New-York tribune., 1908-09-17
BINGHAM SEES ERROR
"CRIME FIGURES WRONG.'
statement about Jescs a Mistake
mo Trouble Among Deputies"

Police Commissioner Bingham returned to his
post yesterday from his vacation Of more than q
month. and almost Immediately issued a statement
repudating the statistics OF Jewish criminalty in
New York City, contained in recent magazine ar
ticie written by him which called forth vigorous
protests from prominent Jewish citizens and so
cieties The Commissioner explained that ne had
not personally compiled the figures that caused the
trouble and he learned subsequent to their pub
lcatson Of their unreiiabiity. He had no prejudice
he said in the matter. and did not mean TO say
anything rejecting the Jews
Mark J Katz honorary secretary Of the Fedora
ton of Jewish Societies ard secretary OF the Ma
fional Liberal immigration League. said last night
that the retracton Of General Bingham closed the
controversy caused by hic article
Commissioner Bingham his return TO Police
Headquarters also lost 70 time in denying tne
reports that Deputy Commissioner Bugher had re-
signed his office or would resign because OF olI-
ferences between himself and his brother deputies
Tie general said that he found everything mar
monious
NY attention has been called said Conmis-
stoner Bingham Ito q serious complaint mace oS
the Jewish citizens concerning passage In an ar
ticie recently published in The North American
Review entitled Foreign Criminals in New fork'
in which said that. under existing conditions II
is not astonishing that with million Hebrews
mostly Russians, in the city (one-fourth OF the
population) perhaps half of the criminals should
be of that race and in which comment was made
on the percentage of Jewish boys in the House OF
Refuge
NY purpose in writing the article was not TO
publish statistics nor to enter upon scientl'c IN
quiry into the religion OF those charged
with crirninality but solely to make plea for a
secret service branch in order that crfminslty
might be more effectively dealt with than is now
possible.
TO indicate the necessity for additional weapons
TO cope with crime. pointed out that crimes
Of various kinds are committed by those Of our
population who are of foreign origin which cannot
he adequately reached by the police force as now
constituted II only incidentally that the re-
marks were made which have been challenged.
THE figures used In the article were not COM
riled by rnvself but were furnished by others.
snd were unfortunately assumed to be correct It
now appears. however, that these figures We're un-
reliable Hence it becomes my duty frankly 10 say
80 ana repudIate them.
THE idea which / sought 10 impress was that
the number of foreigners with whom the police
come in contact is very large, and that special
KNOWLEDGE of racial customs and manners is es-
senflal 10 the attainment of the best results by
the police in the investigation Of crimes committed
bv and against those Of foreign origin"
Mr.. Katz said last night that the committee OF
seven appointed a recent meeting of prominent
Jews 10 consider the Bingham article would be
glad 10 accept invitation from the COMMISSION
er 10 canvass the situation together
SO far as the controversy is concerned, SAID
Mr Katz the statement Of Commissioner Bingham
ends il but the committee will continue its work
We viii meet in q few days Tor the purpose u oL
gsnizug q bureau Of research. which VIII OBTAIN
an the facts regarding the Jews here.
As 10 the r1Irlors that there have been frequent
o,ssrrels among Deputy Commissioners Baker
Bughe-. Hanson and Woods, during ms ABSENCE
Commissioner Bingham said:
Il know nothing Of any differences among my
i5eputies and there is nothing on my desk in the
nature of a resignation do not expect any resls-
nation / find all harmonious and everybody shak-
ing hands
Francis J. Oppenheimer a writer, said last night
speaking for the federated Jews, that all was no"
harmony between Commissioner Bingham ano
-tose who raised the protest against his racial
crime statistics.
louis Marshall. an attorney speaking for q mum
Der cf Jewish organizations, said that the Coili
sioner was entitled 10 credit for the manly aho
courageous manner IN which he has acknowledged
his error
Joseph Barondess announced that In clinton nan
tonight there would be conference to take aclon
IN the Commissioners retraction. The conferrees
sre 10 be those who met in the hall last week