New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-07
New Police Head
To Be Named Soon;
Gehring in Race
Publisher Of "Hotel Re-
view" Endorsed by
w. r. Hearst

Mayor-elect Hylan is about ready to
announce the name Of the man whom
he will appoint Police Commissioner,
according to report yesterday at
Hylan Headquarters, 80 East Forty
second Street. Judge Hylan declined
to discuss the matter. The necessity
for announcing this appointment in ad-
vance of others has arisen, it is under
stood. because of the desire of the new
Mayor 70 formulate definite police
Policy before taking Office on January l.
The Mayor-elect wants TO get down
to business" with his new Police Com
missioner, it was said, and prefers to
discuss matters with him "in the open"
without leaving the appointment a
matter of speculation much longer.
Judge Hyan has devoted much time to
the discussion of police affairs during
the last few days, and has issued sew
eral public statements in regard to GER
tain policies he intends to pursue IN
that department.
Several names have been mentioned
as possibilities for the place ny
nrocess of elimination Douglas l. NC
kav. who was Commissioner Tor several
months before Mayor Mitchell appoint
ed Arthur Woods, has recently APP
neared TO be the fayorlte. Judge hylan
also has had under consideration the
appointment of Commissioner from
among the inspectors on the force. Inc
name of Charles +. Gehring, former
Denutv County Clerk, was submitted TO
Judge Hylan Yesterday by delegation
headed by Judge James A. Allen, OF the
City Court. ~ -.
Judge Allen presented letter from
" r. Hearst indorsing Mr.. Gehrlng
fo. the place. A petition inc. udlng the
names of many prominent hoteI ana
restaurant proprietors was LETT WIN
the new Mayor. Mr.. Gehring Is head
Of the Gehring Publishing Company
which nublishes THE Hotel Review
Inc MAYO. elect issued statement
Yesterday criticising the present merit
system in the Police Department anG
promising TO make certain reforms III
that direction.
an nv administration, so far as
the Police Department Is concerned,
no said. 81 want to have the goodwill
of the people, as well as of the mem
hers of the uniformed force, and
do not think that much goodwill car
he obtained by maintaining the sys-
tenn of merits now in vogue IN the
department.
System Clogs Courts
"TJnder the system a policeman re-
ceives two credits for every case of
misdemeanor held for Special Sessions
ard four credits for every case in
which an indictment for a felony IS
returned. The tendency under such
a plap, naturally, is TO make a felony
charge where the offence could be
properly considered q misdemeanor.
Under this system our courts have
become clogged with many unneces-
sary cases. throwing an extra burden
on the taxpayers for additional judges
and probation officers and delaying the
administration Of justice.
THE basic error. in my opinion, lies
in giving the police an incentive to
make unnecessary arrests. Some sys-
TEN should be found Of awarding a
policeman for preserving the peace.
and il he performs really merl-
torious act, such as catching a dan
gerous criminal red-handed, Of then
giving him proper credit for that. The
real test of the efficiency of the police
force should be in keeping crime at
such a minimum that large number
of arrests is unnecessary"