The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-12
MORE REFORM FOR The POLICE
CITIZENS COMMITTEE TACKLES
THE WHOLE PROBLEM.

Will CONSIDER All sukgesteu manages.
A number Of well known men assembled
in the Murray Hill Hotel yesterday after
noon just chock full Of suggestions and
recommendations as 10 legislation, which,
IL enacted, would bring about police reforms.
r. Fulton Cutting had been nominated per-
manent chairman by Austen @. Fox and the
meeting was getting its stride when the
reformers suddenly began to take note of the
newspaper men present and s~traightway
they developed acute gun shyness. A
movement to adjourn was then hastily put
and carried.
The meeting yesterday was the outcome
Of another that was held on November %
in the Charities Building at the call Of the
Citizens Union. although Mr.. Cutting in
sisted emphatically that The Citizens Com
mittee on Police that was formed at yes
terday's meeting was an independent body
and has no connection with the Citizens
Union. Isaac n. Seligman, who was chair
man Of the meeting held on November %,
called yesterdays meeting 10 order. A.,
Resolutions submitted by Henry de Forest
Baldwin early in the proceedings yesterday
outlined the purpose of the gathering. The
two resolutions read:
Resolved. That this conference be organized
8t N Y bOAy uh4Nl hho WV VI ~
Citizens Committee on the Police. : and that
the officers Of the present meeting be elected
as the officers OF such committee, to serve as
such until the election OF their successors.
Resolved. That the objects OF the committee
shall be to promote such measures. either
legislative or administrative. as may tend to
increase the efficiency of the municipal Police
Department; and from time to time to take
such act ion toward these ends. either through
an executive committed or otherwise. as may
prove expedient.
A printed report prepared and published
by the Bureau OF City Government of the
Citizens Union, and which was distributed
at the meeting yesterday, outlined in capital
letters three reform suggestions that had
resulted from the Investigations into police
matters by the Committee Of Nine These
suggestions, which the report says are
especially valuable are:
l.. That the Police Commissioners power
Of discipline be increased by giving him the
right to reduce an inspector to the rank OF
captain at will.
?. That the Police Commissioner he kept
In Office for a longer time, as a means thereto
that the Mayor be required 10 brave public
opinion in removing him by publishing the
reasons for his action.
3. That "A method bee devised Of compre-
hensively recording the actual routine work
of the police. and that promotions he based
chiefly upon the tOulpdI dIlNf lfSlllNH ~ w
! records rather than upon the technical find
ings OF the Civil Service Board.
Mr.. Cutting in taking the chair said he
did so with very great reluctance.
we all realize the seriousness OF the
matter in hand, said Mr.. Cutting. When
we take up the matter OF police corruption,
however, many citizens think only of the
corruption of the individual. We should
remember also the rescue OF this force
Of physically splendid men who ought to
be our pride but are not. And. first, the
police force ought to be r~eorganized so that
the Commissioner can handle IT,"
One thing the city will not stand for
said Mr.. Seligman, lis collision bet Eeen
vice and the police. The citizens want to
divorce the police and politics, and it is
very gratifying to see the interest shown
in this movement. II is an evidence that the
city realizes that something must be done.
| am glad 10 say that the Mayor and the
Police COMMISSIONS favor our movement
and want the proposed legislation"
Also the District Attorney suggested
MIR. Cutting.
"Oh, yes-and the District Attorney
concluded Mr.. Seligman.
William c. Osborn rose 10 say that many
of the needed reforms had been threshed
out but that there were five or six points
open 20 serious discussion. He proposed
that the Chair appoint an executive com
mittee to consider suggestions and then
report later on what questions OF police
legislation they think most feasible for
immediate action. Chairman Cutting SAID
he would announce the names of the eNecu-
tive committee members within a day or
two.
Charles Stewart Smith thought that the
matter of making the term OF the Police
Commission ten yea r. should be taken up
at once. Eugene l.. Richards, Jr., objected
TO this on the ground that the executive
committee should not he committed TO
any particular point Of view before they
NJ O-A,sh --AAltAI NhnN
his remark was merely a suggestion OF a
subject for the committee to look into.
Commissioners Bingham has told me, y
said ex-City Magistrate Ommen. that he
would like to have power TO reduce IN
spectors 10 captains and TO raise captains
70 inspectors. He said hat if he had that
power he would be content TO let about
all the other proposed legislation go by
the board, because if he had this power
it would enable him TO do more good for
the department than anything else. 1
know
MIR. Chairman" interposed Eugene
Richards, Il doubt the wisdom Of giving
the opinions Of officials in the presence
of the newspaper men There were
murmurs of approval 20 this.
-And | should like to say" said Capt,
Alexander Piper, ex-Deputy Police Com
missioner, that cant see why a Com
missioner's power in the matter of pro,
motion and reduction should be confined
to inspectors and captains Why not
sergeants, for instance?"
Il move we adjourn" said some one
and the motion was carried.
MIR. Cutting asked that the opinions
of the members be sent in to Secretary
Arthur Woods, 252 Fourth avenue. and said
that these suggestions would be taken
up by the committee in executive meeting.
Mr.. Seligman was elected treasurer
Others in attendance were Gen. Horace
Porter, Robert j. Collier, Henry Gray
William NJ. WINS, Leslie Tompkins, Arthur
NJ. Harris, James McKeen. Major A. White
Howard s. Cans, Il. Burnham Moffat,
George McAneny, Samuel H. Ordway,
Col. n. A. Dyer. John II. Hammond, Frank
Goodnow, John f. Eustis and Philip j
McCook.