The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-28
OUR DANGEROUS POLICEMEN
A SECRET. OATHBOUND SOCIETY,
GOFF Calls THEN.

SAYS Citizens Arc Responsible and That
Help Won't Come Jntl LObbytng
by ~SubOrdlnStes Against ThelT chief
T Is Impossible Praise for Bingham.
= Justice John W. GoH Of the Supreme
Court. speaking last night To the members
n the Riverside and Morningside Heights
Association, declared that the shortcomings
n me Now York police force, which he
desyrihed As virtually an oathbound
secret society" were to bo laid at the door
Of me people Of the city.
Tho association, which aims at the better
nent Of the district indicated by it's title,
met To consider the subject Of police pro-
tec'lon. Police Commissioner Bingham
and Deputy Commissioner Hanson we're
invited 10 be present TO listen 10 some
alleged truths and explain IL they cared to,
ht the commissioner declined. and Deputy
Hanson, after accepting, sent his regrets.
Tho association and It's guests went right
along with tho truths, however. and not a
ltrlc praise was mixed with the general
expression that the cops we're not oil they
might he,
Justice Golf told how the exposure Of a
grating policeman in London had been
followed by meetings in Hyde Park and de-
lherations in Parliament which resulted
n Tho dismissal Of the High Commissioner
NJ me force and a searching investigation
m the whole department. He said that a
SIMILAR occurrence in New York would
Cause only a Struggling Of shoulders and the
remark that It was what might be eT-
reote1.
The evil in the force is largely Of our
own creating said Justice Gof. The
DEPARTMENT is the creation Of the citizens
and they have created what they have.
The police force Of New York to-day ia
virtually an osthbound secret society.
Just think Of IT, Nearly 10000 men leagued
together IN q secret Organization. the real
object Of which is not the performance of
duty.
I'VE find every grade organized from the
patroImen UP to and including the inspec-
tors. Each grade hes it's " society, the
ostenslble object Of which is sick benefit
and the burial OF needy members. II We
search the records If the Legislature at
Albany and the Board Of Aldermen in New
York We shall find that the real objects are
the promotion Of the interests Of individuals
without regard 10 the performance Of duty,
Where did that enormous corruption
fund come from that went up To Albany
2 few years ago when police legislation was
being considered? Where did the fund
onv-e frar, ,bot ira. ,,aoJ Il, ~ ,ttav,nt
O. defeat the inspectors bill which Com
mi ssloner Bingham advocated? | speak 81
matters OF which | have positive knowledge.
When speak Of secret societies | mean socie-
teso whose affairs We may not know. There
has been a powerful lobby behind every
effort made at Albany to bring about a
raise Of salaries in the Police Department.
The force will be inefficient 81 long as
its members can 60 IN Albany and procure
leg Station affecting the discipline Of the
police over the heads " the superior officers.
AT present a policeman can almost snap
his fingers at his superior officer. He can
take his case 10 the Supreme Court, and
that body is obliged to take notice Of UNI
e. and indicted is,
Of believe that conditions are improving,
but would have to i've long enough to
DEFY DR.. 0sler several times IN order to see
a thoroughly efficient police force. | know
Commissioner Bingham personally and
admire him, but without considering his
service | must question the ACCESSIBILITY
of amounting to the head Of the police a
military man used 10 strict discipline and TO
dealing with men Of honor. There has
never been a military man at the head Of
the department since the civil war who has
been a success.
There is not a policeman in New York
but would have 10 admit, II he spoke The
truth, that the atmosphere at Police Head
quarters is charged with ialsehood and
Associations like this should not be
to pay out money to make the police
d. their sworn duty. I should be our
part to see that the police do their duty
ard that the Commissioner sees that they
d. it,
William F. Clare Of the committee on
grievances said that the police were doing
more efficient work than IN previous years.
mJ admitted that the association had had
r large share in making then see
their duty and do it.. He said that
four saloons il the district had been kept
on every Sunday for fifteen months,
OIL thlt the others were sun open MT.
Ciare thought that the greatest evil in
the district was the growth Of soliciting on
the streets and the establishment OF mani
rne narlors." tie declared that the district
uC' getting enough supervision from
the captain. licutenants and roundsmen Of
the precinct, Shich is commanded by Capt.
81 the West Tooth street station.
J Aspinwall Hodge told Of a motor
ryCle ride he had taken last Saturday night,
In the course Of which he counted seven
leen bicycle policemen and twenty auto
He thought the proportion OF
tops to autOs was too high and that some
NJ tho bicycle squad might better be put to
work protecting the district.
Alderman Schloss said that the Board Of
were going to reconsider the
proposition to grant Commissioner Bingham
l2j,oo0 for a secret service force. He was
.lmost certain that the appropriation
would bc voted.