New-York tribune., 1901-03-17
TO FIGHT FOR STATE POLICE
SENATOR PLATT DETERMINED TO GET
MEASURE BEFORE LEGISLATURE.
CONFERENCE RESULTS IN DECISION TO
DRAFT BILL ON LINES OF NET
ROPOLITAN ACT or 1851

There was conference at Senator Platt's
office downtown yesterday of those interested in
formulating a police bill for enactment at AL
bany which will meet all constitutional require
ments and at the same time legisate Devery
and Murphy out Of office and place the Police
Department Of New-York under State control,
m Tor Platt has streruousy insisted
ace -FasrY any arroeantiy retained Devery In
Office under the now Police hill that there would
he supplemental legislation at Albany which
would make Devery's continuance in power by
Tammany impossible OF late he has been
Interested in the case of Colonel Sanger the
METROPOLITAN Elections Commissioners and other
matters that he has given the police situation
comparatively little attention. He declared
again yesterday that there would he police
legislation at Albany before the session ended
which would rectfy the police abuses in this
city. Ex-Justice Cohen. a. r. Boardman Frank
H. Platt Justice Goodrich and others conferred
with the Senator.
week ago yesterday there was conference
on police legislation. and when the meeting
ended there seemed scant possibility, in the
oninion of the politicians that anything could
he done owing to constitutional limitations.
Many wonder why Governor Odell and the in
fuential members OF the State Senate do not
take part in these conferences. The truth is,
said an organization leader yesterday, in COM
menting is this, that it is now question for
constitutional lawyers and not for legislators
II bill can be drafted which evades constitu-
tional infractions. it will be submitted to Gov
ernor Odell and the lawmakers for final
sideration before being pushed to enactment"
SAY IT WILL BE SIGNED.
There is great interest. of course, to know the
position of the Governor. He is saying nothing
at present but those who working over the
ready for presentation to the legislature. enough
votes will be mustered to pass IL, and that the
Governor will sign it. The majority of the in
fluential members of the Senate-with the exCep-
tion Of Senator John Raines. who is a State
consta buary advocate first. last and all the
time-have kept silent to the attitude they
will take toward supplemental police legislation
As result of the conference yesterday 1t seems
now a certainty that new bill will he drafted
but what support it will receive in the legis-
lature and what stand the Governor will take
toward il. remain To be seen
The conference yesterday resulted in decision
to draft and offer a bill drawn up the lines of
the old Metropolitan Police bill of 1851. This
bill includes YOnkers. IL was held to be cOnsti-
tutional by the courts. but when effort
made to bring Troy and its suburbs under a SINH
lar bill the court which had declared the former
bill constitutional pronounced the new act un-
constitutional. The proposed bin relates to New
York solely 1t is expected that it will he
drafted and ready for presentation to the legis-
lators and other leaders some time this week
There will he additional conferences of the law
yers and then the bill will be sent to the State
capital.
They will have to hurry up. won't they?"
suggested one who heard of this decision last
night
WHY >" asked a politician.
THE session is soon to end. isn't it," was the
reply.
II don't think they will adjourn until orders
are given" chuckled the politician.
LIVELY STRUGGLE EXPECTED.
The general impression last night that
lively struggle in the organization is imminent.
ganization are determined to put this bill
through. 1t is believed that 1t will be just
yiciously opposed by certain leaders in the
ganizatiOn. There were few last night who
thought that the proposed bill would become a
law but there were few who did not say that
hard fight was in sight The general idea was
that Senator Platt would try to force the BILL
and the universal query was: What will the
Governor say?"
that there was nothing new in the police situ-
alton. that when there was anything now and
anything TO say ne would talk. The indications
last evening were that something new had
developed, and politicians speculeting as
to the attitude of Mr.. odelL