New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-08
ONE POLICE COMMISSIONER.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS ABANDON BI.
PARTISAN BOARD.
THEIR BILL WILL CREATE A SINGLE
HEADED DEPARTMENT WITH TAM
MANY ALONE RESPONSIBLE.
InY rELEaRArH TO TIE TnIHrNE.l


Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BUNE.l
Albany. Feb. 7.-Governor Roosevelt. when he
returned from New-York last Saturday. ex-
hibited such keen pleasure over the result Of his
conferences there on the bill regarding the Po-
lice Board that there has been a suspicion that
the measure would contain some extraordinary
feature. To-day also the Governor in speaking
about the bill said he approved Of all its "funda-
mental features"
one ~ It's fundamental features" according
70 statements made tonight by prominent Re
puhlicans Will be the abolition Of the bipartisan
Board Of four Police Commissioners and the sub
sti utlon for II Of a single Commissioner. Though
ostensibly bipartisan. the Commission is now so
completely under the control Of the Democratic
party that tho Republican leaders in New-York
at last perceive the fact and are ready 10 recog-
nize IT In legislation. Commissioners Hess and
Abel. II IS declared are of no value 70 the Re
publican party. although classed as Repuh-
leans Democrats actually control the Police
Department. why not therefore, put Demo
crat at the head of the Department and hold
him responsible for its administration. and not
concede by having two men, classed as Repuh-
licans act as Police Commissioners that the Re
publican party IS in measure responsible for
the administration Of the Department? This Is
the argument which IS said 10 have persuaded
Senator Platt and other Republican leaders into
agreeing TO the experiment OF having Police
Department with only one Commissioner at Its
head
GOVERNORS POWER OF REMOVAL.
No partisan advantage Is to be taken Of this
change in the form of the Department Mayor
Van Wyck is to appoint the new head Of the
Department. and the new Police Commissioner Is
10 appoint the new Chief Of Police But If the
Police Commissioner misbehaves himself he Is TO
be removed by the Governor. That is said 70 he
a prominent feature II the BILL and there is also
10 Ne a provision that the Chief Of Police may
ho removed by the Governor II he misconducts
himself
The bill is said 10 have been drawn up by
Flihu Root. and 70 have been brought here to-
day by Frank II. Platt. Mr. Platt and benjamin
p Odell tr.. chairman Of the Republican state
Committee. took dinner tonight with the Gov
ernor
The Governor has said that after the bill
reached Albany and before it was Introduced u
must be shown 10 the leading Republican mem
bers Of the Senate and Assembly and their
Judgment taken upon it. In accordance with
this promise Mr. Odeu submitted the bill TO-
night 10 number Of prominent members OF the
LEGISLATURE. The measure IS to be introduced
tomorrow. II is reported, by Senator Raines and
by Asscmhlyman Mazet.
ELECTION BILLS TOO
The Police bill. it IS said. will be accompanied
hv another Of almost equal importance separat-
/ ing the Bureau Of Elections from the Ponce De
partrent and putting it in charge Of a biparti-
san board Of four commissioners to be noml-
mated bv the Republican and Democratic party
Iatr oof1 ~ -
| charge Of elections The scheme conforms 70
the former system in Brooklyn Of a single Ponce
/ Commissioner and = four-headed Bureau OF
/ Elections.
/ By another bin the powers Of John McCullagh
s,,neri,.terdent ~ Elections arc largely in
! creased In the Police act u is made Il mlsue-
/ neanor for any policeman to intimidaie any
/ citizen and IL is declared a misdemeahol c"
/ transfer policemen for political reasons. me
! o,lr.rir+ tor don't Of Elections is 10 be authorized
/ ~ arpaal 10 the Governor for the holding oi a
/ special court 10 try political offences like re-
/ pcating ana false registration
OTHER FEATURES or THE BILLS
C,n.. of the features Of the Police bill will be
trial board for policemen. This board VIII con-
/ sist Of an Inspector captain and a sergeant
The chief Of Police under AGr Roots BILL VIII
/ have far greater power in regard 10 trans
/ ferrine patrolmcn. sergeants captains ana m
spcctors lie viii be the executive head or the
/ force I'm fact as well as in name. Thus II the
/ Governor perceives any msmanagenent l. ol 'it,
/ polIce as I'm old and recent TammanE unes IL
| vii b. easy To- discover the culprit and hoid
him responsible. =, i. ,~,
/ visions TO protect citizens from being lnllnI-
/ dated II is made "a misdemeanor, for instance
10 refuse rights or grant special faNors 10 'eI
tain merchants. An attempt - mus iIldue
/ lreak down one Of the most despicable parts Oh
/ Tarnn,auv's system Of gaining votes and supper l.
/ II is to be a misdemeanor for any person 10 d9h
tor th. detail or transfer Of any policeman loi
/ ,,,litfcsl reasons II rs said that TINS secuoH
owes it's origin partly To the persecution oI CeI
/ tain voters who supported AssembIyman AdIer
/ for recollection. 3 t,,oa
IL, ort. of the bills the superintendent OF Elec-
,iore e. chilled upon 10 report 10 the Governor IN
/ September regarding any violations OF me gle,-
! lions which are apparent. special Grand jury
/ may be summoned AT any uWe 70 conSlIeL conSI . ei.0
,,1, frauds and the Governor may designate 4
| Deputv AttOrney-Gcneral TO manage the cases.
| one Of the amendments to the tec'on Jaw so
rro,.ides that when q man comes up 10 vote ne
! sbeu be asked certain leading questions, such
| as how long he has lived In the place from "n'Ch
| he registers. MT, ,ut
nroyides that no policeman shall belong to any
| political organization ,,, ,.z
| and Assem- olymen at their conference with MT:
/ 0deII tonight fully approved OF these bills, and
that they will be made party measures. me
/ conference. however, was sun IN session al a
/ lote hour and no confirmation OF the report
/ couh be obtained Doubtless they will have
the hearty support Of the Republican Senators
ard Assernblymen not at the conference II those
present state tnat IN thSH Juus"leH' 'u0' ONSNS
n be passed.
THE TAsfMAHY sALARY-GRABBERs
7, vas also reported tonight that well-known
citizens Of New York might be authorized 70
/ Investigate the great increases OF salaries made
/ in New York by Tsmmany Hall. and report
! shortly 10 the Legislature on the subject with
| the aim of protecting the taxpayers by legis-
/ lative action In some way.
The Governor gave an indication to-day that
/ he Is keenly observing the action Of the Tam
! many Hall officials In raising salaries in New
/ York and also OF the suggestions of Taminaiy
/ q 49, L. I.-ara a 1 90