The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-16

J Honored By a Unanimous Reelection to the Police Board.
 ence of the members of the police commission, was the sentiment under lying the speeches of Mayor Buck ingham and the members of the police commission at the organization of the board of 1911.
 With a speech in which he paid high tribute both to the Supt. and to Judge Edward F. Hal1en who was unani- mously reelected president, Mayor Buckingham organized the commits sion Saturday evening. The meeting was brief, but one of significance to the police department for 1t signalfz- ed the dawn of a new epoch in police affairs.
 For this year, at least, there will be no police commissioner to shadow the cops about on their beats, or walk into police headquarters and issue or ders with little or no thought of the authority of the Superintendent of Police. This is the wish of the Mayor, and his desire as expressed in his speech of organization was echoed by the commissioners.
 The meeting was called to order in the commissioner room at S:l5. Com missioner F. D. Baker took the oath of office from the mayor. Commis- soner George M Baldwin had already been sworn in. Upon the administra- ton of the oath to MT. Baker, Mayor Buckingham in his address to the commissioners said:
 "The welfare of the city to large extent depends upon the way the po- lice board takes care of the police department. The people of the city naturally look to the mayor to pre- serve law and order, to see that the laws are properly enforced and that the general conduct of the city is what it ought to be. The mayor in turn looks to this board to so per- form it's duties and to see that those under them in the department So per form theirs, that there shall be no cause for criticism from those who expect Bridgeport to be among the best: governed cities in the New Eng land states At the present time I be- lieve that the affairs of Bridgeport, as far as I have been able to observe are efficiently handled. I believe the laws are being enforced better than for many years past.
 "The police board is not required to act in the capacity of patrolmen Or detectives, for we have men to do that work We have at the head of the police force MT. Eugene Birrn- ingham one of the best men we can find. The Superintendent is supreme in this department and I am certain this board will brook no interference with him in the performance of his duty I do expect the board to have supervision over the entire department the superintendent as we'll as the rest of the members.
 eff at any time this board desires the mayor to be present, desires to consult him, wishes any authority or support in any project it may believe for the city's best interest, I assure you the mayor will always be ready to cooperate.
 q feel that I may be pardoned in assuming that the record of the past year shows that no mistake was made in the selection by me of police com nissioners. The fact that the board has acted in such accord. without the slightest friction, I believe is due in no small measure to the wisdom and prudence of its presiding officer.
 1T believe conditions in the depart ment are excellent The discipline is good and the men as far as I have been able to learn are contented ask this board to see to it that there shall be the least possible friction in the department" The mayor closed his address with the assurance that he would not interfere with the work of the commissioners in the slightest degree.
 Commissioner Miller nominated President Hallen to succeed himself Commissioners Baldwin and Baker seconded the nomination. Commits sioner Miller pointed out that the business ability and integrity of Judge Hallen were beyond question, that he was always kind and considerate in his dealings with his brother commits sioners and with the men in the de- partment. Judge Hallen was declar- ed the unanimous choice of the board for the presidency.
 Judge Hallen in expressing his gratitude said:
 We feel that in Mayor Bucking- ham we have an executive upon whom we can rely in enforcing the laws and in considering the interests of the city,
 Thanking his brother commission CTS for their confidence in him he as- sured Mayor Buckingham that the