The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-30
COCKTAILS BILLS
ABOLISH "TRIAL"
Police Commissioner to Have IT.
revOcable Power Under
Mayors Scheme.
IN LEGISLATURE TO-DAY
Glynn FavOrs Measures and
Mitchell Says They Are
Certain to Pass.

In making public the so.cslied Goethals
bills. which will be introduced in the
Legislature to-day Mayor Mitchell said
last night:
Their passage will secure TO the city
OF New York the services Of the man who
built the Panama Canal as the head Of
the Police Department. They carry out
the spirit and the letter Of the written
message Of Col. Goethals to me stating the
conditions on which he will accept the
Police Commissionership. ! am convinced
furthermore that with this amendment to
the law II will be possible for Col Goe-
tlials to put an end forever to the So
called system in the Police Department
In one important respect the bills are
more radical than had been expected.
They not only give the Commissioner ir-
revocable power OF dismissal. taking from
the courts the right to review his de-
| cisions, but they abolish altogether the
system Of quasi-leg trials for accused
men which has long been In vogue at
Headquarters.
Policeman Can "ENplain.'
For the trial is substituted a written
or oral explanation" TO be made by the
accused man to the Commissioner or a
deputy. The policeman explains his
case he does not present II in Head
! quarters court. The word trial has
been struck out wherever 1t occurs in the
, parts OF the charter which Mr.. Mitchell
desires amended.
The Mayor said that the Ave bills are
inseparable and taken together constitute
one piece of Legislation. They would
, have been Incorporated In one bill but for
| the constitutional limitation of n local bill
to one title and subject matter.
The plan" the Mayor went on SIS to
bring the police under provisions similar
IN n fhar GnlDlONat
and thus make 1t impossible for them to
have a court review by writ Of certiorar!
of any lawful discipline enforced by the
Comm missioner. whether In the form OF dis
missal from the service or of Other proper
punishment. They must be served with
copies OF written charges against them
and will have the right to make their
explanations either orally or in writing.
They will also have the right to bc repre-
scented by counsel
Mayor May Review Cases.
In place of the court review a section
Of the Cocktails bills provides for an en-
tension OF the power OF the Mayor 10
grant rehesrings in proper cases The
dismissal of men from the uniformed force
is thus made an administrative proceed
ing. as IL ought to Ice. instead o. II judicial
proceeding. as II is under the present
law"
III tue SIdSol oplulp'l Wv = ilAS Va
policemen will be strengthened 10y two OF
the bills. which prov ide that money they
have paid into the pension fund shall be
paid back to them with per cent. interest
In the case of dismissal from the force for
any reason except conviction By a Grim
inal court
Another bill provides that sereeants and
/ lieutenants. who now have TO serve two
OF three years respectively before they
/ can he promoted, need serve only six
months In the case OF a sergeant and one
year In the case of lieutenant. Police
experts figure that II this bill is passed /,
will he possible FOR raw patrolinsn 10
/ rise to an inspecto:ship in ten years.
! The principal bill gives the Commits.
| sioner the right 10 reduce sergearts &c
! patrolmen without trial upon charges
Full Power to Com missioner.
: IL Section $50 % the city Charter are
! !nt.rpolated the words Nothing IN this
/ section shall limit the power OF the Police
! Commissioner! 10 dismiss or otherwise dis
! ciplire without trial any member OF the
uniformed force by an order that shall b'
rinal which final order shall not be sub.
ject TO review by the courts"
Under proposed amendment to sec
I ton 500 of the charter IA disciplined o!
| dismissed policeman can. within one year
| for another opportunity of making an
explanation" and the Mayor may gran,
the application provided the policeman
| valves all claim for back pay or dam
ages.
| Il have consulted with some lecisla-
| tive leaders of the Democratic. Republic
can and Progressive parties regarding
| the Goethals bills" said Mr. Mitchell
IAN seem to favor them"
| ALBANY. Jan. EFF New York city
| needs Cocktails and n bill providing 70,
the things he wants comes to me. ! shall
sign it," said Gov, ,;lSnn tonight
"Goethals would be n great adjunc;
to the road building department Of New
York State" said the Governor in his
next breath. He is such a great builder
he could shape things for the State"
The Governor said his comment was
only the expression of thought that
struck him Just at the moment.
The hills will he introduced in the
| Legislature Tomorrow By Senator Pol
lock OF Manhattan and Assemblyman
| Almeth w. Hon of Kings They were
| received in Albany to-day by Edward J.
McGoldrick. assistant Corporation Coun-
| sci of New York city, and he Immediately
| made arrangements for ther introduce
| ton
COCKTAILS ZONES HEAD.