The sun., 1909-05-05
BINGHAM PLEADS FOR POWER
HE'D LIkE THE RIGHT TO PUT
orr ANY BAD POLICEMAN.
Tells the Ethical Social League That We
seed business Mayor sharp Re.
tor, to Eugene PhIIbin--D Peters
trgcs the sunday Liquor Sale Blil.

Police Commissioner Bingham heard
hevildering line Of views expressed on
,he Sunday question at last evening g
dinner Of the Ethical-Social League at
the Park Avenue Hotel and then he ex-
pressed few Of his own views on the
matter. adding thereto few admoni-
tions regarding the choice Of the oity's
next Mayor, in the course of which he
neglected to compliment Mayor Nc
Clelan. Commissioner Bingham also
had brief tilt with ex-District Attorney
Eugene A. Philbin. Introduced as the
Ace Of Clubs Commissioner Bingham said:
Il am strongly in favor Of thorou gh
revision of the Sunday laws. AS they
stand they are hodge podge and I have
vet failed to find any courts, or lawyers
either, who agree upon what they mean.
And I'd like to say this too: This fooling
around with the saloon question is like
having tree in your backyard that
hears poisonous fruit and going out there
with long poles to knock the fruit down
instead Of getting an axe and going out
there and cutting that tree down II
you don't want whiskey. why, then in the
pane Of common sense stop it's manu-
iacture.
Something has been said about China
town gambling. 1t so happens that just
lately have been able to break up China
town gsmbline-for a minute. 1t will
.oon start up again. know it. But just
now it is stopped. But as soon as we
stopped it some of the good people who
nd been complaining about it began to
sy: Now, don't 60 too far. If you do
those highbinders will get to auarrelling
and shooting!' ! replied that If they did
we'd attend to the shooting when it
started
Now | can close your saloons on Sum-
dsy, but you've got to give me the tools.
Give ne the authority and the tools
which ] have not got at present. OF
course the captains and the inspectors
tan stop any violations in their precincts
il they really want to do it. But if they
don't. where do come in? II do put
man OF the force nine times out Of ten
the courts put him back or course the
c,rrts look at the matter in different
light They don't know the mans record
as do. It's a cold blooded question to
them All the mans friends have been
rsinG all the influence they can TO win
mercy for him and he has had money
enough (the Lord knows where he got itl
TO hire better lawyers than can afford
TO hire with the city's money.
The system In the Police Department
has got the legislation 1t wants. and it
s hung around your necks. though you
may not know It. We have forced one
hing down the throat OF the system,
hough. | can really now reduce an in
spector to the rank OF captain. But you
Ei,e me authority TO fire any man on the
force and will clean up this town with
one hand tied behind my back"
You've got that authority now in
'errlpted Mr.. Phlbin.
! certainly have not, replied Commits
sitner Bingham
Take the Diamond case retorted Mr..
philhln
That happened before my time"
answered the Commissioner Moreover,
y, is true that Diamond was convicted Of
.elony before he was dismissed from the
department.
'Whv.' continued Gep. Eingham. i've
Just een fightiug the Murphy case here
found an incompetent man in charge Of
'!e telegraph bureau nf the department.
tired HIM but the Appellate Division has
rnstated hum. Justice Scott wrote the
'rlnion II you want a clean town you
must give the Commissioner power TO
hold his men t. their duty. Why could
take 3OG regular troops and police New
York like that and the Commissioner
snapped his fingers.
Now went on the Commissioner
with great emphasis, "it is up to you to
elect Mayor this fall that Ia a man. He
has got to be a good business man capable
Il selecting men that can tackle the
financial problem. And then he has got
10 be man who doesn't care for any
hing but to give you a clean. strong.
straight government. Then maybe you
will get police commissio ner who will
give YOU clean. strong, straight ad-
mlris'ration."
We want you,- shouted one OF the
guests.
i am not making a campaign plea"
returned Commissioner Bingham. But
| have been able to accomplish some
good things in the department and Id
hate to see anybody put in who would
ct things go back. There are getting
TO he good many men in the depart
ment who are taking oourage-courage
% think that there's some use in doing
'hinss because they are square-that
here may be some reward other than
'h4; obtained from petty, punk politi-
ca pull
Before Commissioner Bingham spoke
Inc Sunday question had been turned
inside out by dozen speakers. The
rev DR. John P Peters Of the Committee Of
Fourteen had said that we were lawless
People who made laws that could not he
enforced and which we didn't intend TO
ny 10 enforce. The Committee Of Four
zen lad recommended a law allowin &
NE sale of liquor from to IL because
ne present law was not enforced and
"Ad brought into existence the disrepu-
liable Raines law hotels with all their
attendant evils
You can SAID he, restrict the sale
d'iouor on Sundays. You cannot abolish
'F Sal" ON that day. The proposition Of
"e '"mnIuee Of Fourteen is to recognize
'@dl',pns as they exist and to make
4 law that ,nn he enforoed We believe