing the appointments and promotions
between themselves the Republicans appointing anu
promoting Republicans. and the Democrats, Demo-
Gratis and so political considerations would continue
to control not only the making OF appointments and
promotions but probably in the equally important
matter Of discipline well In word politics
the bane OF the department, would continue Z" pre-
vail therein. | say 'bane' of the department. 10Y
as Senator Cantor said last week Thursday In the
Senate, you can never have an honest Police De-
partment TN you eliminate politics from H. Poll
tics has been the ruin Of that department"
ON the other hand the chief objections t. the bin
proposed by the Committee 81 Ten are that 1t gives
the power Of making both appointments to the for"
and promotions therein exclusively TO a." 'hl'i OF
from the force.
As an Illustration OF the character II the appoint
ments and promotions which w1ud likely Doe made
by the present Superintendent # The power OF pro
motion and appointment were cNcu i.ve.y vested In
him, witness the following s'1.cr,nt made last
week Tuesday BY President Mlc;n 4 the Police
Board as reported In some II The l1lly paper. IN
reply to a statement of superintendent Byrn"s 10
the effect that II he had hal the exclusive power Of
appointment certain appointments that have turned
out badly would not have been made:
The superintendent forgets that for many years
IN the i Board of c1 Service Examiners lie
ined and rated the papers Of applicants Tor appoint
ments and promotions, and IL was substantially on
his recommendations that appointments and promo
tons were made.
But Superintendent Byrnes IL undoubtedly good
exponent OF the officers OF the force above the rank
OF sergeant. from among whom the chef by the
Tens bill Is required 70 be appointed.
And again, IN the extremely important matter OF
discipline Experience shows that long service on
the force Is apt TO beget feeling 81 brothcrhood
among the members, especially among ne hgher
officers, including the Superintendent. when nam
pers and Restraints them In the performance 81 ther
the part OF brother officers and IN bringing IN" OF
Tenders 10 trial and punishment which last is one
In snort. that more or less Masonry tMS'r I'D th''
force, which seriously interferes with IN" d-pIne
shows this, as witness the compIaht against u9
Police Department Of the Extraordinary Grand
Jury IN tnelr ITeScntnent ndNl'I up Idtl We'h
Tuesday in the Court of oyer and TermincT.
Furthermore. experience shows that I'm various
ways. but chiefly by wnking at dishonest practices
at the polls. and by influencing The votes OF nu-
merOus class Of voters namely in the lodging and
rally contribute the result OF election. and
that when antagonized. by opposing an increase
in their salaries. they can cXeSi their influence 70
such extent almost to change the result OF an
election as Tammany learned last November. 10
its Increasing sorrow But the force is also ppcu-
Harry susceptible to political influences, and a the
aforementioned bill gives the power Of appointment
Of the Chief TO the Mayor Grom the force above
the rank of sergeant. II would give thorough
partisan. like eX-Mayor Grant, If he should be
Mayor when a vacancy occurred the opportunity
appoint 20 the Office member OF his party as
thoroughly partisan as himself. If one could be
found in the force with the result that appoint
ments and promotions would. 10 a large extent.
and also far civil Service rules permitted.
be confined 10 members OF the chiefs party.
understand that at present about - per cent Of the
applications for appointment to the force made
by adheTents OF Tammany Hall. so that tho chief
If a sympathizcr with that institution. would have
in the force by making the most Of the appoint
ments among its friends and adhercnts
The trouble IS with human nature While men
of good executive ability, independent character
innexible Justice, and absolute honesty ana rect
| tudc OF intention. are hard 10 find anywhere. tho
| police force would be peculiarly hard place "a
lind one. and yet by the provision OF the Tens bin
| the Chief. who should possess those attributes
! must be appointed from among the members of
the force IT would have been much better TO give
the Mayor the discretion to appoint the Chief from