The sun., 1909-02-20
ALDERMEN BAIT BINGHAk
COMMISSIONER READY WIrH
SOME SHARP RETORTS.
Politely Calls Alderman Beat "Colonei"
ana smiIingiy Talks Of Get Rich
Quick Gsmes-Yerk OF the Old
Hoard Talks or what Brooklyn Needs,

~" S"hhp Ihhs Ot 6et Mol
Quick Games-Yerk OF the Ol,
Hoard Talks or what Brooklyn Needs
The Police Committee OF the Board ol
Aldermen held an investi CATION OF the
Police Department yesterday afternoon
before an audience in the Aldermanic
Chamber made up largely Of Brooklyn
citizens who seemed TO feel the borou gh q
loss OF a deputy commissioner keenly.
Police Commissioner Bingham appeared
as witness for the defence TO explain why
Brooklyn should have been deprived Of
such an institution. and ex-Police Com
missioner York. himself Brooklynite
and boss Of the police under Mayor Van
Wyck. was present as an expert for the
prosecution
III the Aldermen had intended TO bait
Gen. Bingham. as It looked. the Com
missioner was ready for them. Alderman
Francis P. Bent OF Brooklyn presided
Gen. Bingham courteously called him
Colonel throughout, 1t appeared that
the Alderman had used this title while
trying to sell mining stock In q company
which had Offices in the st. James Build
ing OF which he was president This was
during two weeks trip In Kentucky.
From his embarrassment he wasn't used
apparently to being called Colonel up here,
for he modestly blushed at being 80 hailed
by the General whenever the latter. lean
ing on his cane, had occasion to address
him. Col. Bent was also Interested in
the Alaska Grubstake Club, another min
ing venture. and tho General got In a |
remark about that. all In good humor, |
however.
Ex-Deputy Commissioner OK eeffe. who
was once In charge Of Brooklyn was the
hrst witness called by Col. Bent, and he
was put through lot OF questions, all
having to do with the value to BROOKLYN
,f such time honored institutions as its
boiler bureau. information bureau and
ost children's bureau. The Aldermen
TO know II Mr.. O'Keeffe wasn't
sept pretty busy in Brooklyn looking
'fter its police matters, and Mr. OKeetfe
lad to say yes.
There was only one discorcIant note
n the chorus from the boards OF trade
hat followed. II came from the repre-
entative Of the New Lots Board of Trade.
ie declared that he was thoroughly in
avor OF Gen. Bnghams plan Of centrali-
alton and then in a strong German accent
aid that when Brooklyn had a deputy
II to itself there was ALWAYS danger Of
long legged politicians" controlling him.
As for the representative Of the Ridge
Iood Board Of Trade, -the largest nurner- I
,al board Of trade In the city. :" he said that ,
rooklyn had been treated shnmefully.
ES-Commissioner York, who was head
Mayor Van Wyck' four headed COM i
Ission, the last Of Its kind, and then was I
ie deputy IN charge Of Brootlyn under 4
ichae C.. Murphy, didn't seem 10 know n
hy lie had been called awav from the J.
iiet Of his law practice. and said that b
nee he got out lie had never talk ed about II
q lrolice Il
Mr.. York when he got started, how
er, had quite few statements 10 make s
lich seemed to interest Commissi )ner q
ngham. One was that conditions in lo
ooklyn were radically different and
at good commissioner Oh this side
the river rmght not be good one over
BROOKLYN.
There's only ohe way a Tolice commits
'ncr can satisfy himself,' said MIR.
rk, -and that is 20 enforce every law W
d then let the :eople chn nxa them. d,
5 up to the commissioner. |. wac unto W
once aud got damned for It. 40 one in
tsidc OF the commissioner himself ci
,rld have anything to do with the ini- CO
med force. IL ] was in full contro, 10
red I've an of Ger ia charge OF the uni oh
med force who'd he rspos sible 10 oh
That's my theory. You don't wan, A tn
0 OOO Police Headquarters facing prcu- W
u Park. II would DO jrst as we'll I, have Of
} Oh the river, rs the deputy's fault Oh
is power Ia curtaled There should he tn,
epity in RroolSlyn- an
". York explained Why il was that tho
berries weren't given out in BrooElyn in
they used TO be in the DAYS when It COZ
city Of itself. Hasaid il had been mt
Ter New York police rules. but he com. tha
,tlcd this one. which was done by hin fro
board Il don't think that the records wit
the department should he sp,-ad ef'
Dad u safety the morbid curiosity wo
he public AS 10 the extent of crime in
aid. The matter ought to be In IN. als'
discretion and he'll be the
ned anyway he added. i
a.