New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-08

ROBERT S. BGNkERD.
tory or summary way beyond that OF the
Mayor"
| In regard TO excise Mr.. Whitman salo
there were two matters to be consldereo
the forbidden hours during the "eeh
and tho selling Of liquor under license
on Sunday He thought a different queS-
ton was involved in the two cases. ne
said there certainly could not be any
very decidedly moral sentiment back OF
a law which made IT crime TO DO ior
four or five hours of week day what
is perfectly proper and legal. at least
as far as tho law is concerned. durins
nineteen or twenty hours.
1t had been his experience that while
grand juries would indct for selling llq-
uor on Sunday they felt very differently
| q bout ndicting man for keeping MS
| place open from | TO a. m, on week
days He was in favor Of referring the
question of the opening of the saloons
on Sunday TO a referendum
Thinks Citizens Plan Absurd.
| Asked what he thought Of the plan
proposed by the Citizens Committee for
vice problem. he said:
without meaning to reflect upon the
gentlemen who are working any such
proposition II seems to me absurd.
think the responsibility would again be
divided, and not only that, but we would
! probably have the same condition that
we have now. I think the peace officers
of the state should be the officers who
should have authority and the right and
power and responsibility of enforcing the
statutes Of the state. The police are the
proper peace officers for that purpose"
Mr.. Whitman said he thought the Job
of Police Commissioner warranted much
larger salary-doube what 1t is now. In
conclusion he said:
| II think the whole situation is ques-
| ton Of administration rather than legis-
| lation. We have an abundance of law and
adequate laws. II they are properly en-
| forced, to bring about the condition In
the city that the public desire. IT is a
question Of the enforcement Of the law
rather than the making Of laws"
| q.
opinion II would be an easy matter to
| obtain the results sought II II were posi-
BILE to eliminate politics from the Police
Department. To that end he would APP
point the Commissioner during good he
havior, he said He did not believe in TAX
! ing the enforcement OF the laws against
vice out Of the hands Of the police Mr..
Burns said he believed all detective work
should be done through one central bu-
reau at Police Headquarters. and that
the captains or any other officers should
| have nothing TO do with II.
They should be directed by q detective
head" said Detective Burns. land they
should he real detectives rather than run
ming around flashing their badges and
taking part in politics and holding their
hands out for something"
Mr.. Burns suggested George B. cortel-
you as a good Police Commissioner. II he
would take the job.
Wants Uniform Statistics.
Robert S. Bnkerd, secretary OF the City
Club, was another witness He dweit
principally upon the recommendations
made in the report OF the Citizens Com
mittee. including the proposed board OF
social welfare lie strongly advocated
home rule in police affairs. He wanted 70
urge In the strongest terms that which
| Magistrate Corrigan had alluded to In his
testimony before the committee, the ne
cessity for a system Of criminal statistics.
you cannot harmonic the reports OF
| the District Attorney Of any county In
this city with the records Of either the
Police Department or any court, said
Mr.. Binkerd. Similarly the board OF
city magistrates keeps It's criminal sta
tistics I'm q slightly different way, so that
1t is utterly impossible to bring together
really enlightening statistics on crime,
punishment and prosecution information
that this city Is entitled to, In some form
or other. I think logically by vestfng ir
the Board of Estimate the power to re-
auire given forms you ought to make
II possible for US to secure uniform Grim
inaI statistics, SO that we shall cease to
argue in this city about things as mat
ters OF opinion which can be made mat
| tiers Of fact"
John McCullagh. former Chief OF Po-
lice; William Olpp, secretary OF the
Bronx Citizens League. and Albert Hart
mann. a student of tho municipal vice
| problem, also we're witnesses before the
committee at its last hearing.
|