The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-08-18
THE poLIcr IsYEsrIa Arfov.

THE PoLICE INYESTIGATfON.
 There are tworeports from the commit tee appointed to investigate the Police department of New Haven. One is sign- ed by Messrs. Rogers and Martin. It is Ilonger than 1t really ought to be, and on this account may not get itself generally and carefully read. The other is signed by Judge Harrison. It is short and to the point. Both reports agree in the
 most important matter and in some
 others not so important. Neither report sustains the wild charges that were
 made. Both reports say that there is no evidence of corruption in the Police force or of the improper use of money.
 Both reports speak of the body of the
 force as good men trying to do their
 duty. There is no suggestion in either
 report that any member of the depart
 ment should be discharged, punished or fined, except that in the majority report
 a recommendation is made that Chief lWrinn and Captain Cowles should be removed -s-4.-~. '--~ l Concerning the chief charge the major lity report says: We found no evidence of
 eorrnption. There was not particle of tevidence to substantiate the occasional irumor that money is used to secure ap- Ipointments We have no reason to be- lieve that there is any foundation for
 the report. We have no evidence that
 the proprietors of dlsorderly houses pay
 the officers for Illegal privileges, or that
 the outcasts of society pay patrolmen
 on beat for permission to solicit or that
 there is much soliciting on the public
 highway. The police force is composed, for the most part, of good and worthy men, who are able to do their duty and willing to perform it. Some of the men Iare too old to do efficient work and fought to be retired, and not all of them tare trustworthy; but that no doubt is
 the case in most public departments.
 Judge Harrison says: There was no tevidence presented to show that any members of the department were in any manner corrupt, or that any money had
 been used, directly or indirectly, to se- Ieure appointments upon the force.
 5 | t E 5Eg.
 l This is right and reasonable, and in accordance with the facts. Right and reasonable too are some of the recom- lamentations made in the majority report. No fault can fairly be found with any tof the following recommendations: If tthe Board of Police Commissioners is fnot abolished section 63 of the charter lshould be amended so as to prohibit any tmember of the board from selling to sa-
 looms cigars or other saloon supplies, ,' Tor from furnishing any materials to be used in any saloon, or from being em- lployed to do any work for the owner or lessee of the same in connection there
 with. The practice of commissioners in
 making appointments in rotation should
 cease. The political affiliations of ap- Iplicants should not be considered. Ap- lpointments should be made according to the grade of the men as certified by
 the civil service board unless the unfit Iress of the persons so certified is made in some way to appear. No man should be appointed to the regular force who is Imore than thirty years old. The police department should be taken absolutely
 out of politics. The right of the men to Evote at elections and primaries should be guaranteed, but beyond that they lshould be required to abstain entirely from politics. They should not be per- Emitted to take part in political discus lsions, or to use their influence for or Iagainst any candidate or party, or to be Econnected with any political club, or to make or solicit any contributions for po- tlitical purposes. The existing rules on
 this subject in the Police Manual should Ebe revised according to the above sug-
 gestions. A larger fund should be pro- Evided for special detective work. The
 police should not be allowed to raise a fund to influence legislation. If the pen lsion system is continued the limitation lof the fund of s5o.oOo should be enlarged