The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-07
Municipal Corporations
Committee Tells the Dele
cation Of Patrolmen the
Measures Are Favored
AssEMBLYMAN sC0TT's BILLS
ONE PROVIDES FOR THE RE-
TIREMENT OF MEMBERS OF
THE FORCE AND THE OTHER
FOR REVIEW OF DIsMIssALs
AND SUSPENSIONS.
Especial to '.rhe Jersey city News.'')

SSpeclal 70 -Ihe Jersey Nlry NeWs.J
TRENTON. Feb. Z, 1906.--A delega-
tion of the State Patrolmen's Associa-
ton were made happy yesterday after
noon when, at the conclusion of the hear
ing which the Committee on Municipal
Corporations gave to their two pet meas
ures. Chairman Harry Scovel announced
that the committee looked with favor
upon the bills and would report them
favorably to the House for adoption.
The bills were introduced by Assem-
blynaan Scott, Of Hudson. at the request
of the State Patrolmen's Association.
One provides that in all cities and towns
mer sere Of the police department who
have honorabiy serveo' for twenty years
shall, upon attaining the age of sixty, be
retired on half pay; any member fifty
years of age. who has served twenty
years, may likewise. be retired on half
pay if he shall so apply; any member
permanently disabled in the service shall
be retired on half pay and any member
temporas ily disabled shall receive half
pay while under such disability.
There is a referendum clause attached
to the bill which provides that the act
shall not become operative in any city
or town unless its provisions have been
adopted by majority vote of the people
of such city or town.
The second police bill provides that
any Justice of the Supreme Court may
summarily review the proceedings on susr
pension, dismissal. retirement or redue-
ton j rank Of members Of the police
force in any city. 1t does not apply to
the police in towns. townships or bor-
oughs.
David Walsh, of Hoboken, President
Of the State Patrolmen's Association,
appeared before the committee, accom-
panied by the legislative committee of
the organization, and presented strong
arguments why the bills should become
laws. Regarding the retirement bin, Mr.
Walsh contended that it was a fair and,
just measure, to which the police were
entitled. He explained that no city or
town was compelled to adopt it unless
by majority vote Of the people.
The right of review of dismissal pro-
ceedings by Supreme Court Justice was
only fair to the police. Mr.. Walsh said,
because in many instances men were now
serving S Police Commissioners who had
previously served in the department. and
when former colleagues against whom
they bore grievances were arraigned on
trumped-up charges, they We're dismissed
from the force without fair and impair
tial hearing. A law which would give
a Supreme Court Justice power to re
view dismissal proceedings would have a
tendency to prevent policemen from be-
ing disgraced for political reasons and
would protect them from malicious per-
secution by their enemies. Even if the
Police Commissioners dismissed police
man without good and sufficient reason,
the policeman would still be protected
by the right of review proceedings.
Chairman Scoyel cut the hearing off at
this point by assuring the police delega-
ton that the committee favored their
bills and would report them.