New-York tribune., 1905-01-31
NINE TO SOLVE POLICE PROBLEM
CHAMBER CONFERREES " GUILD GIVE COMMISSIONER
GREAT POWER
Mayor offers Cooperate sh CommtteeTac of Hands
of Judges, Sag Prominent Men.

At a large meeting held at the Chamber of
Commerce yesterday afternoon, attended by
at the head of every line of commercial
and professional endeavor, and men widely
known for their interest in municipal welfare,
It was voted TO appoint a committee with full
power to investigate the police conditions in
this city and to promote such legislation or other
measures as would remedy the evils. This COM
mittee will have power to inquire into the
ganzation, discipline and administration of the
police and the present state of the laws affect
ing the Police Department tt will make in
vestigations of its own, examining witnesses.
Whether not It will pursue the course fol-
lowed by the Committee Of Fifteen. no one was
willing to say yesterday but the origin and or
ganization Of that committee were similar to
the beginning of the one authorized yesterday
The committee will be non-partisan Just as
the BODY of men ii represents is non-partisan
but from the sentiments expressed by t.
speakers It will have sather ati-TanmalI3.
views. Still. it will work in accord with Mayor
Mcclellan and Police Commissioner McAdoo for
the Mayor sent letter yesterday telling how
thoroughly he agreed with the spirit of the con-
ferrees. Spasmodic effort, however would do
little good. he said,
The large hall of the Chamber OF Commerce
was well filed when Isaac n. SeIigman. tenn
porary chairman of the meeting explained that
the meeting had been called by committee
whose members belonged to the City Club and
the Chamber, to discuss the police problem.
It was to be a movement free from politics. be-
cause the police situation itself was so mingled
with politics that partisanship formed the crux
of the situation. 1t would be a complicated
problem. fraught with dangers, he said but he
thought its difficulties could be sur1nounted
Austen G. Fox was elected permanent chair
,rff tfrrr
the Charity Organization Society. secretary Mr.
Fox declared that the police were too much in
politics. and politics too much in the po-
lice Whether or not this evil had increased
recently, it ought TO be diminished greatly Then
the secretary read letters from the Mayor, Elihu
Root and Edward NJ. Shepard announcing their
appreciation Of the work. Mr.. Seligman offered
the following resolutions:
Whereas, Experience has indicated that defects
powers of the Police Department are in large de-
gree responsible for its inability TO attain to that
manded Of ii and that until these defects are
remedled II VIII be imPossi6e to administer the de
fective and in accord with the moral sense of this
whereas The wellbeing and. good name Of the
which shall at the same time be thorough and
Whereas. Such solution is dependent upon a
careful study of existing conditions as,weIl as upon
the non-partisan co-opera ton OF all citizens Who
whether such citizens in ociai or private Sta
Resolved. That committee of nine of which the
chairman of this meeting shall be a member be
tion discipline and administration of the police and
the present state OF the laws affegtns the Police
ment in existing conditions must depend upon
expedient promote such measures. of a legis-
latve other character. as WILL in ther judgment
%Si and secure the oo'e'' ne'en set for'n
tn Naca lea nd
10 add to its number
NEED OF THE COMMITTEE.
Charles Stewart Smith said that only once
before had the Chamber OF Commerce lent its
hall for such purpose-when the Committee of
Fifteen was formed. 1t important that
steps be taken reform the Police Department
for the efficiency of the police concerned every
person in the city; the conviction OF criminals
the safety of property and the protection of the
helpless women and children In the tenements
depended on the police. The Lexow Committee
had exposed mercilessly the foulness of the
Police Department. Mr., Smith added:
don't think the department Is so had now, but
there is apology necessary for the object OF this
ton of the Mayor and the Police Commissioner
consider the Mayor an honest, efficient. courageous
official. No blame attach to him the
Police Commissioner; who may have made mis-
takes; but man who makes mistakes makes
nothing. Above all am sure the committee viii
insist with all it's energy and force that the In
famous cadet system be stamped out with re-
lentless severity.
r Colonel Joel B. Erhardt former Police Com
missioner. declared that the police force needed
reorganizing badly. The policemen the
only men save Supreme Court justices who could
retire on a pension after y certain service: they
were well paid well cared for. even If they did
have TO work. He went on:
The force to-day is bad II ever has been.
You mustn't blame McAdoo: he can't help IL. You
QUICKEST LINE TO CLEVELAND.