New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-23
SAYS POLICE HEAD DOES
NOT COMMAND RESPECT
Buckner Tells City Club This Is
One of the Troubles with
Department.
MRS. ISRAELS A SPEAKER
She Advocates Morals Commits
sion, with Power to Act
j. P. Cotton. Jr., Also
Favors Plan.

The discussion at the Saturday luncheon
of the City club yesterday was in the
nature of a debate between advocates Of
the morals commission plan for remedy
ing police conditions In New York and
those opposed to IT, Arguments i'm favor
Of the plan were presented by Joseph T.
Cotton. jr.. and Mrs Charles II. Israels.
of the citizens committee. which brought
the plan forward. while Emery H. Buck
ner. counsel 10 the aldermanic police in
vestigating committee. was the chief
speaker against 1t.
Mr.. Buckner said that when ne began
his WORK on the investigation he started
out with the fixed idea that the power of
review should be taken away from the
courts in cases of discharge from the
Police Department. hut that he was now
convinced that power should be left I'm
disturbed.
Another idea he had at first Mr.. Buck
ner said. was that the Mayor should be
solely responsible for appointing and re-
moving the Police Commissioner without
being answerabe 10 any one. But on this
point. TOO. he declared. ne had changed
his mind, being now Of the opinion that
the commissioner should be removable by
the Mayor only after he justified such
action before public hearing.
Cops" View Of Waldo.
zone of the fundamental troubles with
the Police Department" ne said is thdt
the commissioner IS unable to command
TIN, of d.. i. IL
pcatedly before tho aldcrInanic commit
tee policemen referred To- Bingham and
'Cropscy. seldom speaking OF them as
commissioner or mister Why a present
member Of the force said to ne. Waldo?
Why. they'll remove his furniture som,
time while he is out 10 luncn'
"Of course. YOU can't lcgislatc respect
into the department You have got To- put
man in who viii command respect II
you don't have big man for commits
sioncr You can't get respect. but the ma
chincry can De- improved IT IS largely a
matter of police psychology II they real
he that "a mans tenure If Office Us I'M
certain be- can't command their respect
But with an cight-ycar term under which
TIA. men realize the Mayor can't remove
the commissioner without GOOD reasons n
would improve the esprit 81. corps Of the
force"
lie said the chief evil of the police do
partmcut was one OF administration
rightly administered iie asserted II was
the proper instrument FOR enforcing the
laws. and not such Il body as proposed
under the morals commission plan he
was m favor he declared ~ % commits
sion to investigate and recommend 10 the
Legislature what statutes IN regard To eN-
else. vice and gambling should be re-
pealed OF changed. but he was not In
favor OF commission that should have
tile power 10 determine what statutes
should be suspended or which 20 lay
stress on.
Calls for Thousand Jobs.
iie said that another objection 10 the
morals commission plan Wa that IL pro-
yided for more than "a thousand jobs no,
under civil service. and that D. would ice
inevitable that the morals police would
IN time become corrupted. a. have the
present police. Nj Buckner declared he
was in favor OF the sale OF liquor on Sun
day and argued that the excise laws
should lie changed 10 permit a.
Mr. Cotton who followed Mi Buckner
sald that although the citizens commit
tee disliked the plan. it seemed the only
remedy
You could 90 to the LEGISLATURE and
ask Tor the repeal Of excise laws and vice
laws he maintained. hut nobody be-
li,ves that the LEGISLATURE would do IL.
lie agreed with Mr.. Buckner that these
/ laws were the chief means of corruptlng
the police. because they permitted Of the
taking Of protection money lie said the
committee was not willing 10 let the poo
lice work out their own redemption. and
thought the morals commission plan
should have chance Ito ride the
donkey in an effort 10 solve the problem.
Mrs. lsraCls dissented from Mr.. Buck
uer's idea of a commission empowered
only 10 investigate. saying that we have
had enough investigation. enough eXposi-
ton OF the causes OF vice. and what We
want now H. TO have what We have
learned translated into action" She
therefore advocated the creation of a
commission. with power TO act.