The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-11
nine HEAR FROM TOM BYRNES
now NE WOULD MAKE THE 70
LICE 4 MORE EFFICIENT BODI.
He's for 10 Year state Made Head and
Five Deputies. One 10 BE chief sleuth
and one Travelling Judgc--The Force,
lie SAYS Doesn't Know Now who's boss

Ex-Superintendent Thomas T. Byrnei
was the only witness before the Committee
of Nine Yesterday. He outlined to them q
complete scheme of his own for the reor-
ganization Of the force.
MIR Byrnes was before the committee for
three hours and discussed every phase
OF the police problem His main idea is
that the Police Commissioner should he
appointed by the Governor for not less
. than ten years, and that the first Of five
deputies TO be- appointed by the Com
missioner should be the superintendent or
executive head Of the force.
When Mr. Byrnes went before the COM
mittee he announced that he cared TO say
nothing which he wouldn't be at liberty to
repeat later. so, at Chairman FoX's sug-
gestion, he told the reporters about his
scheme later. Five of The Nine, Mcssrs.
Fox, Osborn, McInerney, Sohih and Selig-
man, were present
The Commissioner ought 70 be appointed
by the Governor, with confirmation by
the Senate, Mr. Byfnes said because better
men could be selected in that way and the
appointment might be removed from local
influences HIS tenure OF Office should be
for life or for a term of not less than ten
wears, the only ground for his removal be-
ing rralfcasance In office The five deputies
should be appointed from the force pref
erably, except possibly the fourth deputy,
in charge Of trials. The tenure of Office
for deputy commissioners ought not TO be
less than ten years. There are plenty Of
good officers in the department, Bvrnes
thinks. for the five Jobs
The first deputy under his scheme would
be the executive officer and would give all
orders The second deputy would he head
of the elective Bureau, the third would be
in charge Of Brooklyn, Long Island City
and outlying districts; the fourth would be
trial judge, and the fifth a sort Of aide
to the commissioner
The trial deputy, Mr.. Byrnes said, should
travel circuit and hold court in all the
boroughs in turn. In this way police
men. and incidentally the city, wouldn't
lose as much time in travelling 10 Head
quarters ms at present.
Mr. Byrnes said that no new powers should
be given TO the Commissioner. His chief
duties should be the appointment and
shifting of the force, the actual manage
ment Of IL lying with the first deputy.
The force il disorganzed now. he said.
'The patrolman on the street doesn't know
who il his boss. He hears Of countless
boroughs and this and that II there was a
chief or superintendent there he would
have real boss"
Mr. Byrnes also discussed the Detective
Bureau at length. He thinks the present
organiza ton is simple and effective and that
the detectives should be selected from the
uniformed force. There are plenty of good
men in the force they are OF all kinds and
nationalities. The whole problem, he said,
lies in their selection.
The chief trouble with the Detective
Bureau" said Mr.. Byrnes, is 10 get the
right kind OF head. How can the bureau
be OF any use when its chief sits behind
desk breaches TO his men and rakes them
over the GOALS and yet the men know that
he isn't fit To hold the job; He must not
only be honest but should love his work
ard above all have the ability 10 command
man. He must be energetic and strong
He said that he bad no criticism 10 make
Of the present Commissioner or OF any Of
HIS subordnates, but merely wanted TO
emphasize how necessary II j. to have the
Tisht kind Of man at the head OF the de-
tective force.
We also talked about tho excise ques-
ton, said MIR Bvrnes. after the meeting.
Il told the committee that the police are
not to blame. Suppose n policeman IL
ordered by his superior officer to enforce
the law. He goes out and works hard 10
get evidence and makes arrests. Whit
is the result? Somebody is seen and the
policeman gets transferred TO the regions
Of Yonkers'
The Nine notified Commissioner McAdoo
Yesterday that they would like TO hear him
some time next week and that il has been
decided that his will he the final views
heard. Mr.. MCAdOo has agreed,