New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-20
LEXOW AND GOFF CONFER.
THEY DECLINE TO SAY WHAT THEY
TALKED ABOUT.

THE SENATOR INTIMATEs THAT DIR. PARkh' hS4
10 HAND TO PrEAsF-Cnf,RIF>s sTEwAFr
SMITH WANTS A SoN. Partisan. Nor
BIPARTISAN. Police BOARD.
State Senator Clarence L~xow was N th' ''N
Yesterday and went to the Criminal courts p'''"'
"a have an interview with Recorder CON Inc wv
men who were mos, prominent In the ponce N'N's
,igation talked together alone in the Recorder
chambers for an hour and 1t evident from 'he
manner OF their parting a. the door that they h'n
had An agreeable conversation. ~ senator h'N""
was leaving the building he was SURROUNDED oy -
portcrs who eagerly sought Information h"'"' '.''
,r,erv.w with the Recorder. The Senator salA
they had talked abou. subjects connected win the
co,, ,rves,iga,ion but he would not admit mat
the question OF securing immunity for Captain
schmit,herger and Captain Creeden. VINO ha' h"''
confessions before the Lexow Committee ha' pee"
the main subject OF conversation.
"JIave YOU read Dr. Pirkhursts recent criocl@'hs
Of your bills for the reorganization OF the fo"oe
Depar:mcnt?" the senator was asked
yea" ne replied Il have. What OF that
Have you any reply to make 10 those cfi'
icsrs?'
Il don't know that Il would be OF any use I"
make a reply think the public generally uhh'r-
stand the situation and know that the senators
w.r. hound 10 be criticised matter what war
done by the senate 1t has come to THIS that III
Parkhurs, will find fault anyhow and II we pre-
scented "A measure that had his unqualified approval
# would be a question n we ought TO pass II.
'Do Won mean that bill which would please III
Parkhurst would please nobody else
"Nobodv .xcep. the small coterie surrounding
him Look at what have done which ne haS
advocated We have provided for 'hiet OF 'o-
lice who will have almost absolute power over 'l'
police force more power than would be conferred
on a general In the Army in time Of wer nowaca's
II the bill comforting such powers is passed ana
the people Of this city find that 1t has harmiui
effect. II will not be our fault
Then the Senator FASTENED away. Recorder Cor.
when he met Tribune reporter. declined TO make
any statements either about the Lexow bills or
about DR.. Parkhursts criticisms.
Charles Stewart Smith said yesterday concerning
the Lexow report: "As for the bipartisan portion
OF the report. am absolutely opposed TO H. na
partment In accordance with the Views Of Joel H.
Erhardt as expressed In his speech before tna
study Of the problem, and a partial study OF the
English system, am not at all clear that singe
head is the best policy to adopt for the rorganiza
ton OF the Police Department The main thing, IN
my Judgment. TO accomplish is to take II absolutely
OF politics Make II nOnpartisan. Just as inucn
80 the direction Of a bank or trust COMPANY
or any other business concern believe me Bnr i
OF Elections should be separated from the Ponce
Department
i don't believe any man has Information enough
to-day to draw up bill which viii exactly define
the principles and practices on which the Polio
idea OF a commission but II IL limited In Its pow
err. i believe that the Legislature should pass a
Il
should be named by the Mayor OF New-York an,
whose duty II should he to study the whole subJect:
including the English and Continental systems OF
police and that they should have ninety days or or
four months in which to make report to the
Legislature. In the time. az a Temporary
provision the power OF removal should Apply to an
The Police Commissioners. permitting the Mayor 70
appoint. as he would. non-pariisan board VINO VINO
should continue the work or wedding out bad men
In the force. I would have the bill provide furthe,,
that our present system continue TIL we shoula
get this report and then have the Legislature ac,
In the light which such report would give TO II
end the public; What we do now In the matter Oh
nolice reorganization will probably last for twenty
or twenty-five years, ana should be done with de-
I,eration and have the best thought OF the best
men in the city OF New-YOrk And II Byrncs should
rere from his present place would put him on siicn
a Commission 10 have the benefit OF his experience
I would Furthermore appoint such men, for example
az Dorman g. Eaton Abram T. Hewitt, John
Uarsen Vhoades Alexander T.. Orr John Clahin. or
,nan Of that class OF citizens. In my Judgment We
anhau meyer have a satisfactory municipal govern
nent I'M we apply all the subordinate officers
and employees OF the city strict Civil Service rules
Nth provisions for continuance IN office during
mnod behavior removal to be only for cause and
s;,h moderate pension at the end OF long life OF
.rvica / have studied the English Civil Service
-, india and I'm various colonies Of Great britain
=, "a the best and most capable service In the word
IL Ia ia ue entirely to the Civil Service principles TO
mi hich have referred Any intelligent Englishan
vii tell you that this ~ the sole secret o, INV"
high grade OF civil Service