New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-23
BURNS FAVORS RECALL
Detective Would Put Police Ad.
miniStration Up to Mayor.
PUTS 20. X" ON FORCE
Says Commissioner Should Be
Appointed for Life-Heckled
by Cooper Union Crowd.


William ]. Purns. dapper in his lion
tanners trousers and tight-fitting frock
coat. told an audience OF two thousand in
Cooper Union last night just how ne
thought the Police Department ought to
| be conducted and how the city should
be policed. And then he walked up and
down the big platform and answered with
astonishing patience hundreds of ques-
tons that were fired at him. sometimes
accompanied with unfavorable personal
opinions Of himself
The detective said that the Police Com
missioner should be kept as far away. as
possible. from politics and should be APP
pointed for life or during his good be-
havjor. with recall by the Mayor. Then
he said the Mayor should be subject 10
recall.
"If the Mayor sees ut to recall the
| Commissioners" he continued, che Should
state the specific charges against the
man for fifteen or thirty days, so that
the public would have time to have
knowledge of the matter and not get UP
in the morning and find that they nave
new Commissioners they never heard
Of. / would also have II so that the Com
missioner could make or break any po-
Hceman. l would send captain and his
command to a given district to remain
there permanently. Further, / would
have a chief Of detectives stationed at
Headquarters with his men who could
be made into real detect!yes-not men
who fash their badges and intrude their
personalities upon the public, as l have
done.
81 would also see to IL that the Com
| missioner be permitted to employ con-
| fdential investigators, thus eliminating
| the odious stool pigeon think that
| the individual policeman should be en-
couraged to answer questions put to him
| by citizens in a courteous and civil man
ner When policemen are tried on crimi-
nal charges | think that the ranking and
| trial officer should be appointed only at
! the time OF the trial. II that were done
none Of the officials would have any ad-
vance information that might prejudice
! them.
This next point. ! think, is very i'm
portant. II a policeman he found guilty
| he should be discharged and the fact and
| information Immediately reported TO the
grand Jury for action. II a policeman is
once dismissed from the department he
should never under no circumstances be
permitted to come back into the depart
ment again. He should, OF course, have
access TO the courts, but even II they
stand by him and find that he was dis
charged on some technicalitv he should
not be permitted TO re-enter the depart
ment If he wants TO- he should sue the
city
when a man is selected for the com
! missionership his name and those Of the
other candidates should be made public
in advance, so that the public might dis
cuss the fitness OF the candidates. The
| Commissioner doesn't have 70 be police
man; there is nothing for him to do but
show common sense and administrative
ability and 1rmness and honesty. Then
there would be no cause TO remove him
| and he could be free to continue with his
good work.
Mr. Burns then said that he was ready
and willing TO answer all questions. He
folded his arms and quietly paced back
and forth as he shot back rapid fire an
swers But after while they began 10
come in too fast for the detective, and
he was forced to unclasp his hands and
face his audience and answer them az well
and as quickly as he was permitted
Every now and then some one in the
rear, generally wearing a soft flannel
shirt and a dirty face. fired few ques-
| tons OF an impertnent nature at the de-
tective, and was Immediately Kissed into
auietness Some Of the more sensible
| ouestlons-far in the mnority-were such
as the following:
Gould the Mayor and the Commission
er, II they had the mental strength aud
the honest desire TO do so. clean up the
gunner and crooks In a single season.
! And Mr.. Burns answered Yes
Are the police and detectives Of New
York City better than those OF other
cities?" asked n woman
II think that the Police Department
leaving out the detectives, Is the best in
the world" laughingly answered the de-
tective.
Another man wanted TO know II dis
orderly houses were necessary in large
! city, and Mr.. Burns assured him that they
we're not necessary in any city on the
face OF the globe. He was roudly cheered.
All in all, the detectives talk before the
Peoples Institute meeting was cheered
| from beginning to end, and Mr.. Burns
smiled as he drove away In his big
| limousine.