New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-13
RECOMMEND A CHIEF.
THE REPORT or THE NINE.
Plan for Bill amending Charter
against absolute Dismissal PoVer.

From the deliberations of the Committee of
Nine on the police situation in this city will
ccEne two important recommenda tions, it was
learned yesterday after a prolonged meeting Of
the committee. A bill will be presented to the
legislature in week asking for amendments to
the city charter which will permit uniformed
head of the Police Department. under the Police
Commissioner. and the abolition of the detective
sergeants, whose places will be filled by men de-
tailed to detective service When this measure
is sent to Albany for introduction. report from
the committee embodyng the information OBJ
talned by 1t at it's various sessions will be made
public, with the opinions of the committee.
Other features of the police situation will be
treated in the report. The committee believes
that it would be unwise at present to recommend
that the power of absolute dismissal without
appeal TO the courts be given to the head of the
department. 1t believes that the Commits
sioner's term, while at present too short, should
not be longer than that of the Mayor who ap-
points him. The excise situation. the commit
tee believes, should not be taken out of the
hands of the police.
An executive conference of the. committee was
held yesterday at the home of Austen G. Fox,
the chairman. Beginning in the forenoon 1t
lasted. with an interval for luncheon. until
almost evening. All the members were present
Elihu Root who has never attended
meeting, and Jacob H Schiff. The members
discussed the preparation of the report and the
various schemes presented. In the last few
days the work has been divided among sub
committees, who told what they had decided.
On many of these ideas the committee has
not decided definitely and probably will not be
able to for a few days On two or three Of the
most important ideas a decision has been made.
and tentative drafts of the form in which these
ideas will be presented to the Legislature have
been made While it is not certain that they
will be incorporated IN one bill, it is likely that
all the main points would involve charter
amendments one bill will be drawn.
For the uniformed head and the abolition of
the detective sergeants the committeemer are
united. Since Police Commissioners are more or
less subject to political changes they believe
there should be one official with authority over
the men, whose tenure of Office would depend on
his conduct and whose place would enable
him to keep discipline in the force. This man
in the force. at it's head. could do much better
than an appointed commissioner. The detective
sergeants, while many of them are efficient. the
committee believes. should not be maintained as
a central bureau. More effective service would
be obtained and better material might be had II
the men who showed detective ability were de-
tailed from the ranks. The detective sergeants
in many cases have been promoted from patrol
men. skipping the roundsman's place. This.
says the committee, is unjust. The detective
sergeants should go back to precinct work. but
not forfeit their eligibility TO promotions to
captaincies.
The committee will hold conferences daily this
week Commissioner McAdoO Will appear at
the meeting to-day or tomorrow, according to
his convenience, that the committee may dis
cuss with him of the ideas which 1t
has not reached decision. After that, there
will remain only the whipping into shape of the
tentative drafts of the bill This will be con-
tinued at the meetings, and work the tenta-
tive report will also be continued. 1t is ex-
pected that the request for legislation will be
sent TO Albany next Sunday Monday, at
which time the committees finding will be made
puhliC.