New-York tribune., 1909-03-25
BIG BRIBE FOR BINGHAM
OFFER OF S60O,OOO II YEAR
TO POLICE HEAD.
Jerome May Investigate Statement
No One Dared Try 1t on
Ne" Says Mc4doO.

Police Commissioner Bingham told group of
reporters in his office yesterday that soon after
his appointment as head OF the police force he
received an offer of $4,000 a month bribe. The
statement made in the course of an inter
view during which the Commissioner said he be-
lieved the Board of Aldermen had refused TO
vote 100000 for secret service bureau because
many aldermen hate me-"
Have you heard that it is proposed to do
away with the aldermens pay and make the
office honorary" a reporter asked.
I've heard of IT," the Commissioner replied.
There are plenty of jobs the city could fill free.
gratis. This job right here if put up at public
auction. would bring big price"
Some one said he though: General Binghams
job might he made worth S1oo0ooO any day
We'll, I don't know about that" came the re-
ply, but I know that I had not been in here
many months before man known to me in a
casual way before I came here, and whom had
no reason to believe was not honest, called upon
me in this very room. I received him cordially,
believing that he came to talk over some social
matter. He opened my eyes to a certain phase
of New York life.
He a suaye gentleman and knew how TO
handle words to perfection. He began talking
without reference to what he had in mind.
was interested in what he said. Then began to
think that he getting into n curious line of
talk. and I listened to him more attentively.
Before that man left he had offered me $4,000
a month to comply with certain conditions, and
my compliance with those conditions would have
been entirely negative
GAVE HIM A TALKING TO"
Commissioner Bingham said that he gave the
such talking TO that he will never forget
his visit here as long as he lives" The Com
+Ia
since. and Il think that he knows better than to
attempt to put his head inside my doors. either
public private" he added.
The Commissioner said he would not tell the
brihe offerers name, and declined to say If the
proposition was based on permitting a syndicate
of rich gamblers to operate unmolested.
It was the impression about the Criminal
Courts Building that District Attorney jerome
might investigate the Police Commissioners
statement that he had been approached by a
man who suggested $4,000 a month the
price for compliance with certain conditions OF a
negative nature.
William McAdoo former Police Commissioner,
said yesterday that no man had ever been coura-
geous enough 10 offer him 81 or $4,000 during
his term Of ONCE. saving.
NO one ever had the courage to offer me 81
or $4,000 for failing to enforca the law or any
other in1delity in office rs Police commissioner.
and the records Will show that a lot of people
got badly hurt a. that. Certainly no nice.
smooth talking Hungry Joe ever made such an
offer during a pleasant social visit and escaped
I never got in sight Of these big money men.
and never asked any one. in or out Of Office. To
raise my salary When a man has his back
against the wall fighting great odds for his life
he has no time to bother about what he'll order
for dinner.
FIGURE SMALL SAYS MADOO.
You say the Commissioner says he could have
got Sepopr0 the first year. The figures look
small TO me or course, any clever, able and
dishonest Commissioner can make a great deal
Of money out Of the Office. That ought TO z"
without saving. There are so-called respectable
men in New York who will tell poor man In
the office of Police Commissioner that he is a
fool not to take ali he can get. and that the
people will not thank him or appreciate his do
ing otherwise, and they illustrate this advice by
many instances Of public indifference and in
gratitude.
.Gamblers need not necessarily be the only
bribe eivers They could come from many. and in
deed unlocked for sources Coney Island could
in any time have yielded big. fat revenues
suppose the Commissioner. with the right sort
Of captain Chis own selectonD were to give out
the hint that only certain beers cigars. liquors,
foods etc. would be acceptable. and then ju-
diciousy and with eye to finance bestow
few night licenses the deserving. one all
night license ought to be worth a nice bank ac-
count"
In his remarks regarding the refusal Of the
aldermen to vote $lO0O00 for a secret service
bureau General Bingham said:
MY personal opinion is that the Board Of AL
dermen have refused my request because indi-
vfduaTly they hate me. There seems to be some
0ueer politics in this town Personally. don
know anything about politics, or care about
them If the Board Of Aldermen are interested
in politics it is their business, not mine. Mine
is TO run the Police Department.
"I believe that every man who knows anything
of the Police Department knows that money is
needed If the aldermen think they are injuring
me TO hold up the money they are mistaken. 1t
ini,Ires the city of New York. not me-"