The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-10
TIE VIEW poLIoE BrLE.
Mr. Roosevelt and Hts Criticised
by n Mas who Knoyvs Somethine.
Nrw Your. Aprll q. 1890.


New YoRK. April z, 1890.
Hon. Nerdda N srrunahan, Chairman
DEAR Sin: | perceive that the Police Com
missioners have forwarded to YOU q letter ASK
Ing the passage NJ q bill relating to their powers.
As | suppose II Is doubtful whether at this stage
Of the session there will he any hearings, nd
dress YOU IN this way.
II seems TO me that the Police Commissioners
arc forgetting n very prevalent sentiment with
ont a concession to which I believe the bipar-
tisar bill, under which they hold their Offices,
would not have been passed. That sentiment
was that while on the one hand there was great
force in the argument against a divided respon-
sibility and therefore in favor Of a single-headed
department., yet there was believed to be-espe-
cially after the Developments OF the Lexow
committec-a great danger In intrusting the
enormous powers OF tho police force to the con-
troll OF any one man. Therefore an attempt was
made to reconcile the diverse opinions and arRu-
ments by intrustinR the executive powers of
the force, without control by Ills superiors, to
the Chief of Police while the other and mere
delibctative non-eXecutIve powers were con-
ferrcd upon a bipartisan Board.
Such was the prevalent sentiment, I feel sure.
which secured the passage OF the present law.
That law, In so far as II relates to this matter,
is n substantial copy. with some enlargement
of a bill which I drew in 1893, and with the help
of many who had favored a sinRle-headed COM
mission, and Of Others who were opposed to that
theory. procured to be passed by the Legisla-
ture. Gov. Flower refused to sign It.
Some of the changes In the bill from that I
drew seem in the light Of the letter Of the Com
missioners to have been unfortunate. But II
seems to me that the commissioners are going
the wrong way to correct the error. Because
some phraseology limits the free scope they
ought TO have in the matter of promotions they
are Gripping. II not destroying. the provisions
which were intended. as | believe. TO make the
Chief of Police supreme in the exercise of the
executive power OF the force. or course, they
are doing 1t with good motives. They know
what a great and good work they have accom-
plished, some OF It because they have been al
lowed to assume to themselves many OF the
executive powers OF the Chief, and they natu-
rally want to go on Ia the same way, but with
their powers enlarged.
l submit that they ought to have given them
the power to make promotions without q sub
But to get that power it does not seem to me
necessary or wise to shear him of his executive
powers and reduce him nearly to the position of
The Chief OF Police ought to have, as IL seems
TO me, the uncontrolled power TO put the force
assign the mem oers to such duties. consistent
with their rank, as he In his discretion thinks
detail Of his subordinatcs to their duties. He
should. IL this respect. be like the commanding
e Gseei power e, a" of " detsl IN s tns hf the co rs mis- R5e:
ers are seeking to take from him.. and
tais Sss"u sf tine Under law an ts HlmG frs. "G saee IN
and the Chief creates the roundsman by exer-
would be either not to make the position OF
the first step in promotion, or. II 1t is
ranks. to be made like ali other promotions. by
the Commissioners. They say. a designation OF
a man as a round sman is now held to be a detail
and not a promotion. and therefore they propose
to take away entirely the superiniendents
provide by law that designation as a roundsman
shall be a promotion from the ranks. and so be-
long to the commissioners: They can then
a Captain. aud All Inspector. If they say that
the Chiefs power to detail q ro%undsman. pre-
consent. where 1t can be found experimentally
whether he is fit to be a Sergeant. [ answer that
force at heart as much as the Commissioners
The present Chief is the creation of the present
t domriS SERVICES, A II he IS the ht'e man ' Se ought plhnoa to
be. he will be found willing to aid the Commits
s1on se i, in n see s,dh pro, proper bis sn censIIHnes II fai hhes
Is hardly an argument in favor OF the Commits;
bill. which seeks to give them the general
appointment of the Chief. Moreover. II for any
cause the CHIEF does not detail a man appointed
they should be able. acting on the best informa-
of an acting Sergeant with the right, after
sufficient period Of probation. either to pro-
him to his full Sergeantcy or to remand
to his position as roundsman.
Indeed, all that is really needed Is to amend
she fifth section OF the act last year (chapter
$500 by omitting the words, assigned to duty
As roundsmen." and the closing sentence reQuir-
ny n unanimous vote. The section would
hen read as follows: J.
promotions Of officers and member of the po-
ice force shall be made by the Board Of Police
IN grounds OF seniority. meritorious police SER
vice, aud superior capacity. and shall be as fol-
ows: SergeaI is Of police shall. be selected from
among patrolmen: Captains from among the
Sergeants. Inspectors from among Captains,
Chief of Police from among Inspectors
md CAPTAINS, and Chief of Police from among
leputy Chief Inspectors and Captains"
In this way all the Commissioners profess TO
want and | believe they are frank and honest
n their statement will be given them. while
he general, and what | believe should be the
distinctive powers of the Chief OF Police, the
ones. remain with him.
may add that l write with Il long and come
intimate acquaintance with the Police De-
artment The controlling spirit among the
commissioners Is my personal friend, while
not know the present Chief OF Police II l
net him anywhere. Your obedieEt servant,
GEORGE BLISS.