The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-11
REP B~LUEeQATS THIN.
4 x&W BURbhU SsrinEnSnED BY
IRE F0E1CE H0lRD. =

~ NE naentinontten OF Crttntnais-Ten
bstsctive p~erGeants RersAaaea 10 Ratrei.
The Police Board took steps yesterday to-
ward establishing q new bureau In tho depart
menL . chief purpose of which IL to keep
policemen from getting too fat. It is a fail
ing they have due to lapse Of interest in physi-
cal training and athletics after getting on the
torces Dr.. A. II. Brown, tho expert on such
matters. who has examined moro than 10000
apphcantsrin the last three years, thinks that
~ syntenatic training and care, which 10
now wholly lacking, policemen con DO made to
iook ana Keep shipshapo right along. As mat
tors are, few Of them would DO able to pass eK-
animation for physical fitness three years after
their appointment.
Commissioner Andrews and Smith, as tho
Committee on Rules and Discipline, looked
into the matter. The upshot Of II was that DR..
Brown applied for appointment as Police
Surgeon. with the understanding that no was
TO erect and have charge of an anthropometri.
cal bureau. to be organized forthwith In the de-
partnont. Besidcs the care Of policemen. tho
bureau IL to include the Bortillon system, as
now in use, and consequently tho new Rogues'
Gallery. The committee reported In favor of
the plan. THAR report said of tho new bu-
renu:
The flrst department will have charge of tho
physical training, care, and development Of the
members of tho force. We now exercise the
greatest care in the selection Of candidates for
appointment. They are required to pass a pre-
limfnary medical examination as to their gen.
eral condition of health, and subsequently a
most thorough athletic examination, but after
appointment no attention whatever has been
paid In the past to the problem Of keeping
them In proper physical condition.
TT 10 not necessary to argue that the Value
OF the services Of the 5000 men In this depart
ment depends very considerably upon their
physical condition. Many Of them soon be-
como partially incapacitated on account Of
obesity, weaknesses peculiar to the feet and
legs, chronic constipation, gastric troubles, and
other maladies, which can be helped, II not en-
tirely cured or prevented, by careful physical
training. DR.. Brown has made this subject his
hfe,study, and as the physical examiner Of vari-
Gus civil service commissions has had a wide
experience not only in New York. but in Bos-
ton, Chicago. and other cities. We believe
that at o trifiing cost the city can obtain much
better service from the men to whom It now
pays millions Of dollars in annual salaries. 1t
may be interesting to note here that the sum OF
e40O was received recently by the department
p enable It to purchase apparatus for athletic
work in the various station houses.
|. The second department OF the proposed an.
thropometrical bureau will consist of the Ber-
dllon system of Identification Of criminals.
This system has already been adopted in this
department and its value repeatedly demon.
strated, but 1t should be greatly extended. In
Paris, where NJ. Bertillon is personally in
charge of the work, the bureau employs moro
more than q million criminals. DR.. Brown
spent several weeks with Bertillon. receiving
Pronounced thoronghly competent by Bertii Elesh
de is probably the only person In this country
who has ever had such an advantage.
thropometrical bureau would demand the con-
stent care and attention of an expert, and we
sign to it one additional police surgeon.
I'VE believe that this board. having filled by
in this department, can now conclude its la.
bors by performing. no better service than to
start a system such as is hore outlined, and
better hands thar those Of Dr.. A. n. 3 "
Commissioner Parker opposed the plan be-
the detectiye office. They belonged together
he said. Commissioner Andrcws said that the
Detsstye Bureau and che hertillon system had
Paris, where the system had reached its full.
est deysiopment, II was not even a part Of tho
Mr.. Parker maintained that it would be un-
wise to separate them here. I'm France" he
s aee 'wh shsh' tho Il " people, assent e ssyf TO-. bS Of e Wbisb
could hardly be used here" He was defeated.
The board ,l,t yots ed three Hsew to one to establish The
~ ~ I've hSods III LII
Upon recoh,mendation Of the Chief, the
to patrol duty. Bernard i. Birmingham. Mau,
rice Bonnoil. George H. Dale, James T.. Down
e og6oa sSan JAMES R RehR D. Martin MSth1'0 koS SiG Z
and William II. Rynders.
hs NJ Il Ff e. %na was rss6 s,Se ib iSr tss1 being %ars G rems;59deda,
too friendly to O'Brien. the former chief or the
Detective Blu eau, Capt. McClusky. with Mo
only his own friends.
Mr.. Parker, who was in q sarcastic mood,
took occasion to remark that he would never
TN tbst case we are all for once agreed"
Game kind Of late. though" said Mr.. Par.
and bf a1sd 'a sSs t drst Monday asHsfs f N Sec eai M1 fot
canyessing the vote, The board did not know
% Sodg. and AZ w dire e 6 aSe c e ao c Is { to- ssf fina ont:
ere at the Little BIS Horn, ana for ssyentesa
station, was retired on a pension. -.
An anonymous correspondent had complained
III. Grant had violated tho rules by accepting
a baton and belt that had been voted hin At a
S sSarf the felt letter wt befope he RReF% bosrd as 4 ME- Grave pa naat:
ter requiring investigation, Inspector Grant
was called upon for an explanation. In reply
tSa sef The 70 board saS S0 RSa = s fiSps S ri an p Ss,Gisa R@'lf &c
receive the things. 1t was dated last May. nc
DAu not however. received tnem, no WroUo.
The pastor of the church had them yet.
All, the commissioners except Col Smith,
who 10 Chairman OF the COMMITTEES ON Repairs
and supplies and burdened with tho most de.
tail, had handed in their papers and had them
sudden row. He produced the return to the
writ In the Waters case which had been sent
to him for signature. The writ Is designed 70
prevent the board from trying tho case because
IL 10 not legally constituted a bipartisan board.
There arc some things here" began Mr.. Par
kar, which can't swear to. l can't swear to
not a board matter" he said.
Isn't 1t a public matterf' asked Mr.. Parker
In apparent surprise.
well" continued Mr.. Parker, 81 will say A
now, l must report now, and Idesire to say II
A wrangle ensued between Mr.. Parker ant
President Moss, who Insisted that it was for thu
Conimissioner to explain to tho Corporation
, on Parker, who, however, asked to have 1t re
corded that he Tanted to have the Corpora
certain things from want of KNOWLEDGE.