New-York tribune., 1907-01-31
BINGHAM MAKES SPEECH
PLEADS FOR MORE POWER.
Urges City Club Members to Help
Him at albany.

Bingham made a speech last night. He broke
this rule 20 speak as the guest OF honor at the
dinner OF the City Club to him and the Commit
tee OF Fifty az the clubs quarters in West 44th
street. His speech vigorous appeal-at
times a demand-for more power and more in
dependence; for the power TO make detective
bureau which would detect and the power TO
make the rank OF inspector a detail All this
is embodied in legislation at Albany-legislation
which is far from popular with the rank and
file OF the department, who see in il the posi-
bility of more work and certain responsibility
District Attorney Jerome. who brought Chief
Justice Phippen Of the Manitoba Court of APP
peals with him. backed up the Commissioner
generally but thought that II would be well
TO drop talking about the inspectors at present
20 get through the bill which would allow the
formation OF a real detective bureau. He said
hat II the inspectors saw the detail bill going
through they would block every bit OF police
remedial legislation at Albany Chief Justice
Phippen is here studying American court pro-
cedure by attending the Thaw trial. and last
night certainly got an insight into the workings
Of the local police system well.
The dinner last night was the first at which
the president of the club. George McAneny,
has presided He introduced Commissioner Bing-
ham first of all as the man who had his
spurs by auelling mobs I'm Washington.
The Commissioner said that he had come
under the promise that he would not have TO
make a speech, and he wouldn't make
But" be saie I've got a lot Of you fellows
just where I've wanted 10 get you"- Yes"
broke in District Attorney Jerome, and We've
got you where we've wanted you" And I'm
going TO tell you a few things" the Commits
Eioner continued.
Now, I'm in Mulberry street TO do certain
things. I've got certain work 70 do and l wan.
TO do that work. 1 do that work If you
Will give me the necessary tools. Now. l need
two kinds Of ,ools.
First want a bill passed at Albany. Now.
If you fellows don't work for that hill. you
ought 10. If you get after those fellows at AL
bany whom you sent there TO do your will as
you ought 10. they will pass the bill ali right
IT can be done without any trouble. too-that is
without any great trouble"
The Commissioner said then that the bills
before the Legislature Albany were reason
able and that he wanted To show that they
were. Then he outlined just what he wanted,
continuing:
The police force Of this city q whole is a
fine body Its rulers have been wise and good
more less. but their easy rule has spoiled
the cops, and they have had laws passed 10
make their position and pay almost impregna-
BILE And all because American citizens and
police have
Now. the force is divided into two parts-the
uniformed men and the detectives. The men
have been lazy because their high commanding
officers have become lazy. because there has been
no means whereby they could be forced TO do |
their duty. want that power and the means
to make them do the duty they should do. I |
don't want TO dismiss them or deprive them OF
their rank or pay or pension but do want to
be able TO have the legitimate power to force
them to do their duty. do not think this is un-
reasonable"
THE second thing is that have learned. as
eli OF you know. that the detective bureau must |
be reorganzed completely TO be effective. 1
want that power. Incidentally. might mention |
that need a fourth deputy commissioner |
There is so much work 20 be done at head |
quarters that we unable TO make such out |
side inspection as we should. but this IS one
OF the minor things and viii not dwell on #.
when had been in office a year and had
written a letter 20 the Mayor Of the pressing !
need Of a new detective bureau my duty as
an executive officer should have ended there. It
then became up 10 the citizens and taxpayers, |
whose executive officer I was and am. 1t is
still the duty of you citizens. That's why 1
am so glad 10 get you here, 10 impress on you
that It's your duty as American citizens 10 see
rhat your representatives at Albany give YOU
what you want That's all I've got to say now
That the Commissioners sentiments met with
approval was evident by the applause which
greeted him as he started 20 sit down. He had
20 get up again. however. for Mr McAneny in
sisted that he say something about his
wish 70 get an effective body OF inspectors.
las one reads the laws governing the depart
rnent under the charter at the consolidation"
the Commissioner resumed, "it will be seen that |
the Police Commissioner had sufficient power TO
punish the delinquent Gradually, however there
grew UP all sorts OF legal precedents TO excuse
the policeman. Time and again were
dropped Tor good cause, but back they
Unless the head of the department has au-
thOrity-authority which, TO follow II to its logi-
cal end, is 10 be feared-then discipline IS at an
end. II becomes the care and end OF the force
20 devise schemes to help themselves TO devise |
means of escaping just punishment and until |
81 is no longer hard 10 inflict heavy penalty
discipline is impossible.
II want 10 get al these fellows who are not
doing their duty. / want the Commissioner 10
have the arbitrary right TO appoint and to re-
duce inspectors In my judgment those elements |
OF human nature which have in all of us
would rarely make it necessary 10 reduce an in
Epector once made, for he would be careful An
other advantage there is, too, for instead Of the
tnree CAPTAINS sent 20 him by the Civil Service
Commission from which he must make his selec-
tion. the Commissioner would have eighty-fve |
men from whom he could choose
Il believe in the Civil Service rules but there
are some things which cannot be done by Civil
Service rules The Civil Service Commission
ers themselves have admitted 10 that it is
Impossible 10 devise any system OF questions
whereby detectives may be chosen.
Il would not reduce the pay OF any OF the
present inspectors. Later II l could detail cap
tains inspectors they would receive the paw
Of that grade while serving in IL and the pay OF
captains while acting such. The law / wish |
passed PROVIDES that any inspector serving five
years continuously as such when he retires shall
do so with the half pay OF that grade"
"As far as am concerned personally" said |
be done 70 better affairs than I'm what Is best for
often by seeking too much We lose what we
might have got.