New-York tribune., 1906-11-23
POLICE REFORM PLANS.
GIVES HIS VIEWS.
AdUocates Longer Term for Com
missioner.


vestgated police conditions two years ago, and OF
the City Club and the Citizens Union met at a
conference at No 105 East 22d street yesterday 10
perfect an organization which shall draft legiS-
lation somewhat along the lines OF the Committee
Of Mines Inflated measures for the regeneration
OF the police force. This committee will in all
probability be permanent organization designed
to watch the police situation IN this city and ad-
minister corrective measures, n addition TO work
ing FOR the passage OF the bills which II will
prepare. Chief among these. appearances in
dicate, will be measures leugthening the term OF
the Police Commissioner and creating separate
detective bureau, somewhat after the model or the
Scotland Yard office.
The feature Of the meeting q speech by ex-
Police Commissioner AIcAdoo, in which he declared
vehemently that II the Police Commissioner was
assured of long term, so that he could feel ao-
souteIy independent OF political influences and had
the right kind Of force. especially in the detective
bureau. there would be police problem in New
York City.
IF had had twenty-five absolutely honest nan
in my vice squad I would have closed Up every
gambling house and brothel in the city" ex-CoIn-
missioner McAdoo said with emphasis. las IL was,
left only thirty-fve gambling houses. and they
were protected by the highest writ Of the Supreme
Court. Strengthen the Commissioner IN his office
by securing his independence 10 him and giving him
efficient service and there will be no greater police
problem in New York City than there Is IN Paris
Berlin. or London"
Ex-Comnissioner McAdoo was asked by Nj Sci
igrnan say few words TO the conferences set-
ting forth his ideas the general police situation
He did so without
The police situation is OF the greatest prob
Iars this city has 10 confront" he began. 1T is
Mr.. Woods and others who have investigated tt
agree, Just as set forth in my book and tustifles
whatever said there. II is in line with the re-
port OF this committee Now, before we begin op-
eretons on our police patient, IT is important that
we see that he has full confidence in the honesty
and ability OF the surgeons. We should begin 70
soldify the police themselves in favor OF reforms
They are intelligent men-in that respect superior
10 any force in the world.
Politics and graft are the troubles IN the Police
Department. put into very few words. We shall
never cure this graft ulcer until put our knives
into the heart OF graft When the men on the
police force the laws OF the state violated for
long periods and when they frenzied and
much advertised changes in the department follow
ing recent political changes, you will never con-
vince them that there is politics in it
If the police head is honest and aggressive
man ths majority of the men under him will be
honest and efficient. We might Do able stand
politics in soma other department but it is fatal
in the Police Department The Commissioner goes
down to Mulberry Street 70 immediate himself on
limitations OF politics. he is likely find that
sraviry is performing It's duty and he falls with
we must get behind the commissioner the
great voice OF public opinion, and sustain him in
ms euoF[s me SIs-~ ooSS o. LIE PSlics toLCe =
honest know many men wLo nave been through
sian 5F6s right arm Of the Commissioners Should
be the detective bureau. He should be able 10
hold the idea of legitimate promotion II
you're not going to oribe the detective or help
br1Se him you must give him an incentive TO
~ s,rta - Iar law on the srarIita bOn Tfs
detective bureau should be entirely separate from
never set e best o95 out Of 5f1 the Poce f2gss
yebukes. but ali -he while you must get their
IF YOU eliminate politics from the department,
graft surely VIII go with II We want 70 get the
every transfer or bit OF activity 70 some ward
ysaTLr me- S s8eG 6Hs Ti W all from D6li{ics
5SqgeP bis arm give him the conhdence Of
a force OF Headquarters men who are good
the famous ScottInd Yard men The in uni
the states laws. He is not the man TO send out on
a murder case or subtle forgery We must have
force and the constabuIary are united under an
honest and Independent & eomnliss9gp5e9r g59 gambling
C1lfna me Of he Ctizans Tnion and George Nc
Anenys chairman OF the committee on police az
fairs Of the CITY club -
There were present Isaac y seligman, the Rev
Thomas scer, Marquis MaTK s4R ~ 4ba srsa Ms3
fHhs on rsce Of the GRdTens Aid SOCIETY," FTans
llioI n o9dWl TEgTTtTy a Cr6 OF Ine 6bo S5 SeTyGe
~ De Forest Baldwin and J. Noble HAYES Messrs
1IcAneny. seligman, Osborn and Baldwin were
Mr.. Cutting opened the conference. Mr.. SeIg-
man " as named president and John J. Murphy
secretary OF the Citizens Union, secretary Mr.
selgman said that he hoped that this conference
would dsprove the statement that New York was
"a city OF nine davs' and accomplish some perma-
nent benefit. Mr. McAneay told OF the work OF the
committee Of nine and the data gathered by that
organization.
Mr. Cutting said that the calliag or this confer
ep CO was not meant in any spirit OF criticism tow
ard Commissioner Bingham. In the last five wears
the city had had conscientious the head OF
its Police Department Many persons thought that
the progress made IN that time had not bean
enough and attributed II TO the construction or
the department rather than lack OF effort on the
part Of the commissioners.
Arthur Woods who investigated the Police De-
partnent for the Bureau Of City Betterrnent or
the Citizens Union and recently submitted a reDo~e
on H. told about his inquiry. His report has not
been formally adopted yet 1t viii % Considered
bv the committee A resolution. offered bv NJ
NioAneny. thai a committee or thirty or more he
appointed from which executive conmitraa ba
chosen, was passed Mr.. segman said that he