The Commission and Murder Inc.

With the elimination of the power of the old line Mafia Dons, Luciano put into effect his plans for an organization based on corporation models of business. Meeting privately with heads of various crime organizations he assured them that the wars were over and that cooperation between crime groups needed to be the order of the day. A board of directors would replace old traditions that had stood in the way of such cooperation. Their goal would be to end senseless competition and utilize consent, consensus, and joint cooperation to expand a national crime organization.

The specific details for the organization were explained to the major crime bosses. At the national level a commission would be created that provided permanent membership for the six most powerful and largest crime families. Four of the families would come from New York, and the other two would come from Buffalo and Detroit. If other families needed to meet with the commission it could receive ad hoc representation to deal with specific areas of interest. The commission would serve as an arbitrator in dealing with territories, making decisions related to disputes, and setting policies.

Some of the old traditions that could be adapted to fit in with this new organization were allowed to continue. Luciano still wanted to utilize the power that had been created by the original Mafia Families and was willing to make these concessions to maintain their support. The vow of "Omerta," continued silence in all areas related to the organization, would continue to be practiced to maintain levels of loyalty for the organization. Those that violated this vow would continue to suffer the same fate that had existed for centuries - death. It would be Italians that would sit on the commission although the ad hoc membership would allow non-Italian voices to be heard. The traditional membership oaths and rites could be maintained to allow for a bridge from the old family organizations to the new commission structure. A major difference, however, was in the organizational pattern that now placed the policies and practices of the commission above allegiance to an individual boss. Limits would be placed on the numbers of new members so that each family would not have to fear that any rival groups would outgun them. Specific levels of membership were set and membership books closed and only reopened at the direction of the commission. Families would be permitted to deal with "associates," "part-timers," and various alliances, but not grant actual membership with out permission from the commission.

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