The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-03-28
PROMPT PASSAGE IS URGED
IN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING WAS
HELD IN COOPER UNION.

III Id IN COOBEH UNIOA.
Its Purpose Was to Enter Protest Against
the Passage of the LexOw New York PO-
lice Bills-AIl Citizens Were Called Upon ia
Speak and Many Voiced Their Opinions
New York, March 27-The big hall OF
Cooper Union was thronged tonight
with enthusiastic citizens who assem-
bled in response to a call issued by the
committee of seventy. The meeting was
called to protest against the passage of
the Lexow bills in the legislature, and
to insist upon the immediate passage
of the police magistrate and reorganiza-
tion measures drawn up by the commit
tee of ten and approved by the commit
tee of seventy. Cornelius N. Bliss call
ed the meeting to order.
He said: 1--WE have assembled to-
night to ask in plain terms that the
other branch of the legislature( the SEN
ate) shall accept the advice of the COVER
nor and make into law without further
delay the police magistrates bill, and
also to demand that both branches of
the legislature shall pass such other
measures as may be required for muni-
cipal reforms. The people-of New York
ask for nothing more and will accept
nothing less.
Mr.. Bliss then nominated Joseph La
'rocque as chairman of the meeting. He
was elected unanimously. Mr.. La
+Ia ei1 0f he
showed that the people intended to in
sist on the performance of the promise
made last November and protest
against against the machine that is now
endeavoring to stop legislation in AL
bany. "If the will of the people is not
executed" he said, I'VE will enquire the
reason why
Mr.. .Larocque then went into the ques-
ton of police organization and scored
the LeXow and Ainsworth bills. par
ticularly the clauses referring to the
appointment of a board of examiners
of candidates for the force.
John p. Faure was elected secretary.
He read letters from Carl Schurz and
Police Commissioner Andrews regret
ting their inability to attend and ap-
proving of the purpose Of the meet
ing.
Resolutions were adopted which earn
estly urge upon the legislature the
prompt passage of the reform measures
now pending-the police justices bill,
the school bill and the bills to reorgan-
ize the police department and create
separate bureau of elections; protest
against the passage of the Bell bill
whether with or without the provision
of the paid board of education. and
the Halpin bill, as measures which
would perpetuate the worst abuses of
the present system. express the belief
that the bills prepared by the COM
mittee of ten appointed by the mass
meetings held in this city on February
A provide for a wise method of reor-
ganizing the body of the police force
and make such changes in the system
as will secure a proper administration
of the police department, and most en-
phatically protest aginst the passage
of the Lexow bills as measures mimi
cal to the interests of our city.
Elihu Root was then introduced and
in the course of his address vigorous
ly denounced Tammany Hall and de-
clared that the uprising last fall was
a Godsend.
Mr., James c. Carter followed Mr.. Root
and prefaced his speech by reading an
address to the people of the state of
New York
The address, which was adopted, de-
clared that among the reforms demand
ed by the citizens of this city-Gre the
vesting of power of removal in the may
or, the reorganizati ton of the police de-
partment, the reform of the police |
courts and the reform of the public |
schools.
After referring to the failure of the |
to act upon these matters |
and the likelihood of that body's ad- |
journment without granting the relief |
asked, the address calls upon all citi-
zens to speak to their senators an das-
and "tell them this is not |
a time for a. game of politics; that pop
ular government Is ON trial; that every |
member of the legislature who fails to
the great reforms demanded |
by this city is an enemy of popular gov
ernment and will be so regarded by his
The address calls upon the people of
the state to unite without reference to
parties to defend the right of local self
government and the principle that leg
slators are the representative of the
people. Among the speakers were Gen
eral Wager Swayne, Seth Low and John
R. Van Wormer.