New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-28
TIE MINORITY NOW ON A LEVEL.

| Commissioner Russell was called upon by a
reporter Of TIE TRIBUNE and questioned az tie
lnuance Of the deadlock In the Board 10 replied that
neither his colleague. Gen. Duryce. himself would
vote for the measures proposed by Commissioners Char
lick and Gardner until their rights in the Board
recognized. From the beginning choir rights had been
studously and persisteny ignored and in some cases
The acts OF Gen Duryee and himself had been misrepre
scnted. When the Board o. Police organized
the following committees were chosen
On Station houses Com missOnerS Gardner. Chsrllck
and Russell On Finance and Auditing, Commissioners
Russell Duryee. On STRENGTHENING. Commission.
Chsrliok Gardner, and Duryee. On Rules aud Dis
cipne Commissioners Duryee and Russell.
President Smith, bv virtue OF his position. er-
oheioa member OF all committees Almost from the
beginning Commissioner Duryee and himself were ig-
norcd. Gradually also IL became apparent thst q com
binaton had been formed by the ether Commissioners
This was at first betrayed by their unanmity in voting
for all proposed by OF the three and after
ward by eqnal unanmity IN voting down any measure
proposed by himself bs colleague At the outset II
was that each Commit ssioner to take his
turn in the trial OF policemen, but az all now In
tho Board and untred except Mr. smith, II agreed
upon that he should conduct the trial, for the fist
month. Commissioner Gardner succeeded Mr.. smith.
The speaker held trial for ono week. aud then alb
sent for time on vacation. When he returned DO
found that had passed resolution empo ong
the conduct ithe trials OF policemen for
breach OF discipline neglect OF duty AMI TO Damo the
Commissioner who should assist him. The trials were
conducted subsequently 10y Commissioners Smith and
Gardner. This was an especial indigny offered to
himself and his colleague because they formed tho
Committee on EIles and Discipline lie himself was
member OF the Committee on StatiOn-hOuses. Commis-
siOners Chsrliok and Gardner met whenever they
pleased and transacted whatever business they chose.
without consulting him, aud when he protested against
mi, proceeding ne was insutugly informed by Com
m
after him." lie asked one occasion 70 meet win
the Committee and he attended tho meeting. Commits
soucr Chrick declared that Commits iOner Durt GO had
without authority roD the Board ordered The establish
,.ent Of teegraphic communication between his
residence and Police Headquarters, and that
department had thus been sdb 'ctcd TO m expense
OF over 500 was asked to certify 10 this state Of
facts. that 1t might he laid before the Board He re-
fused do without giving Commissioner p1tyee an
opportunity to Offer bis defense Tho employee, IN the
lelcrraph department were called up ana stated that
tomniss Oner Duryoe had ordered them to establish
teIegrapnic communicate ion between his hohse and Po
lice HEADQUARTERS. Commissioner Duryee's exp anatiOn
was mat tue superintendent of the Police telegraph hal
suggested that IL should be done, and bccyug That
would be OF use 20 him. and the department very
! little. be had given orders. Commissioner Dnryee
was dc gusted. that he ordered the teiegrapLii nsr
! ncnt be rrmOVed from lris r,'ilence ana
pald tho whole expense himself Tne charge was 81 i5
instead of 500. aS alleged 10y 'onmssionor Chares
The Latter had Jumped together number or hlls Tor
stationhonse supplies aud stated thaI ie gea.er part
OF the cNpciise wss due 10 pairing commissioned our
| yer's residence in Geographic communication with
Police oadq uarep Tne auditing Of bits was another
illustration. lie and his colleague constituted the Audi
ing COMMITTEE" and all bills ought 10 have been referred
tn
t,tng DIRT aud garbage used for Milling ~ the
lands OF Commissioner ChdrliCs and the Long Island
, Railroad Company. The Board of Health Of
| Long Island Ci'y had objected to any further
dumping there detrimental TO the health Of tho IN
habtauts unless di.iufectlnts used His colleague
ana himself did not think that IL proper charge
and they refused TO audit these bills All bills
audited 10y the fu Board, when. OF course.
the nation could authorize the payment OF any
bill pleasure Tue Auditing Committee will now de-
nand that all bills shall take the proper course And be
passed upon by the Auditing Committee. Commissioner
tharlick WAS eudeayOT1Dg 10 make n appear that Com
missioner Duryce and hmsclf were preventing people
from beng paid their just dues BY refusing To unite ia
! auditing the bills IAcy merely Insisting upon
their rights wbc had ignored for several months
! hy the majority OF the Board. lie
| for any combination IN the Board. There
should he none. lie trusted and believed that the Mayor
would nominate for the vacancy, straightforward
! right man. whom the entire community wonld
nave confidence. such ne would vote Tor with
pleasure for President, and he believed Commissioner
Dnryee would do the lie believed also that the
se,slous OF tne Board OF Police should BE- open. When
ever matters that needed a. be kept secret for
time such as the report OF The working up OF case by
detectives Board conld bsyei executive session
with closed doors TheIe Investigation now be-
INK held by Legislative Committee on Inc workings OF
! me Deparmcnf He trusted IL would DO thorough. II
everything all right harm had been done by the
investigation. IL there Was anything wrong II should
J be brought To nght.