The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-19
NEW YORK'S POLICE FORCE
4 BILL INTRODUCED II INCREAsE
1T BY 500 MEM.

It Carries Out the Recommendation OF Chisf
Couitn snd Is Eudorsed by President
Roosevelt BiIs Affecting the Fire DEE
pnrtment Also Introducod at Albany.
AtpANY. March 1s.-A number OF bills Affect
inC New York city made their appearance IN
the two branches OF the Legislature to-day. The
most important OF them provides for carrying
out tho recent recommendation of Chief Conlln
that the police force be increased forthwith by
800 mon. Tho bill was introduced by Assem-
blyman Austin, Chairman of the Cities Com
mlttee. at the request Of tho Police Commits
sioncrs. II was transmitted to him by Com
missioner Parker. who sent with It a copy Of
Chief Conlin's report and q letter from Presi-
dent Roosevelt setting forth the necessities for
the increase. In his letter, President Roosevelt
says!
ut is important 10 observe that tho city Of
New York has been increasing In population
for the last twenty years at an average rate OF
about 60. 900 per annum. During this time the
patrol force has increased by n little over
1900, or one additional patrolman for every
700 additional population. In 1875 New York
had one patrolman for every 475 Of population;
In 1895 II has but one patrolman for every $40
OF population. In other words. the city of New
York has to-day Il per cent. less patrol force In
proportion to It's population than II had in 1879.
Comparing the territory included within the
city of New York at the present time and that
included in 1876, q still greater deficiency ap-
pears. New York. therefore, Is. and for some
time hao been. actually diminishing Its effective
THE territory which was added to New York
In 1895 embraces IA. $50 square acres. and has
37l4 miles of streets and avenues which 1t IL the
duty OF this department to patrol. The utter
imposstbitty OF covering this precinct with the
pears without further comment. AT most but
10 men are on, duty at one time, making an
average OF nearly four miles OF streets for each
though not so extreme, exist In other precincts.
In the Thirty; second and ThiIty:third precincts,
which have been established for a number OF
years. there are posts Of twenty, thirty. and
even forty blocks In length.
ITO meet the prospective increased population
in the city, the law permits an Increase Of 100
patrolmen In each year. provided the Board of
sary appropriatioD therefor. The average in-
erease per year for the last twenty years has
been about seventy; Had the patrol force been
past twenty years, and In proportion TO the
growth OF the city. the patrol force would now
The increase which is recommended by tho
Chief is. therefore. but slightly more than that
growth of the city. Even with this addition. the
patrol force would be- far less in proportion to
the population than In any or all of the large
The Police Board has asked for a hearing
upop the b, ~. and at their ppe9rest Il has been
has signified his intention of appearing to advo-
cate the measure.
Three bills were introduced in the Senate by
Mr.. Ford to change things around In the Fire
Department to suit those eminent reformers.
them creates the ONCE Of Deputy Fire Marshal
and provides that his salary shall be $4,000 q
year The Fire Marshal's salary Is axed at
$4,000. The bill is apparently Intended to give
the Fire Commissioner fresh power to dismiss
Fire Marshal Mitchell. who was removed soon
r.. ssam. Of p the sh SaS sSnFss and Il lis 5GG spa.s . inH1
be six years. unless sooner removed by the
Board Of Fire Commissioners for cause and
after a hearing having been had" The present
officials shall be deemed to be the Marshal and
respective offices for the term Of six years each.
unless sooner removed. as herein provided
rns h1,l , aIso ! aasnSi1Tes fn and G .sernt s.Ty;ce s. TO
aminers or clerks In the bureau OF the Fire Mar
shall " for each battalion district. They are TO
sioners. and arc to receive 81. 800 a year each.
Another of the Ford bills authorizes the Fire
Of ofacers Of the uniformed force rem Jan, j.
1897. still another provides for the establish
ment OF a Civil Service Bureau in the Fire De-
Police Department The examinations are to
be conducted under special rules. which pre-
eumably will not hamper .he Commissioners in
making appointments and promotions to the
same extent as those devised by Godkin.
Assembly man Adler, who ia a Republican. In
Comptroller's ofice. It provides for the ap-
ditors of accounts and three deputy auditors. to
be removed by him at pleasure. and to receive
such 6ih com bIsIs introd As ns shall af4.c dstsr% Snm yor.
city were:
Senator Guy.Alowins the street Commissioner in
which are less than nifty feet in Width. ''e's
railroads within cities of over one and onebaIf mil
!. Mr. escoS1Aathqrlz, the expenditure of $4,000
to improve Bryant Park. in New York.