New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-06
DRASTIC POLICE CHANGE
NEEDED, SAYS BINGHAM
Recommends $4,000 Commits
sioner. with 8 to II Year
Term and Absolute Power.
REMOVAL BY MAYOR ONLY
Would Make Dismissal Final
and End Graft by Stop
ping Talk and Sub
shutting Work.

General Tncod' re 4. Bingham. Police
Commissioner under Mayor George y. Nc
Clelan. whose tenure OF office was char
acterizcd by Emory r. Buckner. counsel
for the Currau Aidermanic Committee, as
one Of "undisputcd success" gave his
ideas on the administration OF the depart
meut before the Curran committee yes
terday morning. The hearing was at a
special session to secure the views OF
General Bingham. who has been absent
I'm Panama.
Drastic remedies for the reorganization
Of The department as IL now exists were
the burden of Gene'ai Binghams testi-
mony. These include placing absolute
powe.' fV the conduct OF the force In the
hands OF the Police Commissioner under
a long term Of office and subject to re-
moyal only ny the Mayor after a public
hearing. the reinstatement Of a dismissed
policeman under no circumstances. and
the use Of the police only for the mainte-
nance ~ law and OrGer.
II am very much discouraged for the
good OF this town General Bingham
'aid. a. a preface to his views. 'on ac-
count 81 the apathy which exist here
over rrc.crt conditions. II the work Of
this committee is going To be OF any bene-
fit II has got TO recommend very few
things. but very drastic ones"
The first thing needed. General Bling
ham declared, was the extension Of the
tenure OF Office Of the Commissioners, max
ing II from eight to- twelve years. This
IL vital. the witness declared. because IL
will require from year and a half 10
two years for n Police Commissioner TO
acquant himself with what Is needed
and an equal length Of time for the police
force and people TO find out II he is ca
pablo lie further advocated tho Com
missioner selection ny other means
than election and would have absolute
home rule in the conduct ~ tho Depart
ment. taking the power Of removal from
the Governor ana vcsting IT I'm the Mayor
To prevent the Mayor from removing
the Commissioner too arbitrarily" Cen
erai bingham said II should be re
CURED by law that the Mayor must send
written charges TO the Commissioner.
that they he published on the same day
IN the daily papers. that one week elapse
before a public hearing takes place. and
that second week pass before the re-
moval goes into effect. This would leave
the power II removal in the hands Of the
Mayor but would give the public a
chance to know what is going on"
The administration of the department,
General Bingham would leave I'm the
hands Of the Commissioner. He strongly
opposed the reinstatement Of any police
man dismissed by the Commissioner
under any grounds. dismissal. however. 20
follow public trial as at present and an
appeal 10 tho higher courts. Ia case ~ a
favorable decision ny tho latter body. he
would have the policeman able 10 bring a
suit for damages against the city
The witness upheld the so-called "Bing-
ham bill" originated by him. which per
rn,ts the promotion and demotion OF cap
teins TO inspectors and yice-versa. hold
ing that &, should he extended TO all ranks
OF the force He would have men selected
FOR the force under civil service rules
after those rules had been made 10 con-
form To the requirements OF the Polio"
Commissioner. but would have the promo
ton Of the men in tho force Independent
of the service and under the examination
OF the Commissioner.
on the matter ~ police organizations
existing evils complained Of could be re
moved. General Bingham thought. by
making those bodies subject to the Com
missioner. He characterized as rotten
the present system OF allowing the fixing
Of police pensions by the heads OF those
organizations with DEPUTY Commits
soner ard advocated the abolition Of con
tributions to the pension fund by all
members OF the force.
The increase of the Commissioner sal
arr to tl5Vr year. the beginning pa
trolman's to Sl,so and other advances
were also favored The withdrawal of all
police from duties not involved in the
preservation OF law and order was also
favored and the creation of morals
commission opposed. The best way to
stop graft. he said. was TO stop talking
about II and set the police 10 work doing
their duty IN the enforcement Of the laws