New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-10
E1-CHIEF BYRNESS OPINIONS
QUALIFIED APPROVAL OF THE METRO
POLITAN POLICE BILL.
HE SAYS HE WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE
COMMAND OF THE POLICE FoRCE-wITH
SEPARATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
HE WOULD FAVOR A SINGLE
HEADED COMMISSION.

SEPARATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
HE WOULD FAVOR SINGLE
HEADED COMMISSION.
Thomas +. Byrnes ex-Chief OF Police OF this
city. was asked last evening TO give his opinion
OF the proposition TO consolidate the police depart
ments OF the Greater New-York in advance Of the
adoption of the charter. as has been proposed in
the bill being prepared by Edward Lauerbach and
ex-Judgc Allison to be submitted TO the Legisla-
ture. IL is expected this week
Ex-Chief Byr1es first asked II there
any truth in the report that he become
chief OF the metropolitan police system. To
this he replied that in circumstances would he
go back into the police force in any capacity
When asked his opinion OF the bill now in prepar
alton for the reorganization OF the Police Depart
ment he said:
The BILL I have read II. Is good and bad. in
this way: As have read IT, 1t proposes bridge
us over until 1898. That part Of 1t is bad. in my
Judgment. 1t should be made continuous for a
number Of years"
Mr.. Byrnes asked for his opinion OF the ef-
feet which the Police bill of 1851 creating similar
metropolitan system had upon the department.
He replied: "In 1867. just forty years ago. de-
parment had got into a condition. from variety
of reasons Of Generalization Generally II had
been handled absolutely by the Mayor. so that the
moral support Of the people was taken from H.
To certain extent the same state OF facts exists
to-day. The moral support Of the general public.
from variety of reasons and causes has been
taken away from the Police Department: and no
department charged with the enforcement OF law
be efficient without the moral support Of the
community behind It. In 1857. then. just now,
a Republican Legislature and Governor were in
power. and they passed the Metropolitan Police
bill, giving the Governor power TO appoint the
Commissioners eliminating all that district and
political strife from the Police Department. and
that bill provided for grand reorga nization. for
efficiency and disciplined and II along until
1870 when they passed what Is called the Tweed
charter. The politicians both here in Brooklyn
and in Staten Island. urged the passage of that
charter. so that they might have absolute charge
OF the Police Departments in the various cities and
localities. which Heretofore had had little or no
say about H."
THE LFXOw INVESTIGATION.
In answer 10 a question about the effect Of the
Lexow investga tons on the discipline OF the force.
Mr.. Byrnes told story Of how an attempt was
made induce thief to make a false statement
against himself for the of e&. but that a
newspaper owner exposed the trick and defeated
the scheme
When asked If he believed that the Commission
ers appointed by the Governor could manage the
Department better than the men appointed by the
Mayor he answered in the affirmative.
AS TO the present condition of the Police Depart
ment OF New-York Mr.. Byrnes said: From what
have read in the newspapers and from my own
knowledge, which TO through superior
officers and patrolmen in the Department II IS al
most in utter state OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
up factionally. When superior officers, according
10 newspaper reports put up JOBS on their brother
and go into different precincts for the pur-
pose OF trying obtain complaints against them TO
subserve particular interest or feeling the
status OF such force must certainly be bad. The
police force body, eliminating some OF its SUI
peror officers is grand and as faithful body
of men. properly handled as ever. In my judy
rnent was brought together"
As to the efficiency Of four-heaGed or one-headed
Commissions. Mr.. Byrnes said "A one-headed
Police Commission would. in my judgment. be very
much the better. Owing TO the ramihcations OF
politics. the consensus OF opinion seems 10 be in
favor of a four-headed Commission. SO long
the Bureau OF Elections is in the Police Depart
ment. OF course. it can be conducted there under
their auspices. II would be very much cheaper 10
make it a separate bureau but just so long that
bureau l. there, there should be more than one
Commissioner. When the Election Bureau Is un
attached 20 the Police Department. there should
only be one Commissioner"
ON PROPER FOOTING.
Mr.. Byrnes said he did not have intimate rela-
lions with Senator Plat. He added. in answer 10
a question as the effect OF bill 10 create mme-
diately a metropolitan police force:
Il believe if such a bill passed ii would have
tendency in less than ninety days TO put the De-
partment proper footing. Men should be Sc
ieced for the position Of Police COmmisnsioners who
the Commission consists OF four 1t would be very
easy matter 10 make the Mayor. whoever he might
be of the Commissioners, making I'VE. Il
would always prevent dscord. 1t would make the /
Mayor thoroughly familiar with the workings OF
the Police Department. II there were any short
con1ings on the part Of the Commissioners he /
would be in a position 10 know Of this truthfully
and not have to receive the information through
some other person.
"A Commission of this kind. in my judgment
should be appointed for ten years. The Commis-
sioners should receive fair salary. Their tenure
Of Office would certainly put them In position IN
which they would be entirely free from the infu-
ence Of local politics which is curse 10 the Police
Department The Commissioners should be remoVa-
bic by the Mayor any body OF citizens. In add
ton 10 that under metropolitan police OF this
kind the law should be more uniformly enforced
in the cities which It applies The same system
in effect would apply all the cities Of Greater
New-York over which there would be jurisdiction
do you believe that the Park Police ought to De
consolida ted in a city Of this kind >!
Yes II Is the ridiculous thing on earth 10
have two Police Departments in city Ike ours
Why should such a thing that exist II pro-
duces continual conflict
While refusing 10 serve in official capacity !
Mr. Byrnes said that he would be glad 70 aid the
new Commission with his experience or thrty-three
years police officer in any way hat the Board
might suggest.