The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-30

Senator Jones OF Chenango
had had his way. New York city
already would nave as many
women on its police force as the
Board of Estimate would grant salaries
for. The Senator from Chenango in
troduced a bill in the last Legislature
providing for the appointment OF po-
licewomen. with the stipulation that
they can never gain superiority over
the male members of the force. thus
keeping them in the ranks for their
entire terms Of service. The bill was
defeated, out the question is expected
to come up again at the next session.
1t passed the Senate but failed in the
House.
The failure Of this bill was a repeti-
ton Of the result Of many previous
efforts to put New York into the class
of those cities that nave found thai.
many forms of police work can b.
done by women better than by men.
In April, 1913, a bill was introduced
in the Legislature authorizing the APP
pointment Of policewomen. If that
body had passed the bill and the Gov
ernor subsequently had signed 1t we
would have policewomen in New York
to-day. but it did not pass. even
though many prominent women Wis
tied Albany and put forth forcible
arguments in behalf of the measure.
These speakers included Miss Edith
Teiffert Of the Women's Democratic
Club; Mrs. Porter, Women's Prison
Association; DR.. Jane l.. Barry, Miss
Alice L. Woodbridge. Miss Farquhar
Of the women's Prison Association,
and Mrs. Hazen Of the House Of
Mercy. New York city. The speakers
asked the Assembly Cities Committee
to report favorably on the bill for the
appointment Of twenty or more
women to New York's police force,
pleading that women possess more
tact than men and were better than
men in persuading girls and young
women not to do wrong.
Not in the least discouraged by
previous disappointments, Assembly
man Elsner of New York introduced
a bill in January, 1914, for the appoint
ment Of policewomen. In his bill he
proposed an amendment to the Charter
requiring the Police Commissioner to
appoint women to the force to patrol
public parks, dance halls, amusement
places and also to do duty on the
streets at the same salary as that re-
ceived by policemen. His bill stipu-
lated that policewomen must he citi-
zens, not less than 8 feet s inches in
height and not less than 80 years and
not more than As years old.
Despite the efforts of the Assembly
man and the great amount Of pres
sure brought on the Assembly Cities
Committee by women interested
throughout the State. the bill was
voted down on the plea that under
the existing laws the city authorities
had the power to appoint as many
policewomen as they wished.
Acting on this privilege two cities
in this State already have police
women, and from all accounts they
have proved a good investment.
on June 81, 1913, Mrs. Joseph s.
Wood. a prominent woman in West
chester county, was appointed to the
police force Of Mount Vernon by Po-
lice Commissioner James d. Conner.
She was recommended to the COM
missioner by Mayor Edwin w. Fiske.
Her husband Is a prominent New York
n Mount Vernon lawyer. Mrs. Wood
was we'll known at the time of her
appointment, being a former New
York State Regent of the Daughters
OF the American Revolution. one OF
the organizers and chairman of the
civic section of the Westchester
Woman's Club. besides being connected
with various organizations looking
TOWARD the betterment Of Westchestel
county.
Although Mrs. Wood would not con.
sent to wear n uniform, the Police
Commissioner supplied her with a golt
badge with the understanding that sht
would wear 1t so hat it could b,
FLASHED quickly. Mrs. Wood was ais,