New-York tribune., 1895-02-15

so THAT THEY MAY IMPROVE THEM
The legislation affecting the Police Department Oh
this city proposed by the Committee OF Zen ap
pointed In compliance with resolutions auop'e" o'
the Cooper Union mass-meeting OF reo'ua'S
outlined in the subjoned draft. furnished last even
ing by Jam,s W. Pryor. secretary OF the C''y '."o'
II is no, regarded by the committee as compete
or final but il presented to the pubic Ior ,ne
purposo Of bringing out discussion as 10 '"e 'eI'
of the scheme. which Is subject 10 chdhse' i"e
final form OF the bills is still under consideration
hut is is understood that whatever changes may
no accented the principles adopted by the mass
meeting will he adhered to. The draft is as fol-
lows:
Appointments OF members OF the force. well as OF
police surgeons clerks and others In the department
should made under general civil Service rules Ih'e
yhoud special board for the fohce pepar''hen'
kind Of politics with which the department
Is afflicted consists of the distribution Of petty patronage
50 far as this appointments the eVh can o"
encctuay cured by the rigid application to the depart
mcnt proper civil Service rule There no need OF
,ecs hoard The same system should applied
all the departments Of the city government IL there are
defects in existing they can he cured by the
OF the general bills about to be introduced IN
legislature The only qualifications which shouid ne
required OF a pa,roman that he shall he strong
healthy. active intelligent enough TO read and under
regulations sober and honest, and nave the
ordinary school education the man hrst upon
the eligible Of psrolmcn ought In every case to he
apnonted leaving no discretion the department. The
main points considered in selecting candidates are
First, character which means good previous history
second good physical condition man need not be
police officer pass upon such simple requirements az
these 4 board composed OF police oficials would he
manfestly unit pass qualifications OF clerks ele
graph operators. police surgeons
. Promotions b. under carefully framed civii
Service rules In seniority record doth OF merit ana
demorp special qualifications for police service and
capacity for command shall all be made to count
D. Punishments should be inflicted only after trial by
special tribunal properly constituted with suitable pro-
vision. FOR an appeal lieu Of the writ Of certoarD to
the Supreme Court whose decision shall be hnai II
,houd also be provided by that whenever oncer
is convicted onerce which is punishable as crime
copy record and evidence should be sent to the
District Attorney.
Notc.--The for the trial of police delinqusnoes
might he composed Of three men should receive ado
auac salaries he ~ not less than ten years
standing They hold Office for terms Of ten years
and be appointed the Mayor The reason for tho ex-
lstence Of such special IS to he found in the fact
that disciplinary now vested In the Board OF
Police Commissioners affords opportunity for politics
Of the Theoretically. perhaps court com
posed Of police would be best but practically
II would not possible with the material at hand. N
constitute command the confidence Of the
men composing As appeals Is believed to
allow direct appeal rather than TO resort 10
the unsatisfactory remedy Of ceriorari The right OF ap-
peal only the serious class ~ cases.
such involve fine OF more than ten days pay or
degradation In rank dismissal from tn. force.
The Superintendent chief of Police II ha, name
prefcred should he appointed by the Mayor from the
police force above the rank OF sergeant
made by law the sole executive head Of the
police force and held strictly responsible for
It's good efficiency Failure TO keep the force
efficient should be punishable offence lie should pos
,anong powers the sole authority TO max"
assignments and iransfer- and should have the right
20 suspend Inspectors captains and sergcanis for
period pending trial Tho Mayor should have 'he
right TO call directly upon the Superintendent time
III ftr force
The Superintendent should be subject to be tried BE-
fore the special tribunal provided the com
plant MAJOR Of reasonable number of tax
payers
g. Captains should by Law he given adequate power 10
enable them to maintain discipline the mon under
them and they held strictly responsible 10 the
Superintendent for the good conduct and efficiency pf their
respective commands. Thcy should have power under
restrictions to suspend ofoers under the rank of
sergeant for a limited period pending trial
Note captain made responsible for he good con
duct ~ his and has adequate power 70 enforce
discipline. failure the part Of captain 70 maintain
his command in high q efficiency should h~ made
punishable offence To this end. there should h~ re-
quircnen, for frequent inspections in each precinct
: Retirement officers above he rank II sergeant
should provided for by system of compulsory re-
remeni attaining given axe limit, or IN case OF
physical mental disability.
No,e-Thls intended he additional 20 the power OF
dismissal for after trial There have b~~n cases
where superior remained the force arcr
had entirely ceased. ana II u t"eseh
that the present regulations inadequate" The r"guls
tions Of the United Army and Navy touching
tlrement for ncapacy physical or mental and upon at
tanning an age limit. proposed as a model
S The financial administration of the Police Depart
men 10 assmiated TO that or the "ther Depart
men,s Of the city government
No,e-This in line with the recommendations Of the
Senate Committee.
o. The business AFFAIRS Of the Department. the and
custody Of property dncudng the Pension FUND.- the
Of a
Commissions Commissioners appointed by the Mayor
and By him in the same manner az other heads
Of departments The purchase Of supplies and making Of
contracts should be subec, 10 the general rules of law
governing such matters the other departments. All
communications with other departments should be trans
mtcd through the Commissioner or Commissioners who
should have control all the clerical force. and Of the
records Department. and should have to lie
termine what records are kept. The Commissioner.
Of the Commissioners. should be ex onico MEM
Der the Police Board.
Note-If be thought best to have more than Com
missioner the theory bpartlsanship in any shape
be seduousy avoided Their number mut In any
be an uneven one The Commissioner Commissioners.
scheme proposed would have patronage and
no power Of promotion punishment. II than
should be appointed there would be no need OF large
salaries for all the members
10 Superintendent should have salary OF $4,000
year and the chief Commissioner salary Of S75oo
year his SUCH and $500 year for act
ing as Trustee the Police Penson Fund.
Note-The large addition proposed to the responsibilities
Of the Superintendent and the great importance Of
ing the services and competent TO
Justify a substantial increase In the salary paid.
The salary proposed the Chief Commissioner also
considered o than adequate for OF
the character md ability which the duties OF the place
require
H. Legislative powers Il. e. the power 10 amend the ex
istlng Reguations) should be lodged In the Com.
misconer Commissioners and the Superintendent Joint
Iy. but subject TO the approval Of the Mayor.
NoteThe existing Code of Regulations IL believed to
satisfactory should continue force until amended
Amendments should be made from time time. and with
caution and Is thought that the mode proposed will
sufficiently guard against ill-advscd changes.
L. The Elections should he established a
separate ani bipartisan board and the general election
law amended accordingly
j. Elections. Provision should he made by law for
defining clearly than the duties Of the
rnIlca H. nkrA and