New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-03
THE LEXOW BILLS OPPOSED
PROMINENT SPEAKERS ADVOCATE A SIM
GLE.HEADED COMMISSION

JAMES c. CARTER. SETH LOW AND THEODORE
sUTRo TELL THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
ON CITIES WHY THE COMMITTEE OF TEN
MEASURES SHOULD BE PAsSED-AN
OTHER HEARING ASKED FOR.
Albany April 2-The fact that the New-York
City Police bills be taken up by the Assem-
bly, Committee on Cities filled the Assembly parlor
this afternoon Most of those present were New
Workers.. The Committee Of Ten bills were first
taken up.
The first speaker was James c. Carter. He
might he said, point out what the necessities OF
the bill were. but there were many other persons
more competent to do He would. therefore. pre-
sent but one aspect. which was that, because of
the care which had been taken with the bill. IL
was sufficient prove the necessity of legislation.
New-York wanted the bill The manner in which
the city had been managed in reference to its po-
lice had become world-famous. 1t was we'll under
stood that vice centred in the inferior courts and
poles officials. 1t was well known that they were
plague spots. chargeable to the Democratic party.
1t was this party which was in power. 1t
know.edeed that Republican Legislature must
make 1t right These conditions entered into the
campaign Of last fall. The city should now have
relief It had a new Mayor. but even he, under ex-
listing conditions, was unable to bring about de-
cided and sweeping reforms.
And now. continued the speaker, what had the
Iexcw Committee done? Every one knew that
that committee had gone but a little under the
surface STILL from bottom to top. the police sys-
TEN had been discovered to be corrupt 1t
conceded by all that there had been too much poll
tics In sucn system and administration. 1t was
acknowledged that the prime reason of the corrup
ton was that it based a commission con-
sising of four men. The result of these discov-
cries led to study. and this study had resulted in
the Committee OF Ten, which had taken a stand in
favor Of a single-headed commission and bust
ness management Of the New-Iork City police
system The best form Of relief had been talked
about in this committee and the single headed
commission had been advocated by all. This COM
mittee was not composed of representatives or one
great party. 1t included Republicans and Demo
Gratis. 1t included the ablest lawyers In the city.
Under the present system. police officer could
not enforce the law regarding the closing of dis
reputable houses, because his board, as he would
say, had not given him orders to do The new
system would prevent this and one man would be
responsible for the better administration Of the
department.
Then there was another matter-that Of the way
in which the force and had been recruited. 1t
had always been a matter Of bargain and sale and
always of favor. Never had a man been selected
for hs worth to serve upon the force This BILL on
the other hand. provided for Civil Service exam
ination. the man al the top TO take the place va
cant and all promotions TO be made from the bot
tom to the top. Under the present condition.
large offences were allowed TO 60 unpublished and
good men had been punished for small offences
The Committee of Ten was entitled TO much con-
sideration.
Seth Low. the next speaker. apo.ogized for the
tariy appearance in she Legislature of the Com
nittee Of Ten bills. That comrnittee was much
indebted to the Lexow Committee for its lnNesu-
CATION and consequently had waited until the
report of the committee had been made Then 1t
was ascertained that the bills suggested by the
Lexow Committee did not meet with the ideas OF
the Committee Of Ten. The remedies suggested
iyy,p fpqfi in
After this ascertained the bills before the
committee prepared.
There were evils 10 be remedei. said Mr.
Low One was the question of civilization IT
was acknowledged that the police system was
honeycombed with corruption. 1t was almost
disgrace 70 wear the uniform Of New-l orK
police officer The question that came into the
minds Of every man when he saw a New DIX
policeman was: rs ths one Of those bene-
fitted By plunder?' The second question was that
Of politics That the objection which the
Committee Of Ten made II the Lexow bills-the
political question had not been eliminated
The best part Of the Committee of Ten biIs
was that the Bureau Of Elections was divorced
from the Police Department: This system ha9
worked well in Brooklyn The Lexow bills dld
not do this and for this reason the Committee
OF Ten opposed them. The LeXow bills also pro-
vided for the recognition OF factions in par, I
bills further provided that the police system be
stripped OF It's political significance by placing
the Bureau Of Elections by itself The measures
met with the general approval OF the people Oh
New-York. and should be favorab.y reported.
Theodore Sutro, president OF the German.
American Reform Union. spoke next IN 1aVor OF
tho Committee Of Ten bills There were. he said.
two things which We're sought after In the DIS
One was that but a single man should be at the
head OF the police system and the other was
that the police system be divorced from politics
The rumor that the bills were advocated by
only q small body OF men untrue The or
ganization which he represented alone had
branches in every ward OF the city. ana the
propositions Of the Committee Of Ten were adVo.
Gated by nearly all the reform associations Oh
the city.
Mr. Rives chairman Of the Committee or Ten,
stated that there were many others present VINO
wished 10 be heard upon the bHl. sun, tne com,
1nittee was probably pressed Tor time ana "ouIu
not sit long enough to hear them. Inc mater
was Of the greatest importance, ana IL was oe.
sired that Mr. Delafeld, of the Committee OF
Seventv should say something. An extension or
the time for the purposes Of further nearing
was suggested by the speaker, VINO then mace
short sne.ch in advocacy Of the measure
He said he represented six ORGANIZATIONS IN
New-York City all OF which were for reform IN
municipal government. There was q cohSeiisuS
~ on,nion in favor Of the Committee OF Ten bils
before the committee and opposed 10 the LeNoW
Hills the Ainsworth bills and all measures whch
proposed bipartisan feature LOT New i'iN O'''
police management ,,. /. .,c .tro
Chairman OCrady then stated that II was Tune
for Tho committee 10 adjourn. and put the CON
t,nuation OF the hearing on New-York police biiS
down for a week from to-day
WILL TAKE Up POLICE BILLS.
A VOTE THAT MAY BE NEEDED TO PASS THEM