The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-09
NEW LAW UPSETS
JERSEY POLICEMEN
Trial Procedure in Commission
Governed Cities Changed
by Joker"
REPEAL TO RE SOUGHT

TRENTON. y. j.. May s.--For scvcra,
years a fight has been on between the
governing bodies Of several cities Of
New Jersey and tho Patrolmens Bencv-
client Association. an organization OF
policemen that was originally intended
for the beneft OF members Of police
departments In case of sickness or
death. The association has had its
principal headquarters in Newark and
Jersey City. II has membership OF
between three and four thousand, in
about forty local branches.
Built up before the days OF commission
government. when candidates for boards
eagerly sought the influence OF the po-
licemen in tho primaries and at cleo
tons, the patrolmen's association has
for a number OF years been something
Of power in the Legislature. and It
may he truthfully said that II Is still
able 10 pass or defeat bis when the
issue is fairly drawn. One Of its ac-
complishments was procuring legislation
increasing the salaries OF policemen In
the different cities.
In Jersey City until quite recently
the Patrolmens Benevolent Association
controlled the police department. II
employed lawyer, who appeared at
every trial before the Board OF Police
Comm ssioners and defended the police
men who were charged with neglec; OF
duty, drunkenness and even criminal
M nd al he on ~, 81
escaped without punishment or suffered
a few days loss of pay.
Conditions were about the same in
Newark Not long ago policemen were
charged with having robbed stores on
their beats. The evidence against them
was overwhelming but through the in
fiuence of the association they escaped
severe punishment. In Atlantic City.
Trenton. Camden. New Brunswick,
Paterson and Elizabeth there was n
similar state OF affairs.
Two years ago Commissioner George
b. La Barre OF Trenton attempted to
have passed "A law that would authorize
the Director OF Public Safety In COM
mission governed municipalities TO try
members Of the police and fire depart
ments against whom charges OF neglect
Of duty were preferred instead of re-
quiring all five OF the Commissioners
The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association
defeated the bill.
This year Commissioner Frank
! Hague. Director OF Public Safety in Jer-
sey City. had n duplicate OF the La
/ Barre bill introduced, but before do
! ing so lie issued an order TO Chief
Monohan forb!iding the granting OF
! leave OF absence TO any member OF the
/ Jersey City department for the pur-
/ n ~ IN 20
or against bills. threatened to prefer
charges against any policeman who dis
I obeyed the order. and declared that
with civil service and the tenure OF
office law TO protect him the good po-
| liceman has nothing to fear. Only
| the shirker is in danger"
The policemen OF Newark supported
the candidacy OF Mayor Thomas l..
! Raymond last November and Mayor
| Raymond repaid the debt by appoint
| ing a police commission that favors
| the patrolmen. "a when the Jersey
City policemen were denied the privi-
/ le9e of coming 10 Trenton TO lobby
against the Hague bill, John J. Burke.
| president OF the Patrolmens Benevo.
| len Association OF Newark, and him
self patrolman, was sent down TO
manage the job.
For fourteen weeks Burke aided nv
agents OF other branches and political
/ leg slators OF both parties, succeeded
I in holding up the Hague bill. and there
/ never was chance OF passing Il II Il
[ could have been forced out ~ com
/ rnlttee. But Director Hague IL re-
/ sourceful.
| or the last day OF the session he
succeeded Ia amending a supplement Ia
I the commission government act increas-
| ing the salaries OF the members OF the
| new commission I'm Hohoken. While the
| patrolrens lobbyists were lighting the
| Hague bill the other Was slipped
| through and the Governor signed H.
TIE commission government law pro-
/ ..GcG that the executive. administra-
| tive and legislative powers, authority
and duties in such city shall be dis
! tributed into and among five depart
ments" Commissioner Hague merely
had the word judicial introduced af-
! ter administrative" The Jersey city
! commission did the rest by adopting a
| resolution authorizing Commissioner
! Hague to Try policemen and iirenen
/ against whom charges We're preferred
! and 10 pass sentence when the punish
rent did not exceed a fine OF more
| than siyt! DAYS pay
II any one thinks the Patrolmen' s
| benevolent Association intends 10 sub
! nit - this without another struggle
| he is mistaken. repeater Of the Ho-
! hoken-Hague amendment would have
been introduced ana maybe forced
| through the Legislature last Monday
! II the bars had been let down for any
| hing beyond correcting the blunder