New-York tribune., 1909-01-30
GRATING In ARRESTS
Bingham Sure 1t Is Done, but He
Can't PrOJC II.

Police Commissioner Bingham, testifyiug yester-
dav before the committee that is investigating the
lower criminal courts here. startled the legislators
by asserting that many of the arrests OF women on
the street were. made for the purpose OF grating
IT is an easy thing" ne said. for 4 policeman
IN grab q woman the street. take her 10 the
night court, threaten her with Imprisonment ana
cot mis- share Of some consideration paid by the
woman know there is a system of grating upon
women OF the streets. but I cannot prove it
..GentIemen ] assure YOU that what il called
the white slave traffc among immigrants in all
narts of New York is crying evil II you knew
The exten+ of il IT would break your hearts II
~. could stop the white slave traffic the whole
social evil would be ameliorated-
Tbe work of policemen assigned 10 duty
and probation work the subject of motor vehicle
.sts and the work of the night court in gen
aral also came in for long discussion by the
witness
The Commissioner thought that traffic would De
interfered with less # motor vehicle arrests were
done away with ny having the policeman take the
automobile number, the chaufeurs license number
and hand the chauffeur summons
Mr.. Bingham complained OF the tact mat more
than five hundred policemen had been taken away
from police work and detailed 10 courts and public
huiIdines- whereas, he said, the entire force was
not suh5cient for necessary patrol duty. He
thought policemen should be kept busy catching
criminals and probation work turned over 10 men
Of gentle heart who could grow old IN the service
Mr. bingham also thought there should be a
lice he said. cannot be lawyers and although
their ases may all right the prisoners are often
discharged and the policemen criticised from 'hs
bench simply because the defence has snarp
lawyer.
.,oIouine his testimony Commissioner Bingham
gave out printed address to the citizens OF New
York in which he tells what the ponce are DONG
discusses reforms that are needed and pedges NM
self TO make the force as efficient az posioie- II
his address the Commissioner sald:
The frequent advertising that is given In the
70 alleged
can be committed in New York IS undouoteoly re-
sronsible for a certain amount of the crime The
efforts Of burglary insurance companies to con-
vince paonl. that hrrgaries prevalent. and
therefore that Il is desirable to IA ke out ms
poIicies against them also incte burglary a curl
ous confirmation OF this happened week before
last when three professional Western crooks were
brought into the detective bureau ney naq oeen
in to1-r only a few Gayz Each explained that he
had come here because he had got the TIP that
things we're easy in New York When they found
themselves picked up and kept overnight at the
detective bureau before they had chance 20 get
busy here they were quickly undeceiTed and were
shown aboard outgoing trains WIN long distance
tickets their persons
Th4 roIfee are NOT doing bad work The men
are patrol better than they have been for years
Terufv imssioneTs have made trips at all times
of the night in all parts of the city and have found
the streets about well protected a. could be ex-
pected from the number Of men who were avail