New-York tribune., 1918-01-29
Measure Introduced at AL
bany Is Based on Nations
Wartime Needs
Aimed at Tammany
Governor Could Appoint Po-
lice Commissioner to Serve
Until Conflicts End
[.StnF Correspondence

ALBANY, Jan. 28-A war emergency
bill. putting the control Of the New
York Police Department in the hands
of Governor Whitman, was introduced
i'll the Legislature tonight by Assem-
blyman Schuyler M. Meyer, OF New
York.
The introducer Of the bill frankly
declared that its main purpose was to
take the control of the Police Depart
mcnt Of New York City away from
Mayor uylan and Tammany Hall for
the duration of the war
Assemblyman Meyer refused to say
who was behind the measure beyond
stating that prominent New York citi-
zens interested in curbing the .activi-
ties Of German spies and incendiaries
were among its hackers.
Wide Power to Governor
The measure enables the Governor
summarly to remove the Police Com.
missioner Of New York City if he be.
licves that public safety and necessity
require it. The appointive power is
placed in the hands Of the Governor.
The law at present provides that the
Police Commissioner may be removed
by the Governor only after he has
been found guilty Of charges preferred
against him for offences committed
while in office.
1t is known that Governor Whitman
considers the appointment Of the head
of the Police Licutcnants' Association
as Commissioner Il grievous error. He
has made no effort to conceal his real
feelings on the subject. And the belief
here is that the Governor would remove
Commissioner Enright at i moments
notice if he had the power.
The Meyer bill gives him that power
and continues the control Of the Gov.
crnor over the New York City Police
Department during The war and for
three months thereafter.
"My bill" said Assemblyman Meyer
tonight. "aims to protect not only the
people of the City OF New York but of
the nation. It is known that Commits
sioner Woods built UP a wonderful spy
hunting organization.
"And I believe, along with other citi-
Zens, that there is danger of this work
being undone by Tammany Hall. The
bill takes the control of the Police De
partment out of the hands of Mayor
Uylan."
Text of the Measure
The bill amends the executive law
by adding the following section, to be
known as Section IL:
whenever q state of war exists be-
tween the United States and a foreign
country the Governor may, when in
his judgment public safety and neces-
sity requires such action, remove forth
with the Police Commissioner of any
city Of more than l.000,0 600 inhabitants
and appoint in his place such person as
he may deem wise, any provision OF
any charter OF such city to the con-
trary notwithstanding.
The commissioner appointed by the
Governor, upon taking the oath of Of
flee, shall receive the compensation
and have all the powers and duties
provided by the charter of such city
or ordinances thereof. lie shall
have such other duties as the Gov
ernor may prescribe. He shall hold of
flee for the period of the war and
three months thereafter. Upon the
expiration of the term therein provid-
ed a now commissioner shall be ap-
pointed as provided in the charter of
any such city. Nothing herein con-
tanned shall limit the power Of the
Governor to remove the police com
missioner Of any city as now provided
by law"