New Britain herald., 1917-06-28
STAR CHAMBER IS
 AGAIN OPENED UP
Police Board Sessions '' l Are to Bs
 Closed to Public

v
 The board of police commissioners. at it's initia1 meeting last night. orr ganixed with Patrick. F. King. demo- crat. as chairman and Joseph Mo Grail as clerk and at the same time, at the solicitation of Mayor Quigley who was present and gave his conn missioners their first lesson in 'cov- ering up," introduced new and decidedly odious regime of 'the public be damned for he advocated ''star chamber sessions and recommended that instead of having the police board sessions open to the press . censorship be instituted and the news papers be given only what the com nissioners see fit. It is this system of secret sessions that is going to prove distasteful to the public which feels that 1t is entitled to know Just what it's servants are doing.
 The commission, composed of Pat rick F. King. Stephen Robb, Virgil M. Palmer and Howard M. Steele, met in the mayors office behind closed doors at o'clock with newspaper men. eT- cluded. Mayor Quigley lost no time in assuming the role of dictator and telling his new Heutenants just what was to be expected of them. and after holding up to their startled gaze the horrors of advers4 newspaper pub licity concluded by having them pass an edict to have all sessions of the board of the "star chamber" variety. Heretofore~the press has been ad- mitted to the regular meetings of the safety board. but according to tho now order of things, copied possibly from the attempted press censorship of the administration, the reporters will be excluded from all subsequent meetings. The plan, distasteful, as 1t will be to the public which desires first hand information. is for the clerk of the board to prepare . statement including the bare facts of all that transpires. It is this statement that is to be given the press for the satis- faction of its readers. If the press objects to this censorship and does not like what is given 1t under tho mama of news 1t can get along with out it.
 In presenting his arguments in favor of having 'star chamber" ses- isions and . strict censorship of the doings of the police commission Mayor Quigley stated that there are many things coming up before the board concerning which only the members should know. "I believe that in view of the conditions of the time police commissioners and the chief of police are the only persons who should have knowledge of certain matters. There are matters that even the clerk should not know" the mayor said. but he did not mention the fact that possible errors of the commission as well as possible internal squabbles and per- sonal opinions of tho members would also be hidden from an innocent and unsuspecting public at the same time. Mayor Quigley was asked why tho same "gag rule'' should not apply to tho common council as we'll as tho police board, since both organiEa- tons are, or should be. of and for the people, He said that conditions of these two executive bodies are differ ent, although there are times when he would favor shutting tho doors of the council chamber. "I will com municate matters to this board and there will be. matters that tho dis trict attorney and other officials will communicate that should not be known outside the board. We have had trouble enough recently through newspaper publicity" his honor said. In this connection he did not deny he was referring to departmental troubles. As further argument in favor of strict secrecy in carrying on the public's business, the mayor al- legged that because of publicity com. missioners have been afraid to dis cuss matters freely In open meetings because reporters were there to quoto them. He cited instances whore po- licemen and firemen have been brought before the board for various offenses and because the testimony was published the men were subject ed to much public discomfrt. Tho mayor said nothing abbut recom- mending to the police court judge that court cases be tried in private because publicity given them might be unpleasant for the accused. The mayor said that favors having tho press excluded and forcing reporters to be content with taking a bulletin from the clerk in which the discus sions are omitted and only the de- cisions are given. He said this will make better feelings on all sides.
 The board adjourned at 10 o'clock subject to the call of the chairman.
 OLD TIME WRESTLER DIES. Dov<ao~A Y,.-~ Y~>