New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
POLICE PROMOTIONS.

Commissioner AIcAdoo's good intentions IN
seeking unofficial advice are beyond question:
and. considering the popular suspicion OF the
Police Department and the active EFFORTS OF
priyate citizens to reform II, perhaps ne is wise
in endeavoring thus to command confidence IN
his appointments. It must be remembered, how
ever, that the important steps in filling police
vacancies will be taken long before MI. McAdoo'
with the help Of his advisers. exercises his right
of excluding from promotion not more than
two-ffths Of the men certified from the eligible
lists The Commissioners attention should be
given particularly TO the proper and honest
preparation Of those lists, so that markings for
records of efficiency and faithfulness in the de-
partment will accurately reflect the true charac-
ter Of the mems services.
The scandalous promotions made by the York
Police Board, which ought 10 have been set
aside and probably would have been set aside
but for the inexplicable Indifference Of Corpora
ton Counsel Rives until it was too late for quo
warTanto proceedings, were manipulated by
means Of this marking for record. At that time
record weighed high-we believe 20 per cent of
the total ratng-and the department itself made
the report upon it. Instead Of sending to the
Civil Service Commission an abstract of what
the books Of the department showed the board
transmitted perfectly arbitrary marks, report
ing, for instance, men whom il desired TO pass
over as poor" for punctuality or obedience when
the records showed the contrary, and reporting
favorites as good" when long lists Of fines and
reprimands stood against them The oppor-
tunity for this kind Of thimblerigging is not
now SO great, for record counts only 40 points
IN the scale Of markings, and the Civil Service
rules have been SO amended as TO REQUIRE a
true and continuous record of efficiency in every
department. When man comes up for promo
ton the books should show the contemporaneous
judgment Of his superiors on his acts expressed
from time 10 time comparatively with that on
other men, and save him from being rated by
an arbitrary offhand opinion, possibly colored
by the desire 10 push him forward or keep him
back
II Commissioner McAdoo has enforced this
rule there will be some fair basis for rating rec
ords. If he has not, the opportunity for fraud
exists IN less degree only than under the
York board The men in the department upon
whom he must rely in making up records can
doctor the reports to help friends and punish
enemies. There exist, it is true the sheets
showing charges, fines, reprimands. arrests. life
savings and concentrations But these are an.
urely inadequate fer the men Of higher rant,
rney are not out making arrests or saving life
Ihey are not found of post or in saloons AS far
sefgeahts ana captains are concerned. the
sneens wlll be practically colorless What Is
nj McAooo going 10 do with them? Has he q
record which really means anything concernina
etl ialthiulness, and can he make sure thai
1Ie CiFh service ratings for record Will be iust
sno Tree from the influence of favoritism?
making I'D OF the eligible list rather thai