New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12
COZ. BLISS on THE POLICE BOARD
HE WRITES TO MR.. STRANAHAN AboNI
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
THE BIPARTISAN LAW.

7, Wow ~ the state of war in the Police Board
and the efforts Of three of the Commissioners TO
have the Legislature pass an amendmeht u INC
Blpartlsan law by which three OF the ineihpeis
of the Police Board might have the power 70 make
promotions and arrange details in the police force
without the recommendation OF the CHIEF OF Ponce
tho amended letter, which has been addressed py
George Bliss the weknown lawyer OF this city
to the chairman of the Committee on cities OF the
State Senate. will be read with interest;
nerceve that the Police Commissioners nave Tor,
warded TO you letter asking the passage OF on.
relating to their powers. As suppose II Is @ III
any hearings, i address you in this way;
Ii seems to me that the Police commissioners az
concession to which l believe the Bipartisan BIZ.
under which they hold their offices woGsd hot on n ts
one hand there great force in the argu r
against divided responsinii,y ahu e, gbere WIS
believed to be-especialy after the developments
Of the LMo% of the police force
to the control OF any one man lhereiote an , ~
amp and pareuments by nrustng the executive powers
OF the force. without control by MS supsrorS 10 ,e
Chief OF Police. while the other and more deloera
Bipartisan Board OF Commissioners.
Such WAS the prevalent sentiment l reei sure sure,
which secured the passage of che present law Ihat
law 50 far as Il r san,s e no rH Of BIZ
which | drew in 1893. and win the help Oh MANY
VINO mad favored n tbai theory procured
to be passed by the Legislature. Governor Flower
some II The changes in the bill from that | drew
the light OF the letter OF me , 70 M,
that the Commissioners are going ne Wtonb Ny Ny
70 correct the error. Because some phraseoioSy NM
ia he free scope they ought to have in the matter
of promotions they are Gripping, II nor destros-
IN the provisions which were lntended-as be-
ueVe-to make the Chief of Police supreme in the
exercise of the executive powers OF the force OF
Know what a great and good work they have ac-
comp.ishcd. some OF Il because tley nNr "So S
allowed to assume to themselves many OF the en-
ccutye powers OF the Chief, and they natuIahy want
to go on in the same way but with their powers
submit that they ought to have given them the
power to make promotions Wth9h ho Rns 40 gn
that power II does not seem 10 me NECESSARY VI
wise 70 shear him Of ms noson of servant
THE chief OF Police ought TO have. as 1t seemS;
TO- me the whero he links best and assign
the members to such duties consis,ent T MI s'g hs
rank as he IN his discretion thinks best 3rleny, ne
should absolutely control the detail OF ms supor-
dinatcs to their duties He should in tnS resp,f G
he ike the comma nding general OF an army III tne
field II is this precise power On detail tnat tne
Commissioners are seeking TO take rom n rn Sn
Of the law the first step in promotions must be MADE
from tho ana h inc power Of detail THe
simple way would be either not TO make the postion
% be 40 70 treat IT as promotion from the ranks
TO be made like all other promoHUhs by NAN r an,
ronndsman is now held TO be detail and not pro-
notion and therefore they proposs 70 % dsa
wnnIJ 10 much simpler to provide by aw that deslg-
nation as n roundsman shall be promotion IRON rrom
the ranks and belong to the Coinmlssiohers my
can make roundsman ana III uue tiiAe 'ei ee""''
n captan and inspector -. =. 1o,ou
70 ithaw saw that the Chiefs power 10 detail
roundsman prevents his being placed except Will
chsf - T y s 10 fan
swer that the Chief IL presumed 10 nave tne Soou
81 tho force at heart much as the Commission
ers The present Chief Is the creation OF the pres
ent Commissioners, appointed alter LONG p h h
uII 10 found willing to aid the Commissioners IN
Securing proper subordinates II they cay ne Is NOT
svch then his conspicuous failure is hardly an argu-
$500 go, in favor of the Commissioners bill which
exarcIsed in the case OF the appointment OF the
II for sdne ns to-
nos,,Ion where he can satisfactorily show he Is MT
for sergeantcy. they should be apie acting on inc
hest information they can get, TO promote MIN 70
the nositon OF an acting sergeant with me right
after sufficient period OF probation either 10 pro-
mote him to his full sergeantcy or TO remand MIN
ia his position az roundsman . -, A..
Indeed all that Is really needed IS 10 amend me
efh section OF the act OF last year (Chaper 569) by
nnnittinp the words assigned 10 duty as ROUNDS
men and the closing sentence requiring q uhan,-
nous The section would then reaa as t ,
lows. .Promotions of officers and members OF the
notice force shall be made by the board OF folice
On grounds of seniority. mertorous police service
and superior capacity. and shall be as foliows Ser
geants of police shall be eeacted from among pa
troimen captains from among sergeans: inspectors
from among captains Deputy Chief OF Police from
among inspectors and captains ana Che1 OF Forge
from among deputy chief inspectors ana captains
In this way all the commissioners profess 70
want-snd / believe they are frank ana honest IN
their statement-will be given them. while the gem
erai and what believe should be the distinctive
powers OF the Chief Of Police. the executive ones
remain with him. 49,