New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-22
Liverpool. GA; Of Paris. 50: Of Berlin 1876 and Of
Vienna. 1873.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE POLICE
BOARD

The Commission was unit In believing that the
one thing TO be avoided is a partisan head of tho
Police Department. The only difference in opinion
could be attained. 1t the opinion of tho
members that i should be done by vesting the au-
thority of the Police Department in a single Com
missioner. The majority of the Commission is how
ever unable to believe that a Mayor whose election
is the result of "A sharp political contest will be
likely to appoint non,partisan as the head of the
wouiu ne ashhs, such an appointment ana the
pressure would he too great to be resisted. In the
method 10y which such an appoin tment can surely
be prevented Is by expressly prohibiting it. 1t was
force should he a Board of four Commissioners. and
mat mo more than two of such Commissioners
the same political party be Of the Same political
emeIo U s,a,1 ana N9m" Mh ,y
free hand in constituting the Board Prohibited hy
comparatively free from party pressure Nor does
IT necessarily follow that the Board shall be hi
partisan. " the Mayor desires a non-partsan De
paftment tt can he so made as readily through a
commission of four members as TIN Tough single
commissioner In either case the Mayor can select
as commissioners citizens VINO value the efficiency
Of the Department and the welfare of the city far
above any question OF mere party patronage
10 avoid the objection of neiiciency II Is pro
vided that the Chief Of Police shall be the chief ex,
ecutive of1cer OF the force and shall nave free ana
absolute control of it's movements. with the eX-
Department the Fridge t' Deparme i and the Health
Department. and of permanent assignments OF
motion which assignments are made by the Board
on the recommendation OF the Chief the entire au-
Chief. and he has power to change such assign
ments from time TO time whenever In ms Judgement
the emergencies of the service may require ~
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD.
The powers and duties OF the Police Board com
prise the making of rules orders and regulations;
the care and control Of funds and other property OF
the Department and the trial Of all charges against
members of the police force. Upon IT, therefore DE,
discussion and Which are in their nature legislative
judicial The movement and direction OF me UNI
single head-that heal not a partisan civilian un-
trained In the police service om, n sr, ranh s bTdr
all grades Of service. 10 the chief comnahu, "no
knows little ana cares less loT pa bcrghy mhUed
with the conviction that the chief object ana lur PUT
pose Of the police force is to preserve the peace ana
Promotions made only on the RECOMMENDATION
of sH T ppoyda ha sq m of The rejection Of
any Recommendation for promotion ne Che t OF
Police shall submit another name within three
days. and shall continue so to do until such vacancy
Again. In order TO furnish a safeguard against
chief who is either Incompetent or who abuses ms
power as the military head OF the iodce ,ne rcoed
from his office by the unanimous vote OF the E.aTd,
or by majority vote, with the approval o. the
We believe that the system. as proposed in the
charter is greatly preferable to any Of the systems
az they have heretofore existed in the cities about
to be & so ONE and to
devolve upon him the duties which are 10 hc dlS,
charged by the Board. is impracticable. II would
discharge them and il would be necessary for him
to have assistants. with duties and emoluments
Substantially the same those OF three commits
sioners Al present ore of the Commissioners IS
treasurer OF the Department ana oo % n ng
With single commss Toner. of course tIeasur r
of the force. with salary equal to that Of COM
missioner would be necessary. 49, MI,
The Commissioners also trustees OF the Police
Pension Fund the annual disbursemenis OF N wMcn
the last year more than 100000 Inc CON
benencjaries OF the fund the sums to which they
are entitled. To them are presented an clilms aci
pensions They investigate ana allow or reJe co
such claims. and when allowed fix the amount Oh
me Fjn psSo up 20 the Police Commissioners is de-
voved the arduous duty Of trying patrolmen ana
officers for breaches of police Discipline ,rais nNr
York alone there are over five thousand trials per per
annum. and under the new force II is sale 10 say
twenty n day for every working day In the year
The charges must be made In writing houce mus
be given and an opportun'ty hoarine had the c-
cused having the right 10 appear ana ne repre- pre-
reduced 10 writing and judgmen; and sentence
awarded II is absurd TO suppose mat a sihs.e
commissioners in addition to the large duties other-
wise devolving upon him. could possibly hear and
determine all these cases
WHAT THEY SAY WOULD FOLLOW.
II is obvious that the substitution in the place Of
a board OF single commissioner clothed with
all necessary powers as the head OF the Police
Department would necesstate an entire change. in
tho method of maintaining the discipline Of the
force and Of the trial Of charges Of neglect o duy
az ~ THAT ofccrs should be detailed and courts con-
stituted as military courts, similar in their nature
arrangement officers would enforce the discipline
OF tho Department upon each other. system Whch
is subject to criticism even IN the army anu l1nss
and which. so far we are ADVISED mas never
been employed for the purpose OF naintalnihg tne
%, 10 organize courts outside the Police Depart
ment for the purpose Of trying cases 'h'oN'"E
breaches OF police discipline.
II is believed that 70 judicial system for the Po-
lice Department would he as satisfaG,ory 'n ina'
l.,sf he moi
The final and conclusive objection. however, 10 Il
single Commissioner Is ihat me PoWeiL1 %'y M, ,hc
head of such a body as the police force OF inc con
solidated city is LOO tTemen4fo ec 10 mower wbn in
i lne uhon The power had been exercised and the
rn;ecbef had been done and. even thcn, it, opera
ION would be difficult and prevention out Of HE
e.om i,ndor inc system as constituted.
he advantages of a single head IN unity o. Pur..
nnse nractical direction and prompt and efficient
zion are secured while AT the same time hody
viets whose specific duty IT is 10 observe from Gay
n dav the methods of action. 10 supervlsc the
oc " Of laws and regulations in their minucst
details and to challenge all deviaiions from guy.
snnervising body being that Of a board which can
only act by resolution Is me s1oJ,, OF ' ~
The higher municipal authorities and Of 1h' pubic uDnc
hbSee, derree Of positive efficiency while al
NC oame time II contains WITHIN IL Such thechS
ana 80 nrhi,rarv power and to insure that pub
licy which is an essentia co'"'''o" Vi "''''' '''
government
.c no UAyOR'S POWER OF REMOVAL.
The proposed charter gives to me mayor u ~,
,oa.er 70 appoint the Corporation Counsei ana an
po" ,,,,s,rative and executive officers OF the
o,,v event the Controller. The Mayor has also
a s,ipervsing control over all the narlouS eep,, ,o
d n,e The proposed charter enlargeS ms t r
,mvmer mon the acts OF the legislative body Inc
ppoer Of the Mayor OF New-Y undei Ie @ ~
charter will be greater than 'ha' Oh inc N'''0' ~
.ho n-ess,t city OF New York , = ..,a..,o Ia.
my - ,sorn,ission found that the LEGISLATURE ny
80 nc - ~ Tho Laws OF 1895 had recently heat
Socially with the subject OF ne p 1SS cnIarend
aa!or MS il heretofore existed. ana proNlusd
H.; at any time within SIX m nom ,ha MavoT
ooi ln''' neasrre remove from Office any pubic
Nicer boang office by appointment from ,n nl,
,his mower without substantial change, ~ cnat b