The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-06
BOARD CONTROL
OF POLICE HIT
IN SENATE QUIZ
Al Feeney Urges Chief Be
Made Responsible Only
to Governor.

10 Governor.
The inevitability Of liquor law
enforcement by the state police and
the dangers Of this type Of law be-
ing enforced By politically controlled
police, we're brought out last night
in a meeting Of Senate Judiciary B
Committee on the Schricker state
police bill.
Several committee members
pressed the opinion that whatever
liquor legislation is enacted at this
session Of the General Assembly
must be enforced by the state po-
ice.
Consequently. there was heated
discussion Of the 'nonpartisan or
bipartisan board" feature in the
bill. The author, Senator Henry z.
Schricker. Knox. Democratic caucus
chairman. said this was designed TO
remove all ves.ige OF political con-
troll from the state police.
The bill provides ample safe
guards against dismissal of enlisted
personnel for political reasons, but
does not protect the s~uperintend-
ent.
Feeney Only Witness
Even members of the four-man
nOnpartisan board would be remOv-
able only for cause, it was pointed
out by several Senators, but the SUI
perintendent would serve only at
the pleasure Of the Governor.
The committee heard only n
witness. Al q. Feeney. present state
safety director, in its open hearing
and then vent into executive SeS-
sion. with the committee apparent
" aligned four to two against the
board provision.
MI. Feeney read to the committee
kilograms from superintendent OF
every state police force. all Of whom
said that their departments were
directly under their control and that
they we're responsible only to their
Governors.
Abandoned by Connecticut
Connecticut had tried the board
system and had abandoned it as
Impractical. the telegram to Mr..
Feeney said.
Why fly in the face of the ex-
perience of the best state police de-
partments in the cOuntry2" asked
Mr.. Feeney. He pointed out that
these other departments have been
functiOning from II TO 80 years
without boards.
He further told the committee
that only half of the Schricker bill
has been copied from the model
state police bill issued by the Pub
lie Administration Service and that
the original bill contained strong
arguments against the establishment
Of a board.
Mr.. Feeney contended to the COM
mittee that the superintendent of
site police. regardless of who he
may be, should not be removable
except for cause and then only
after a public hearing.
Hays Opposes Board
Several members of the committee
deprecated the idea of setting up
a board.
L can't see the necessity of a
board" observed Senator Edward c.
HAYS ID. Msrion). Mr.. Feeney
has estimated that the S925.0O o ap-
preparation which the budget COM
mittee has approved for a two-year
fund will allow an increase in the
force 10 100 men.
If a superintendent can't handle
the force. get one that can. If you
set up a board. you've got four men
around. for what reason 1 don't
know"
Makes it nonpartisan," sug-
gested Senator Claude B. Mcbride
in an aside.
self Perpetuating" Feared
Senator Jacob Weiss. Indianapolis,
majority floor leader, pointed out
that such a suggestion as that made
by Mr.. Feeney would give the state
police superintendent a different
classification than other department
heads. who. under the 1888 Reorgan-
ration Act. serve only at the Gov
errors pleasure.
Senator Weiss declared he did
not mean by the observation that
he was either for or against the
board idea, but he thought it peril
nent. He also pointed out that 1t
was necessary TO enact legislation
to get rid otEe former state highway
commission Which had become a
"Self-perpetuating" unit.
This statement was made in ref
erence TO Mr.. Feeney's declaration
that a state police superintendent
must have the guaranty OF public
knowledge Of whatever may lay be-
hind a removal.
Bill Is Held Up
The bill was defended by Sena-
tor Schricker on the ground that
the bipartisan theory has worked
well in operation Of the State Ac-
counts Board.
Did you ever see a 'nonpartiSan'
board?" asked Mr.. Feeney.
We'll. maybe not in Indiana,
admitted Senator Schricker. laugh
ing.
The committee. with only Senator
Russell Handy ID. Shelbyville) alb
sent. decided TO hold up the bill I'M
III other legislation is submitted.
H.. lI--- NL~A