New-York tribune., 1907-02-26
ERHARDT FAVORS BILL.
Letter to MOreLand on Bingham
Ncasure-Hearing Today.
tBy> Telegraph to The Tribune. J

Albany. Feb. 25-"If this bill IS beaten, the use
OF money will have done Il. and that money will
have been collected by the police force IN the city
OF New York declared Joel B. BThardt former
Police Commissioner Of New York City, in letter
70 Assembyman Moreland advocating the passage
Of the Bingham bill permitting the Police COM
missioner 70 assign inspectors and detectives 10
duty al VIII. The Assembly tonight recommltted
the bill for a special hearing before the Assembly
cities Committee tomorrow. at which Inspectors
Hussey Cross and Walsh VIII argue against it.
Commissioner Bingham will urge its passage
Colonel Mcclure and eX-Judge Hatch VIII appear
the hearing.
Despite the arguments Of the policemen. the bill
in all likelihood viii be reported from the com
mittee unchanged and again set on the calendar
for passage The temper of the Republican leaders
IN the lower house IS somewhat tried by the re-
peated rumors OF bribe funds. reiterated 90 stiik
ingly to-day in Mr.. Erhardts letter and intend 10
take no chances along that line. Commissioner
Bingham Is coming here pTimed TO defend MS
measure. ana interesting details Of ponce Work
may be expected when tie and the inspectors s7'
10 arguing tho merits his measure.
Letters have been sent 10 Senator White, chalr-
man Of the seuate Cities Committee, by Joseph Il.
Choate and General Horace Porter urging the pas
sage Of the Bingham bill Colonel Erhardts letter
TO MF. Moreland follows:
II was not my intention to have made e any , sHS No
ronositions ard suEgestions embodied In bill
seem so Teasonsbe and lust that / do not consider
that the objections to the bill should be considered
I wish TO say here at the outset that the police
f2Tes of ne city oT Se% a0dA 10d are @ in fact moth
ing but a self-protected body. As for the citizens
die and lower classes are subject to great hard
ships and abuse from them ,,,..
The force cannot remain in its present condluon:
IT viii grow worse and worse ana the people ttIH
citizens Of the state at large outside OF New 1oTk &
dents OF the city And the stranger whether he
comes from Ogdensburg. Buffalo, Erie or the west
or riddle part the VIII be blackmaed,
assaulted and maltreated and the police viii not
9lScc2tr the assallant. rms sliuauon couja De
FULLY ~enedied. but Il would require Legislation
oili VIII accomplish a great deal OF good' ana
Tbs detective force Should oe Thoroughly tS reo+-
ssEto go q alio S''e sec" - "a X 20 ' ,IiJ 80
tb 6G2f oe the Sg @ 9ur 20 @ over caDtans s'0
parI1nert in Nav i3s Sut the aG.ran heart is the
The force and the increase IN population crime has
The COMMISSIONS. whose name Is Theodore
Bingham. and whom [ have met only twice; IS
entitled TO great deal OF credit for what he has
accomplished with the tools al his disposal, or.
head OF force. and If we're satisfied that he
IN 7 should not hesitate TO say II I were
10 attack him But am SATISFIED that he IS trying
70 do the best be can, and think tha5 this little
And now I want 10 say another thing: I have
the acquaintance Of very few in the Assembly, or
the Senate if this bill through which the Com
missioner seeks a little additioraI power for the
public good. : beaten the use Of money vii have
done it. ard money viii have been collected by
the police force in the city OF New York, and
nothing else VIII beat the bill.
AssembIyr7an Moreland left here for his home to-
night because Of the serious illness OF his wife.
Mr.. Noreand Will return Thursday morning 90
lead the fight for the passage Of the Bingham bill
= am somewhat surprised that a Republican
Assenblyman should take prominent part in
opposing this measure said N1r. Moreland refe~-
ring To Assembly man Voss. particularly so
he claims 10 know 50 much about the needs Of
the police force in New York City, and for that
reason ought 70 be an ardent champion or so sal
utary measure.