The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-03-10

NJ public morals, as provided for by =
bill now in the Legislature. or TO a
board Of social welfare. Both sugges-
tions have been almost unanimously
condemned by witnesses.
The doctrine Of home rule is again
expressed in the recommendation that
excise regulation for the city Of New
York be left to local authority.
One OF the affirmative recommenda-
tions is for law authorizing the Police
Depai tncnt to photograph and take
fngerprints Of all persons held by n
Magistrate or on bench warrant upon
a charge constituting felony. The
suggestion is made that in the event Of
acquittal the return of these records
be left TO the discretion of the court,
in the event of a dismissal Of the de-
fendant by the Grand Jury the records
to he returned to the defendant upon
application.
Accepting the recommendation of
most of the Police Commissioners for
some years back, the committee urges
that the boiler squad he taken from
the Police Department and placed un-
der new bureau, to pc established
for the purpose. II also recommends
that the House Of Detention be trans
fcrrcd from the Jurisdiction Of the
Police Department to that Of the De-
partment of Correction.
The committee supports the recon-
mendation of District Attorney whit
man that the Penal Law he amended
to provide that person who swears
upon two different occasions in a GRIM
inal proceeding in a materially different
| al i,,t ioh IN
punishment for felony without refer
ence to which statement be true and
which false
The recommendation is made that the
Police Commissioner be relieved from
duty on the Board Of Health. on the
ground that he has enough to do with
out that.
II is recommended that the names and
residences Of applicants and appointees
to the Police Department he published
| in two New York newspapers of at least
100000 paid circulation instead of in the
ChD Record as at present. The com
mittee believes that more publicity for
the applicants would help in preventing
persons who have criminal records from
becoming members OF the force.
The committee asks that the length
Of time policeman must have served
in particular grade before being eligi-
| hle for promotion be loft to the Civil
Service Commission and that the num-
| ber of inspectors be left to the local
authorities instead of being prescribed
by law. as at present. The local author
tiles also should have the determination
OF the grades and salaries OF detectives
and the number OF detectives, II thinks
hn Ia,
| OF any rank who is suspended before
written charges are ser'.ed upon him
| may draw his back pay. even II the
charges are sustained. for the time be-
| tween his suspension and the serving
| Of the written charges. Inspector
Sweeney. Capt. Walsh. Policeman Fox
| Sergt. Duffy, all these are under sus-
| pension without having been served
| with charges, and all can claim back
pay. The committee recommends that
| the Commissioner shall have the power
to suspend policemen without pay
pending investigation. no pay to be
forfeited II the charges are dismissed
The report urges that the trial power
| of the Commissioner include the right
to delegate 1t TO a deputy or to any
member of the uniformed force. 4
recent decision of the Corporation Coun-
| sci in the caS of Policeman otto Milky
| held that the Police Commissioner him
| self must read all the testimony of all
trials before punishment could he in
| f'icted by him. This requires the tran
scrihing of all minutes taken and entails
upon the Commissioner an immense
amount OF work which the committee
feels should not be placed upon him
The Commissioner might also have the
right TO delegate the trial power Ia
captains or inspectors in minor offences
1T Is waste of time to try men a,
Headquarters for appearing in broken
collars or unblacked boots" the repor,
comments
the committee recommends also that
the Commissioner have the right in his
discretion TO order a fine paid in monthly
instalments instead OF in a lump sum
as at present. \ thirty day fine under
the present rule has been describs.i as
an immense hardship. not only on the
policeman, but more especially upon his
family.
The committee recommends also that
the Commissioner have the right TO
compensate for unusual service by
granting leaves OF absence with pay.
III he cannot he trusted with such n
detail he should not be trusted with
the Police Department" is the comment
on this.
1t Is urged that the provision giving
Police and Fire Commissioners the right
to rehear and reinstate members dis
missed he repealed as inimical TO dis
ciplinc. The present three platoon law
should he continued until changed by
local authorities" the report continues
IAN such matters should be determined
by local legislation"
The report takes up bills now pending
before the Legislature relating to the
Police Department. Most OF these bills
the committee opposes, saying:
Police administration In New York
city can never become efficient so long
as bills similar to these here scheduled
are passed by the Legislature Matters
! OF administrative routine must be left 10
the Police Commissioner. Matters of
civil service administration must be left
TO the civil Service Commission. Matters
! OF police quota, ranks, grades, salaries
| must be left TO the Board OF Estimate
and Apportionment and the Board OF
Aldermen"