The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-26
MITCHEL'S PLAN APPROVED.
Ex.POltce Con, missioners Favor An.
sOlutc Power for Cocktails.

EX-Police Commissioners. interviewed
for THE SrN yesterday. said they We're
heartily in favor of Mayor Mitchels plan
90 give Col. Goethals. II the Colonel will
take the Commssionership, absolute
power to organize the department, includ-
ing the right to dismiss policemen without
being subjected to review of the case
by the courts.
Chief Magistrate William McAdoo, who
ruled the department prior to Gen. Bing
hams incumbency. said
In book which ! wrote some time
ago, called Guarding Great city out
lined a mode Of trial FOR offending police
men which would follow the lines of
court-mart!al in the army and the navy,
where verdicts are not renewable by jul
d.cial authority except on the question as
to whether or not "A man was tried ar-
cordng TO the forms OF law. Otherwise
such cases are not renewable and they
should not be.
"a reversal by the courts OF the care
fully thought out decision OF competent
and honest Police Commissioner is sub
versive often of discipline and the spirit
Of loyalty.
IL am committed. also, in my book and
IN various articles I have written for the
magazines. to a long tenure for Com
missioner. My belief il that the head OF
the police should hold Office during good
behavior and that he should not he re-
moved except on proved charges and then
only by the Appellate Division of the SUI
preme Court
"A Police Commissioner should be per-
mitted TO stay in office AT least as long as
an Inspector. There should be "A levelng
up In the matter of tenures. \ long term
should produce satisfactory results in the
administration of the police, because It
would give capable man time enough to
study his problems and to work them out
according TO his own ideas without inter-
ference from anybody
81 am glad To hear that there Is a
chance to obtain Col. Goethals He has
proved that he has administrative ability
sufiicient to solve the biggest kind Of
problems"
District Attorney James G. Cropsey Of
Brooklyn. who was Commissioner between
the administrations of William +. Baker
and Rhinelander Waldo. expressed the fol-
lowing views.
81 testified before the Curran' commit
tee that "A Police Commissioner should not
be mere factotum of a Mayor. My be-
lief Is that ne should be free and unham-
pered and left to do. on his own respon-
eibility, what ne thinks will correct
abuses and assist in safeguarding life and
property. ! believe that the Commissioner
should have absolute power of removal
and that there should be no court review
Of his decisions.
II do not believe that there should
b. permanent tenure, A Commissioner
should he removable by the Mayor II the
Mayor Is convinced that he il incom-
petent or useless. The Mayor is elected
by the people, The responsibility for
good administration Of all city depart
ments Is on his shoulders. 1t is up TO
him. therefore. to appoint good Commits
sioner and II should be up to him to
bounce n bad one.
II am not personally acquainted with
Col. Goethals, but from what 7 have read
Of his achievements and his genius for
organization ] should say that he would
do well here"
Gen. Theodore A. Bingham said that he
believed II would hardly be- in good taste
for him to discuss the invitation to Col
Cocktails or the suggestions made by
Mayor Mitchell.
II don't think It is any Of my business"
said the General.
Major-Gen. Francis " Greene OF Buff
Saio. who was Police Commissioner In
1903 and 1904 under Mayor Low wired
20 THE SUN last night AZ follows
1.-THE present law was passed In 1897
for the purpose OF terminating the intol-
cradle division of authority between "A
four headed police commission and a uni
formed chief of police having statutory
power Independent OF the commission.
1.-THE intention was to concentrate all
these powers In single individual and
hold him responsible nv giving the Mayor
power Of summary removal. The law
was administered according Ia its intent
during Mayor Lows administration.
~ doubt n the present law can be i'm
proved u would be a misfortune IN have
ar incompetent or corrupt Commissioner
who could only be removed by the slow
process OF trial on charges therefore IN"
power Of summary removal by the Mavur
should not hc changed, and ms To- the uni
formed policemen, he Is entitled to his day
IN court aud no law can successfully de
prive him OF II. An equity court will al
WAYS hear him and that Is All the present
far mo- TO