New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-01
A NON-PARTISAN POLICE BOARD.
VIEWS OF CONTROLLER KELLY.

VIEWS OF CONTROLLER KELLY.
HR DECLARES THAT HE IS NOT IN Favor OF a
PARTISAN BOARD, AND NEVER HAS BEEN-wHAr
HE THINKS WOULD DE THE RESULT OF ANTI
TAMMANY SUCCESS.
A reporter of The TRIBUNE yesterday called upon
Controller Kelly in order to ascertain his views re-
garding non partisan Police Board.
"Mr Kelly" said the reporter, |" / have been d.
rected to ascertain If you are willing 10 stale your
views-whether you are in favor OF partisan Ponce
Boardin
Il am not in favor of partisan Board, said Mr..
Kelly, Z" and never have been. The Police Commits
soners should be selected for their known ability.
character and efficiency, and they should under
stand that they should confne themselves to the
duties appertanng TO those offices, and manage the
department in the interest Of the city. They should
be unnfluenced by politicians of either party in the
DISCHARGE of their duties The Board has charge,
might say, of the lives of our people and the
protection of their property and consequently the
members of that Board ought TO keep themselves
entirely aoof from the machinery OF political or
CARNATIONS to which they owe political afiinity'
The Board has also charge Of our elections, and
partisan Board might be persuaded TO do what 1t
should not do IN exciting political canvasses. Ii
the Board is equally divided and of opposite politics.
there can be nothing done that will injure either
party because each side VIII watch the other and
see that nothing wrong or improper takes place."
If the present combination should succeed IN
clecting Mr.. Cooper whom do y0n suppose nc womb
appoint TO the Police Board "
"Ie probably would appoint two of his own and
Mr. Tiden's friends, who would do every
thing they could to strengthen the latter
gcntleman's political aspirations. l haven't
the least doubt that two of the men con-
nected with the present Anti-Tammany organiza-
ton would be appointed 10 fill these places. and
they would under all circumstances obey orders.
Certainly if you judge from the character of the
leaders of these Ant-Tammany organizations it Is
not probable that you would have good Police Com
mssoners."
"Well, then, understand you TO be OF the opin-
ion that the success Of this AntiTammany combine
ton would greatly advance ;he interests Of Mr.
Tildcnp
"Ihaven't the least doubt of it, and besides it
would be very unfortunate thing for the city, IN
NV opinion, if such combination should succeed.
Many Of the gentlemen connected with TINS Anti
Tammany movement have held offices before ana
have not left very creditable records behind them
and in my opinion, there would be no Improvement
if they came into power again. upon their past OFF,
cial lives"
alt has been stated In some OF the papers that
probably John Fox would be appointed as a Police
Commissioner and that in case OBricn should not
succeed in his against Potter no would also be
a candidate for the same Office y
well, know nothing about that except that
there were three distinct Anti-Tammany organiza-
tons two of them decidedly opposed to Slr Cooper
during the whole OF this year and MS you know, tncy
recently combined as the story goes. Cooper has
pledged himself to Divide the patronage ednaly
between them. Such combinations az these don't
result in the interest of the people, and 1t would be
very unfortunate thing " such men should obtain
power and place under our city Government"
There il another rumor that II Nr. Cooper
should be elected he intends TO appoint Andrew H.
Green as your successorP
81 know nothing abont that Green is warm
probably he expects to be -eturned again to the
Controllers office. At any rate he does very little
for any one unless influenced by selfish motive"