The sun., 1895-05-18
MAYOR STRONG TETOES II.
The Bill facreasInE tho Powers OF tho
Chief of Police Is Killed.

Shlet OF I-OIcc Is hlIlcu.
ALBANY. May l7.-Mayor Strong to-day re-
turned to the clerk of the Assembly. under date
of May 49, his disapproval of Assemblyman
Ainsworths bill increasing the powers OF the
Chief Of Police Of New York city and making
him responsible for the discipline of the depart
ment The Mayor gives the following reasons
for not accepting the bill:
"The present law. formally constituting the
Board of Police the head of the Police Depart
lnent. and holding that Board responsible for the
condition and administration Of hatdepartment
commits to it sections 2G0 and 212 OF the Con-
solidaton act the power of disciplining the
members of the police force by dismissal fine
suspension. or reprimand of its delinquents
Among the members of that force and sub
ordinate TO the Police Board. is the Chief OF
cited sections OF the @ 'WS sct ns re
deprive the responsible head OF the Police De-
pnrtment of this salutary power, and delivers it,
ate, the Chief of Police
No appeal to the police is provided for, and
the Chiet OF Policies judgment Is In every case
final. He calls what court he pleases. as many
courts rs he pleases. may accuse whom he
pleases. suppress what accusations he pleases,
dismiss whom lie pleases, review totally re-
ject every sentence or dismissal recommended
to him by court OF his creation. and if any
court displeases him, he may instantly dissolve
1t and create another court more amenable to
his personal wish.
The bare statement OF this enormous lodg-
ment of power is its sufficient condemnation.
In the hands Of an unfit man it could hardly
tall, even with the most jealous scrutiny the
law permits to become sooner or later the tool
OF his corruption or caprice. Moreover It pre-
vents the Fundamental! maxim OF executive man
agement, that power and responsibility should
go hand in hand. In the welding of the dis
ciplinary instrument which determines the
morale Of the force 1t gives the subordinate lin-
checked and unlimited power, and yet practi-
cally irresponsible. and the responsible head
proved rule OF administrative efficiency would
In my opinion, inevitably tend to aggravate the
evils existing in the police force, and be a
serious: perhaps fatal. obstable to needed re-
forms"
The bill was sent to tho Mayor on May ., and
he had fifteen days in which TO consider 1t.
Mr.. Lincoln. the Governors legal adviser, is
considering the question as to whether the Gov
ern0r has right to sign or veto any bill re-
turned By a Mayor disapproved after the Leg
islnture adjourned.
Some time ago the Senate had discussion
over the powers of IA Mayor under the new Con-
stitutiOn. 1t was quite generally held that the
veto OF Mayor of a city bill killed 1t unless il
was repassed. and that in this respect the Mayor
was the Governors equal, so far as legislation
agreed that after ndjournment bill vetoed by
Mayor was necessarily dead as there would
bo no Legislature to repass 1t.
. MT. Edward Lauterbach, Chairman of the
Rcpublican County Committee in New York,
has carefully read and considered the COnstitu-
that the TWO sections referring to the matter are
evidently Intended to treat of separate powers.
One provides for the return of a bill by tho
Mayor to the House where 1t originated. The
other relates to its return to the Governor for
his action. Mr.. Lauterbach holds that tho Gov
veto, II 1t comes to him after tho Legislature
has I'D jOurned.