New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-06
PRICE THREE CENTS
HANGING IN THE BALANCE.
FATE OF THREE CITY BILLS.
THE POLICE MEASURES AND GREATER
NETWORK.

NEW-fORk.
AWAITING MAYOR sTRoNGs DECISION ON THE
BIPARTISAN LEGIsI.ATIoN-GREAT POWER PRO
POSED FOR SUPERINTENDENT BYRNEs-
CONSOLIDATION OF THE CITIES IN
DANGER OF DEFEAT.
[FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE OF THE r"iDoNS.1
Albany May 5.-Three bills relating TO New-iorn
city which have not become laws. but WHICH, ~
they do become laws, will modify It's charter IN
many important respects. are now hanging AS "
,v.r, in the air. and the members OF the Legislat-
ure are beginning to speculate as to their fate.
These measures are the Bipartisan Police Dill an"
the Supplemental Police bill. now In Mayor strong
hands and the Greater Ncw-York bill. which latter
measure has not yet passed the Legislature And
the measure which will have a great influence
,,pon the future development Of Greater New
York" is in the hands Of Mayor Strong and OF
Mavor Schieren-namely, the East River BridSt
bill
NEW-YORK CITY POLICE LEGiSLAIloN'
Mayor Strong has been urged by the Rev. Dr'
Parkhurst and others 10 veto the Bipartisan fo'ce
bill and has been advised by Lieutenant-Governor
saxon and the leading Republicans In the Legislat-
IRE TO sign IT, Governor Morton. 1t Is UNDERSTOOD
also has advised Mayor Strong 10 sign the act fet
If Mayor Strong should veto the measure, IL ID
probable that the Legislature would pass IL over Ms
since the RepuDllcanS ullaHfnOus'y 'AA
favor Of the bipartisan principle. The only branch
OF the Legislature that II might not pass would 70
the Senate; but In that body there Is every III
dication that the measure would once more pass.
People here are curious to the probable ,i iats
OF the legislation known a. the Supplemental rohSn hi
bill at the hands OF Mayor strong: ms WSrres o.'
greatly enaIges ,he p" I man9 him in large
measure Independent Of the Board OF Ponce
MR. PIATr AND SUPERINTENDENT BYRNEs.
There has been some suspicion here whether jus;i-
fled or not cannot now be known, that Mr. fiatt
and Superintendent Byrnes were the orignators OK
this measure, and that its design has been to pre-
serve Mr. Platt's grip upon the Police Department
even though there should be Board OF Police IN
cl.ned TO be independent Of him and his counsels.
as sI its members FREDERICK D. Grant Theodore Roose
yet Avery d. Andrews and Andrew ~ tarNer; s.ron
then determine whether or not ne desires ouP1r
ntenaent Bynes or any em Sner auS only removable
upon charges which may be reviewed by a cour,.
Police presdes at trials cf policemen charged with
infractions of discipline or accused by citizens o.
Of discipline This duty is transferred TO court
whose members to be appointed by the superh. ah.
preferred against any member OF the poIe ioIca
below rank Of the superintendent snail De trle1
before a court consisting Of not less than three
nor more than five officers of the force or the rank
of o6s rn caaP The l Bdsrd Of Police merely
makes adopts and enforces the rules ana reguiia,,
tons FOR the trial OF before these police trial
courts
GREAT POWER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
The large powers given 10 the Superintendent OF
Police also evident in the following extract
from the suggested law now before Mayor Strong:
AS many police trial courts may be in session as
are necessary to dispose of all charges promptly.
Each court shall only hear such charges as the the
venes it hear and after their disposition and de-
tsrmnaton shall & be dsbanded no meMDss nraHssd or
this chapter, shall be ined, reprimanded removed;
suspended or dismissed from ia. police force uhui
shall
him or them nor until such charges shall nave been been
trial court. convened by the order OF the superin-
ae tiee To t the member or members Charged and IN
such manne. or procedure or investigation as SAID
tons from time to time prescribe; provided, how
ever. that any member OF the police force VINO Is
sound mind so as to be unable or unit to perform
full police service or duties, may be removed and
Board Of Police upon the recommendation OF the
asrinst the saperintendent or chief OF Police shall
be heard. investigated and determined by me Boara
copy Of the rules and regulations or any or either
Of them. OF the Police Department or Board OF Po-
certified by the president OF the said board and the
chief clerk or the first deputy clerk OF said Police
Department or board, be given in evidence upon any
trial. investigation, hearing or proceeding In any
court before any tribunal commissiorer or commits,
soncrs. board or competent BODY, with the same
force and effect as the original.
When any member OF the force shall be con-
victcd by police trial court Of any neglect OF
duty vo.ations OF the rules. or neglect or dsobedl.
conduct injurious to the public peace and welfare or
immoral conduct. conduct unbecomIng an officer
power to punish the offending party by reprimand.
iorang or Ihholdns r PAY for sc spsced lime
by a recommendation that the offending membe:
be dismissed from the force by the Superintendent:
or chief os Police. but no more than thirty days
pay or salary shall be forfeited or deducted for any
without pay pending the hearing Investigation AMI
denomination Of charges duly made against him hin,
investigation. Il airing and determination OF such
charges. It Is found that such member so charged
IS innocent OF the charges made or preferred agans;
him upon which h. hos been suspended, he shalI
When a police trial court shall recommend TO tho
Superintendent or chief OF Police tina, member OF
ment to the Superintendent or chief Of Police the
evieace taken by It and the Superintendent or chief
of Police may review the whole proceedings. modify
the findings OF the cour, by nh!cting lesser pun
ishment han the @ one or ordering
The Superintendent or Chief of POLICE shall file
dep,rtment. and the offending member shall be
punished as the judpment directs: But in all cases
en the trial OF any member OF the force charged
WITH any Of the aGoS SSn ihsr oncey ana n
proves of the udemen. OF the police trial court the
final and will be deemed have taken effect from
the time OF the decision OF the Superintendent or
Chief OF Police.
THE GREATER NETWORK BILL.
There Is considerable suspicion here that Senator
Iexow has delayed pressing his Greater New-york
bill such late hour in the session of the Legis-
lature the present one for the purpose OF giving
ample opportunity to the opposition to that meas
10 gather forces against II. Ordinarily Senator
does not desire the defeat OF his own BIZ. but II is
possible that political considerations may have
brought senator l.exow into that state OF mind.
Jacob Worth Is known to be opposed TO the Greater
New-York bill. believing i would decrease his polt-
ical Importance the Plat subboss in Brooklyn.
1t is also known that Worth has acquired large
influence over Mr.. Plat. and the latter has always
possessed great influence over Senator l.exow.
There is reason. therefore for the suspicion that
Iexow. under orders from Plat. Is not giving the
Greater New-York bill genuine support.
The Senate and the Assembly will vote this week
upon the Greater NeWYork bill. and then the pub
lie determine the sincerity OF Senator Lexows
support OF the measure. II simply provides for
commission TO draw up charter for the Greater
New-York This commission will consist OF An
drew H. Green, president Of the present Greater