The sun., 1908-04-14
$4,000 FORGSTCRET SERVICE
GEN. BINGHAM CONFRONTS LIT
TIE TIN AND EXTRACTS 4 FUND.

Net = BiE Fund, bat = starter-He and
| httle Tim Exchange . Few Remarks
aud the Alderman Tells the General
mat He's Surrounded by Bad Advisers.
Little Tim Sullivan and Police Commits
sioner Bingham met face to face yesterday
when the Commissioner appeared before
the finance committee ofthe Board Of Alder
men 10 urge the grant Of the 500 900 appro-
priAtion he had asked for for q secret SER
vice force. Little Tim is the chairman OF
the committee and the Commissioner had
hardly got through explaining the purposes
, for which he wanted the money before
Tim began heokling him. He referred
10 a publlshed interview In which the
General was quoted as saying that the
Aldermen, or at least the majority Of them,
wouldn't dare vote money for him TO form a
secret service. Gen. Bingham said that he
had not been eYactly quoted. He had quail.
fed the statement with the remark that he
"thought" the Aldermen would not dare to
give the money TO him.
why, We Aldermen would be the last to
tie up any department, Little Tim responded
in an sggrieved tone,
well, l think it's a pity we do not get
together oftener, because we could come to
an understanding on some things Cen
Bingham replied.
Il think you're all right, Commissioner, '
Little Tim went on, 'but the trouble is that
you're surrounded by the worst bunch Of
bad advisers l ever came across. know
you are not TO blame for many things, be-
cause you are not familiar with the city
and you have to lean for advice on certain
people Who
well, - Gen. Bingham began when
| one Of the members cut the colloquy on
by demanding that the Commissioner should
be allowed to 60 ahead and tell why he
wanted the money The Commissioner said
he desired 10 form a secret service force
Of men who would be able to do valuable
detective work because they would DO un-
known TO criminals. and particularly he
wanted 20 keep a watch on the anarchists
and Black Hand groups. The necessity for
such a force, he said. was shown by the
recent bomb explosion In Union Square.
Little Tim remarked that he took little
| stock In the reports Of Black Hand crimes.
Most Of this Black Hand business we hear
80 much about Ia fake he added.
IF you think 80, Commissioner Bingham
retoTtsd. you come 10 my otlce and Ill
show you evidence about Black Hand crimes
| that win make your hair stand on end.
Little Tim said he thought that the time
Of the police was too much taken up in
looking after gambling houses and saloons
| and that they could be better employed in
protecting lives and property.
'Ive been afraid to 60 to bed for the
| last three months he said. 4ln the block
where ! live on the East Side there have
been twenty burRlaries in that time and
| four murders. Where were the precinct
men-l mean the men in PLAIN clothes
who are supposed to prevent that kind OF
thingi-
That's lust what want this money for
replied Commissioner Bingham. Il want IL
for force that will help to prevent such
| crimes
"Wel, II we give you an appropriation
now you will have 10 make good or you will
get no money In the future for these secret
service men,
sThat suits me" Gen. Bingham replied
amiably. '0nly want little time TO make
good. By the end Of the year promise you
| tnat viii nave IDhu6 kOQu.
Before you go Little Tim remarked,
Il want TO say that think the police force
Of this city Is in some respects the best in
the world, but II seems TO me that just
now the police iorce Of this city has become
demorali2ed.'
With tone which was apparently one OF
mock solemnity Gen. Bingham clasped his
hands like q child In prayer and implored
Of Little Tim, "0h! Mr.. Alderman, say that
in private, please, won't you?"
That nettled Little Tim, who came back
! with the retort, The Legislature Of this
State was told that II the Police Commis-
siOner could only get some money he could
make the police force the finest in the world,
| but from all appearances an attempt was
made 10 bunco the Legislature. Anyway,
! YOU are the irst Commissioner who has ever
asked for money for such purpose as
| this
Then Gen. Bingham got hot and replied
sharply, sYou needn't give me any money
II you don't wish TO. I've put the case before
you and the matter is now up 10 you. Since
| have been at the head Of the force there
nave been more convictions than ever be-
fore, and that's the only test,
Yes but the population grove. inter-
iected Little Tim.
@And the percentage Of convictions to
population has been three times greater
than the percentage under some OF the
recent administrations. Commissioner Bing-
ham retorted
He was allowed 10 so then and In executive
session the committee decided 70 re port in
favor Of appropnating the $4,000.