New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-05


Tho Committee Of Ten appointed al the Cooper
Union meeting several weeks ago to draft police
reorga nization bills has had number of meetings
but has not nearly completed the work it has in
hand. Members OF the committee have said that
bins which drawn TO make radical changes in
the police system must necessarily modify many cX-
listing statutes affecting not only the police force.
but several Of the other departments of the city
Government. and that the work therefore Will be
long and difficult They have said that before they
can complete their task the bills which were in
troduced by Senator LaNow may be passed, unless
strong influence IL brought to bear upon the Legis-
lature to cause Delay. Charles Stewart smith,
chairman of the specal committee on Municipa!
Reform of the Chamber Of Commerce. who pre-
sided at the Cooper Union meeting and appointed
the committee. yesterday sent to Senator Lexow
the following letter
In view of the confidential and friendly relations 9n
which have existed between you as chairman OF tne
Police Investigation Committee and myself as rep
resentative OF the Chamber OF Commerce, uust
that | need offer no apology for addressing to YOU
public letter touching police reorganization
The claim to be heard with some authof!tY ON
the part of the Chamber is not confined TO general
considerations for / may be permitted to recall 10
your attention the fact that the CnalnDei TOOK
initial steps which led to the appointment of your
committed and that when Governor Flower We
toed the appropriation for its expenses, SccGmla-
MED with an implication upon your good faith the
Chamber gave to your committee strong moral
support and supplied also the financial aid whlch
No one Who studies the drift of public opinion in
this fail to discover that there Is scttleu
and irresistible determination on ne part OF d iaip
and influential majority of our citizens 10 see TO
that the highly important WORK 50 fd,thtul.y per
formed by your Committee on Police lnvesugaton
shall be crowned with such appropriate essIa'. I
will command public confidence anu secure ,ab ,ne
ends foe which your committee was app9nl'eH anu
which was most empha tcally expressed by the rave
election. If that election in this city had any sig
nifcance must be interpreted to mean that SOUND
municipal reform should prevail ana tnat an am
ance direct or indirect, with Tammany Han or us
No police reorganization bills that do not embody
these considerations fully VIII settle permanent!
this important question If This work Is now nm
perfectly or inddequaely performed IL VIII return
to plague the next Legislature
AS | Informed you when | last had an opportunity
OF talking with you, committee of ten appointed
al a recent ss-mecng of the citizens OF this CITY,
and of which Mr. George L. RiVes Is chairman, mas
heen engaged in preparing police reorgdnldlQ.
bill which will embody the most careful thought
and study of some Of the ablest lawyers business
this bill will be ready for presentation TO the Legs
lature in the course OF two weeks.
am instructed by the Committee on Municipal
Reform OF the Chamber of Commerce. the Commit
tee of Seventy and a large number Of private citi-
Zens to ask in their name that you VIII cause all
action in the Senate regarding the reorsanlzatlpn
to be suspended until the bill above referred to
be presented for the consideration oil Inc Legs
lature
bills which relate solely to their city. | hope,
therefore. you Will conclude that justice requires
the Legislature to accede 10 such reasonable de-
mands.
ganlzation is not unanimous. all ligAt uDon this
grave subject should be welcomed The public are
so largely interested in the question inN2lnet IN
and belief that you VIII receive pubic supper
should you decide TO adopt the course herein inii-
Gated CHARLES STEWART SMITH.
Chairman Special Committee on Municipal Re