New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-12
MORE POWER TO THE MAYOR
A BILL WHICH WOULD LET HIM REMOVE
THE POLICE BOARD.


| SENATOR wRAY INTRODUCED 1T AS AN OFFSET
TO THE MACHINES GREATER NETWORK
POLICE COMMISSION SCHEME.
/, Albany. March II (SpeciaD.-Senator Wray OF
! Brooklyn. to-day introduced bill which would
arm Mayor Strong and his successors with au-
thority to remove at pleasure during their terms
the heads Of any Of the city departments. Inc
bill amends the Power of Removal act OF 1880 so
as to read as follows THE Mayor or the CITY OF
Ncw-York may at pleasure remove from Once
any public officer or hereafter holding once
by appointment. from the Mayor OF said city, ex-
cept officers for whose removal other provision 10
made by the Constitution
The introduction OF this measure by Senator
Wray was looked upon with great interest by his
fellow Senators. they having heard that Ed"aru
Lauterbach had already drawn up bill remov-
ing the present Police Boards OF New-fork,
Brooklyn and Long Island City and putting in
their Mace a Greater New-York Police Depart
men.. with authority over the counties or New
York. Richmond Kings and Queens. This meas
ure IL Is said will he introduced here Tomorrow
by Senator Stranahan and Assemblyman AUSTIN
the chairmen Of the Committees on Cities OF the
two houses Of the Legislature. Senator Wray
bill affects only city. while the Lauterpach
bill sweeps away the present police author'''e'
in four counties Senator Wray said In explana-
ton Of his bill
"Mv purpose in introducing the bill to amend
the Power Of Removal act which was passeu
in 1895. giving the Mayor Of the city OF New
York mower to remove any public officer FOR
nerod of six months after he took office. was
/ to do away with the deplorable condition OF INC
Police Department of the city Of New-York
which has brought that Department into dis
credit among the people and has created wide
spread feeling OF discomfort II not disgust
and. in the judgment of many people, has seri-
ousy interfered with the efficiency OF ponce au
ministration In fact. this feeling has gone SO
far that a question Of appointing state Coni-
mission, Of for New-York City has been
mooted and II Is said that there Is an Intention
to draw and introduce a bill giving the Gov
crnor the power OF appointing the Police Com
missioners for the city Of New-York.
.rhsre seems to be no necessity for such
action On the contrary. there seems to De
everv reason why It should not be taken IL
would he an anomalous condition or Things
while considering the Greater New-York char
tor which gives the fullest measure OF home
rule 70 the proposed government for that city,
IN mass a law which would be subversNe Oh
home rule and In direct opposition to that
nrincinle of local government which has justly
take, such a firm hold on the minds or inc
people. J., ,Oo- .o,,orrad
the mower of removal upon the Mayor. and that
act was found to be ample to effect Its purpose
without any violation whatever OF the prihc,pIe
Of home rule. If IT was good thins AT tnat
time TO give the Mayor power to remove MS
appointees. and If it was found to be an EN-
Gent means Of reaching the trouble then eHIs'
ing there can be no possible excuse LOT con
ferring any greater or further powers on any
ono else as that act provided ample power 10
do wha. Is necessary 10 be done now. An
amendment Of the act, providing for the same
nou.ar AT this time should he found amply
suf,icient for the work to be done at this time.
senator Wrays attention was called AFTER
vvard 70 the fact that his bill would give Mayor
$1,000 authority TO remove the head OF every
citv department in New-York i did not III.
tend tn do that" he said. "and shall nave my
bill amended that it Will only a"ec' '"e
Police Commissioners.