The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-27
COMMITTEES JO|N|N
EFFORT TO REFORM
NEW YORK Police
Legislative Bills Providing
for Sweeping Changes
May Result-Gaynor
Before Committee

New York February 26-Three COM
mittees one appointed by the state legls-
lature, one by the board of aldermen and
one an organization of citizens, Joined to-
day in an effort to reform the New York
police force The result of their labors
probably will be legislative bills providing
for sweeping changes.
Mayor Gaynor was the principal witness
before the Legislative committee, while two
of his predecessors, former Mayors Nc
Clellan and Low, gave their views to the
committee of aldermen.
At the same time the citizens commit
tee appointed Immediately after the muir
der of the gambler, Herman Rosenthal,
laid before the legislative committee de-
tailed recommendations.
The most radical reform suggested was
appointment of new commission to be
called the board of social welfare, which
should take from the present police force
the duty of regulating gambling, social
vice and the sale of liquor. This plan was
presented by the citizens committee and
mentioned by the mayor.
Former Mayor Mcclellan united with
the citizens committee in the belief that
it is impossible to suppress the Sunday
sale of hauor in New York, and that the
present law invites the levyinS of police
tribute on saloonkeepers. 1t was recom-
mended both by the mayor and the COM
mittee that New York city Sunday liquor
selling be permitted within restricted
hours.
Comparatively Few Grafters
Mayor Gaynor declared that among the
10000 New York policemen were not more
than so grafters. His predecessor, Mayor
Mcclellan, said that while the rank and
file of the force were the finest in the
world, their officials were the worst
Mayor Gaynor suggested an infusion of
new blood into the force by permitting the
appointment of inspectors from outside the
ranks. BY this he hoped to bring into the
force army officers and other trained men
not under the domination of the 'sys-
tem."
In explaining his views the mayor said:
Before | came into office the heads
of the police department went out of
office, one after another, millionaires.
Some of them now have their city houses,
their automobiles, their yachts. | want to
know who is going to go out now rich
MANI"
$1,000, 900 Year in Graft
"Why, when became mayor the police
were getting about $3.000000 year in graft
from saloonkeepers. There isn't a penny
of it paid today. except, perhaps, here
and there by some scamp or scoundrel.
The police Of New York have other things
to do than to see if a man takes a glass
of beer on Sunday
"I hope there will be no delusion at AL
bany. DO not think that the police of
New York are failing in their duty or are
corrupt; it is not So And don't get the
notion that the newspapers aren't in this
graft; they've been in 1t up to their arm
pits for % years"
MIR. Mcclellan said the first step neces-
sary to improve police conditions was the
extinction of the police system Honest
members he said, are afraid to call
their souls their own The evil extends
throughout the whole force
The Legislative committee will continue
it's sessions tomorrow
If an attempt is made to reorganizc the
New York police department through
legislation, John ID. Rockefeller, Jr.. be-
lieves the experience of European cities
should be utilized in framing such laws.
In statement issued today on behalf
OF the bureau OF social hygiene, Mr..
Rockefeller asks that whatever remedial
measures are taken noS be of tenta-
tive nature pending publication by the
bureau of the results of its investiga-
tions.
Raymond p. Fosdick, former city com.
missioner Of accounts, has been in Europe
studying the police organizations of the
British and continental cities and his re
ports, the statement says, Will be pub.
lished during the present year. These
1CeBtinued On Page Eleven