Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-07-24
FAvOR|T|SM IN
POLICE SHIFTS,
SAYS B|GELOW
Commissioner Attacks Methods
of Board and Demands
Reform.
RAPS PRESENT PRACTICE;
WANTS MERIT TO PREVAIL
Also in Clash With Other Com
missioners Over Plan to Re-
instate Officer.

An insight into the wholesale shift
among incumbents of soft" jobs in
the police department was given by
Commissioner Frederick Bigelow.
chairman of the committee on traffic
sauad, in a report submitted at a
meeting of the Board of Police Com
missioners yesterday afternoon. Mr..
Bigelow's views, while not altogether
original caused considerable sur
missioners.
The traffic squad is efficient, in
spite of the distinctly evil practice
or filling vacancies for personal
reasons. Mr.. Bigelow said in his re-
port. II cannot place too much en-
phasis on the need for reform In
making assignments within the de-
partment. The Board of Police Com
missioners has announced that it
will make all appointments for special
details upon merit basis. The sue
eessful accomplishment of this de-
sire can be achieved only by a sys-
tematic examination of applicants
and / strongly recommend that these
examinations be conducted and held
in our training school,"
When Commissioner Bigelow pre-.
sented the report he suggested that Il
| be referred to the executive session
at which the commissioners transac
nearly all of their business HI
stated that the report would be avail.
| able to reporters after the meeting
| Secretary James J. Kearney gave Out
the report after the commissioners
| left. He said It had been placed on
! file.
Since the present commissioners
took Office they have redistributed
many of the mounted motorcycle
traffic and other details. These were
taken from their incumbents, many
of whom had held them for years and
given to men of the boards own
choosing During the reign of Cap
tain Martin Fl. Ray. late instructor OF
the police school at $100 q week, the
commissioners announced that all ap-
pointments to these positions would
be made on merit basis.
Report Acts Like Bomb.
Although statements similar to
those of Mr.. Bigelow's have been
made frequently since the commits
sioners took office, the report occa :
stoned much surprise. Mr.. Bigelow
it lis believed, is now at variance with
the other commissioners on the con-
duct of police matters. Further evil
dence of this was given in a motion
made at the meeting yesterday by
Commissioner John L. Reid.
Wants More Motorcycle Police.
In his report Commissioner Bige-
| low concurred in the recommendation
of Chief Long that additions be made
to the motorcycle squad. and advises
that no decrease be made in the
mounted squad. The men in both
SQUADS are needed for regulation Of
traffic, he says.
He recommends that all of the
mounted men be placed under sole
command of Lieutenant James Nc
Rell with the exception of ten men,
who are to be allotted to the various
precincts Mr.. Bigelow suggests that
evening classes for traffic men be
| esta ablished in the training school.
The latter moved that William A.
Baker. dismissed from the police force
| August 2S, 1906 after trial on charges
| of an unjustified assault, be rein
stated. President Frederick Breiden-
bach seconded the motion. Mr.. Bge-
low Immediately protested against the
summary proceeding, declaring that
the present board has never held any
hearing on the matter and that he Is
unfamiliar with the facts in the case.
at is the regular course for such
matters to be decided upon after
something in the nature of a hearing
before the board Mr.. Bigelow said.
Notwithstanding the fact that Mr..
Bigelow apparently heard of the move
to reinstate Baker for the first time,
President Breidenbach seemed dis
posed to rush the matter through at
Yesterdays meeting. "Mr. Reid's sug-
gestion is in the nature of a motion, 4"
he said. land Commissioner Bigelow
may vote against ii if he likes"
1t was finally decided, however after
further suggestions By Commissioner
John II. Donnelly and President
Breidenbach to refer the matter to a
special committee for a report. The
president named Commissioners Reid
and Donnelly as a committee to re-
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