The Topeka state journal., 1906-01-02
BINGHAM GOES IN.
Says Everything in His Department
Must Be ON the Level.

New York, Jan 2.-William McAdoo
has retired from the office of police
commissioner and his successor, Gen
eTal Theodore A. Bingham, formally as
sumed command of the police force of
the greater city. General Bingham S
first official act was to address the in
spectors and captains of the department
who had been summoned to meet him.
I'VE start a new year and a new deal
right here" he said. Il have been sent
for to come here and do a certain piece
of work. 1 am going to do it. I haven't
anything against you to start with-no
suspicion-and we Will begin on the
level But by the nine gods of war, you
have got to deal with me on the level
as I shall deal with you. There will be
no spying on the men of this force. If
you are manly men, sportsmanlike men,
you will appreciate that and treat me
the same. Don't go back on the hand
that stretch out to you"
Mr.. McAdoo greeted General Bing-
ham cordially, told him the police were
an admirable body of men and advised
him to know them well.
One of the first official acts of the
new police commissioner was to abolish
the shoo-fly' squad and the vice
squad. The former was composed of
plain clothes" men, detailed to watch
the uniformed force. The vice squad
/
sioner and was detailed to secure evil
dence against questionable resorts
Commissioner Bingham also accepted
the resignation of First Deputy Com
missioner McAVoy, to take effect imme-
diately, and when he found that the
resignation of Second Deputy Farrell, in
charge of the Brooklyn division of the
force, had not been filed, sent a note
to him demanding his resignation forth
with. This leaves the commissioner
free to appoint three new deputies
there having been one vacancy not filed
by Mr.. McAdoo after the death of Third
Deputy Lindsey.
The stshoo-fly'' squad was first put
into existence by Theodore Roosevelt
when he was police commissioner. but
was abolished by Chief Devery and re-
vived by General Greene.
Mayor George B. Mcclellan began his
second term as mayor New Years day
this time for four years. The ceremonies
were few, as merely marked the opening
of a new term, not new government
A number of new heads of departments
were sworn in including General Theo-
| dore A. Bingham, the new police com
missioner.
After they had taken their oaths.
Mayor Mcclellan called these heads Of
departments together and told them his
ambition is to give the city a clean, ef-
fiicient and honest government. He al
luded to his present office as ''the last
public office which, in all probability,
shall ever FILL" and said, You gentle
men, owe your appointment solely to
the fact that believe you are well quail
ified for the offices to which I have ap-
pointed you I shall hold you to a strict
and efficient performance Of your duty
and should any of you fail in reach
ing the standard which I shall require,
I shall not hesitate to remove you"
At the installation of the new board
Of aldermen, Clarence J. Shearn present.
ed a protest against the seating of Pres
ident MCGOWAN, elected on the Demo-
| cratic ticket Mr. Shearn acted in be-
half Of J. G. Phelps Stokes. the munich
pal ownership candidate for that office
Mr.. Shearn also presented protests
against the seating of five aldermen.
They were referred by the aldermen to a
committee without having been read.
Mr.. Shearn said he hopes by the pro-
tests to get a writ of certiorari from
the courts to offset the ruling of the
board of canvassers of elections which
seated the men whose offices he con-
tests. Mr.. Shearn is counsel for w. r.
Hearst.