New-York tribune., 1901-04-01
SHORTER POLICE HOURS.
WHAT ADVOCATES OF THREE PLATOON
SYSTEM TOLD ASSEMBLY
COMMITTEE.
NOTHING MANDATORY IN MEASURE FOR
TWO PLATooNs OF FIREMEN-No
SERIOUS DIFFERENCES IN
CHARTER BILL.

Albany. March 80 (SpeciaD.-When the atten-
ton Of Assemblyman Kelsey, chairman Of the
Assembly Committee on Cities. was called to-
day to the amendment TO the Charter Revision
Commissions bill made by the Senate Com
rnittee on Cities. which might compel the city
authorities Of New-Y York TO reorganize the Police
Department on a three platoon system ana In
Yolve the city in an expense of S4.OoOoGO; and
likewise TO Assemblyman Adler's bill for two
platoon system in the Fire Department, which
would possibly involve the city in a further eX-
pense OF S20OOO00 he said: The amendment
made by the Senate Committee on Cities declar-
ing that each patrolman and roundsman Of the
police force shall perform eight hours of continu-
Gus reserve duty has also been considered by
the Assembly Committee Cities
When asked who had offered the amendment
in his committee. Mr.. Kelsey said that he could
not recall for the moment.
no NEW POLICEMEN.
In reply TO an inquiry as to his opinion Of the
amendment AIr. Kelsey said: Those who sup
ported the amendment before the committee
said that il would not involve the addition OF
single policeman TO the number now employed.
They stated that there were about twenty-five
hundred policemen who now have easy jobs in
attending courts and doing little work, and that
these now would he forced TO do at least eight
hours work; and as a consequence the patrol
men and roundsmen doing regular patrol
duty would do less work OF course we shall
not give. If We can avoid it. an excuse to the
Tammany Hall police administration 10 add
twenty-five hundred men to the present force of
policemen"
What have you 10 say about Assemblyman
Adler's bill providing for two platoon system
in the Fire Department
That bill is merely permissive.' said Mr..
Kelsey. The legislature issues mandate 20
the New-York authorities that there shall be
two platoons Of firemen. 1t is not mandatory
legislation II the city authorities do not care
10 establish such a system they need not
THE FIREMEN's BILL.
Assemblyman Adlers bill. which has been
passed by the Assembly. makes the following
provisions in regard 10 the Fire Department:
Ofcers and members Of the uniformed force shall
teen preferred against them, and after the charges
shall have been publicly examined into, upon such
10 the person cnarsed; ana IN such manner OF
Fire Commissioner may prescribe The trial of any
member Of the uniformed force upon charges shall
member was serving At th time the Charge was
preferred The examination into such charges shah
be conducted by the Fire Commissioner or oy the
deputy commissioner; but no decision shall be hnal
or be enforced until approved oy the Ere Comm!s77
sioner. No member OF the uniformed force shan
be permitted 10 contribute any moneys directly or
indirectly
citation. or of any club association intended 20
partmeat or any oficer or member thereof. or 70
contribute any money Directly or inGiTecI-y ior such
neers and fremen OF all grades may be divided by
the Fire Commissioner in his discretion into two
hodies or platoons one 10 perform day service and
the other TO perform night service The hours OF
day service shall not exceed ten. commencing not
before o'clock a. m and ending not later than 6
O'Clock = N. The hours OF night service sAall not
exceed fourteen commencing not 6eioTe o cloch n
p. m and ending not later than O'clock a m I;
eAce 81 sta t IN ,e+Sa1,. IbA Fire Co1ornissnTaT ar
deputy or representative Of said commissioner OF
have fun discretion 10 assign all Of said members
Of the department 10 continuous duty. II IN tnelr
judgment in such cases they deem II necessary.
Neither of said platoons shah be required 70 per-
form continuous DAY seTHTe osee or dsacfia 5s Ge
than one week except SO far as may be necessary
~ 1vro nations and also except in cases Of riot
serious conhagraton or other such emergency as
above provided
Assemblyman Kelsey was much amused to-day
when he read reports in various newspapers
thai there were irreooncilable differences of
opinion over the revision Of the charter Of New
York between his committee and the Senate
Committee on Cities.
There are no differences" he said. which
cannot be settled in a ten minutes talk. The AS
serably Committee on Cities, owing other
work began its examination OF the charter re-
vision rather later than the Senate Committee
and as a consequence. ne are now flooded with
n7anv Of the schemes which they rejected Why,
] presume here are suggested amendments 10
the charter now before my committee Of half a
foot in height OF course. very few will be ac-
cepted and / have doubt that the Senate and
the Assembly committees cities viii come TO
an agreement upon the bill 10 be passed"
Mr.. Kelsey thus shows that the charter re-
vision bill will not fail TO pass owing 10 real or
fictitious differences between the two houses Of
the legislature.