The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-03-14
AGAINST GRAFT
Discussing Measures TO
Reform New York
Police Force.
CHANGE PROPOSED


seven hours today seven members of
the committee Of nine, which is de-
vising ways and means for the re-
form of the New York police and the
abolishment of all opportunities of
graft among the uniformed force, took
part in a conference which was held
at the residence of Austen T. Fox, 405
West Third street. With the excep-
tion of a brief interval for luncheon
the committee remained in contin-
uous session discussing the informa-
ton which they have been receiving
since they began their Investigations
several weeks ago and planning recon-
mendations to be made to the state
legislature for the re-incarnation of
the police department.
The committee decided that drastic
measures were necessary if the blot
placed upon the city by certain mem
bers of the department was to be
wiped out. 1t was agreed that the dis
closures so far made to the committee
were of such nature as to prove con-
clusively that the present detective
bureau was honeycombed with graft
ers who used their official positions to
prey upon the people of the city and
who are in partnership with criminals
of every kind.
The committee is satisfied that
abuses exist, the nature of which are
unknown to the general public and
that many men in the police depart
ment in minor positions have failed in
their efforts for promotion notwith
standing that they have performed
their duties conscientiously.
Graft" and pull in the minds of
the committee have been potent fac
tors in at least certain cases and If
proposed amendments to the city
charter and the laws governing the
police department these two words
will lose their significance and prob
ably become obsolete in the records of
the city police force.
When the conference ended the
members of the committee stated that
it was not yet ready to take the pub
lie completely into its confidence but
that probably by the end of the week
a complete statement would be made
for the benefit of the citizens gener-
ally.
After the meeting one of the men,
bers of the committee consented to
talk on the work so far accomplished
on condition that his identity be with
held. He said:
Two recommendations of radical
nature will form part of our report.
We have paid a great deal of attention
to the operation of the central Office
detective bureau as at present consti-
tuted and | may safely say that we
will recommend the abolishment of
the detective sergeants as central
body, and have them relegated to the
old positions which they held five
years ago when most Of them were
promoted to the Offices they now hold
by Commissioner Murphy for political
pu. u.qoses only.
''The old system of detailing men
from the ranks to do detective duty
will be revived should the legislature
endorse our views. The old method
was to detail policemen or roundsmen
for certain detective duty and so soon
as their detective detail had expired
the men were returned to their ordin-
airy police duties. The detective SER
gants are on an equal footing with the
regular sergeants Of the departments
and they are equally eligible for pro-
motion to the higher grades. This
should not be SO as In many cases
number of these men have skipped the
grade of roundsmen and have had lit
tie outside experience in uniform
while the regular sergeants had to
earn their promotion by integrity and
efficiency in the ordinary duties of
policemen.
1--WE have also decided that it will
be necessary to re-establish the Office
of uniformed chief of the depart
ment, to be filled by man who has
pounded the pavements' and who has
a thorough knowledge of police
work to the merest detail. A man who
works himself from the bottom up,
earning his promotion by sheer eff
cheney is the man to be recommended
and we have been assured that such a
man is available. He will not be su-
preme however, as we will still ad-
wise the retention of police COM
missioner under whom the chief will
work.
THE last uniformed chief was Will
liam s. Deyery and while have moth
ing to say as to some Of his methods
for running the force 1t certainly
must be acknowledged that he was Q
thorough police officer and compelled
his subordinates to work My col
leagues as we'll as myself believe that
with the department governed in this,
1t can be run in practical manner