Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-26
MORTON TAXES A HAND
Addresses a Sharp Message to the New York Legislature.
POLICE REFORMS NEEDED AT ONCE.

Investigation should Bear Fruit.
 ALBANY, March 26.--- Tho event of ast evenings session was the introduction in the assembly by Mir. AinswOrth of two po- lice bills for New York city. One pro vides for a bipartisan police commission to be appointed by tho mayor Tho other deputiZos the existing commission to rcor- ganizc tho forcc, but the mayor is clothed with veto power on all of its arrange mcnts. So far as possible the Lcxow and tho committee of seventy measures have been incorporated. Tho bills were referred to the committee on cities.
 When Mir. GlCaSon'S bill repeating tho Lawson dock bill passed last year. was reached on tho order of second reading, therc was somc hot discussion, which was ended by the bill boing rrcommittcd to the cities committee on motion of Mr. O'Grady
 Mir Lawson moved the passage of the police magistrates bill, and after some dis CuSSiOn it was pasS2tl-S5 to 19.
 When tho senate convened, the Coycrnor sent in message on the New York police magistrates bill and it was read and re- fcrrCd to tho judiciary committee Tho governor nominated as special port ward cn for New York Horace F. Buell. of Port Richmond.
 Tho following bills wcro passed: Scna- tor Cautor'S, approprating 0,000 for the support uf the SchoolShip St Mary s and turning same over to tho state; Mir. l'nvey's regulating the grades and pay of trrmrn in cities nf SO0 GOO inhabitants and Increasing their pay, amended so as to CxclUd" Brooklyn.
 4 HIessnge From the Governor. Governor Morton sont to tho legislature n mc.~lEu urging the passage of tho DO lice ma giStratrS bill for New York city and rrconmrndng the adoption "of a | measure that will place in proper hands the power tn rcorganizc and regcneratC | the police department of tho metropolis ' | The governor says:
 | "Thc constitution of tho stato makes ii my imperative duty to recommend to tho | legislature from time to time such meas 1 urrS as I may deem rXprdirnt I call tn, | attention of thr legislature tn a matter u the highest present namely, the reorganization of tho inferior crim | inal courts of New York city. Ten week. | have elapsed, but tho measure has not yrt l been passed hy either house l'nlCS. prompt action is taken upon it there l. danger that if may fail tu become n law such result would he n pubic misfor | tune. It iS widely. perhaps generally, be | liCvrd that in some of the present polic courts there iS today n practical denial O justice.
 "Thjs hcl;rf iS strikingly sustained il | the report mad" hy the l4rXuw committee It is thrrr charged that very importan reason why tho police have been able [, carry on and successfully prrpctrato thci | ruprrhCnsihlc practices iS that at lCaS some of the police iustict$ have apparrntl. l ,,pl ,,li n them.
 Tyranny of th" P"Iicc."
 "A gain il is statcl that hrcauso of tn mnladmiui>trltinn that prevails in thuS | courts the Tu"r and needy wt r. unable L obtain redress ar relief from the opprrs sion or th" tyranny of the police, and tha their path tn justice was completely block ed
 "Thrsr are serious charges and seem t hc largely supported by public opinion il the city of New York. They invite tn careful consideration of lawmakiug puwC and call frr speedy remedy. It k [ these inferior criminal cuurts-tho yer SuurrrS nf the administration If CrimiuH ju~tirr-that the poor especially ln"k fu protection lrum oppression and wrong When th' >,' fountain. of justice arr, l"llul ud. the evil results to the people arc h, yond calculation.
 "A doubt has been expressed as tn tn CunStituti"nality of this bill. but tha duuht has been practically solved in it favor hy the recently published opinion of some of the most eminent and lc;Irut' lawyers in New York city.
 II desire also to call attention to tn need of prompt reorganization of the pC lice depart mrnt of New York city.
 Tn the testimony hcfor" the LCXo' committee it was charged that many men hcrs "f tho police force. among them of CrrS ut high grade, were not only blacl mailcrS and cxtortioncrS, but were activ' ly in league with tn" criminal classes. is generally believed that the extent of n legged corrupt practices has not yet bee fully revealed. I thcrcforo recommend Il early pA>>lge of tho police magStrat, bill, SD called, and of a measure that wi place in prup'r hands the power to roo ganilr and 1rGrnorato the police depar mcnt of the n'ctropolis.'