New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-03
PLATT'S NEW POLICE BILL.
TO BE OFFERED If THE BOLTERS BEAT
THE PRESENT ONE.
IT PROVIDES FOR STATE CONTROL OF THE
POLICE IN CITIEs-DETATLs NOT
KNOWN.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrxE.l

Albany. April 2.--When Senator Platt returned
TO New-York from this city few DAYS ago ne
said he was confident that even II the single
headed Police Department bill for New-Nork
should fail TO pass the Legislature some police
bill would he passed. In other words. II the
opposition Of Senators Coggeshall. WILCOX ana
Willis in combination with the Democrats
should defeat the present measure. some other
act could nevertheless be put through
1t s widely reported in Albany tonight that
Senator Platt's compromise bill will he state
constabulary act and that before he left Al
bany he gained the promise OF all the Repub-
lican Senators. except possibly Coggeshaii' that
they would support some such measure. II Is
significant also. when the State constabulary
bill is considered that this is the only police
measure which Senator Wilcox has hitherto
spoken favorably about. Yet 1T is difficult 10
discern why he should see such remarkably
strong reasons for opposing the abolition or the
bipartisan system Of controlling the New-fork
City police and still accept a bill which may put
n single State Commissioner in charge or the
force
JUDGE T. T. COYNE THE AUTHOR
Judge Edward r Coyne. OF Livingston County
is said to be drawing up the State constabulary
act One such bill was introduced ten days ago
by Senator D. +. Davis. of Brooklyn. but II Is
too radical to meet the views Of the Governor
The Davis bill excited considerable attention
when II was presented because of It's elaborate
provisions and the pains that had evidently
been taken with It. and some suspicion was eN-
pressed then that possibly 1t might nave come
from some person more prominent in the poiIt-
ical movements OF the state than the young
Senator from Brooklyn II Judge Coyne touo"s
the lines OF the Davis bill he will have an act
which will apply to the first and second ciass
cftf hat fc tn tba of Of y
falo, Albany. Troy, Syracuse and Rochester.
The Davis bill authorized the Governor on
or before the 10Th day OF June, 1S9o. to ap.
point a commissioner Of State constabulary,
who to be confirmed by the next conVenng
Senate" Whether this phrase next convenlng
Senate" would put the confripatory power In
the hands OF the Senate elected after this one
or not is a disputed question. Some persons
think it attempt to take the right of CON
hrmation out of the hands of the present SEN
ate. with its slender and somewhat insurrec-
tionary Republican majority.
THE DAVIS SCHEME.
The State, under the Davis plan. was 10 he
divided into four police divisions. The first di-
vision was to include only the city Of New
York the second the cities Of Albany and Troy.
the third the cities Of Syracuse and Rochester
and the fourth the city Of Buffalo. Each OF
these divisions was 10 be ruled over by com
missioner OF division Of state constabulary.'
who to have charge Of the police OF the
cities named. All the present policemen In the
cities were to be retained. and their salaries
10 be paid by the cities in which they
should act. 1t would hardly do for the State
10 assume the burden Of maintaining the Police
Departments OF the cities mentioned. which
would amount to at least $4,000 600 annually.
Judge Coyne is not in Albany. and II cannot
be learned o-nieht wh9t ehar0aa he ha made
In the Davis bill. 1t is possible that his measure
may refer only to the election machinery OF the
State in the cities named. but II is not believed
to be OF so conservative character.