National Republican., 1878-07-04
THE LATE POLICE BOARD.

statement In Reply to Newspaper Charges.
In reply to the charges printed against the
late Board Of Police, the members of that body
have prepared the following statement:
1. Tho board did not spend 5000 In pur.
chase Of furniture, carpets, &c, at hcadquat-
ters What II did do Is this Upon the writ
ten requisition of the lieutenant In charge ap-
proved by tho captain aud inspector, aud re-
commended by the superintendent, two car.
pets were purchased, one for tho front room Of
the detectives Office and Que for the telegraph
Office, and two wardrobcs for the detectives
room. These are the only purchases Of furni-
turo At headquarters made by the board dur
ing its official tenure Of one and half years !;
and this purchase was delayed because the
sickness OF Lieutenant Vernon had prevented
his putting in his requisition at an earlier
date. The aggregate cost was about 800
.. The boarl has not taken one dollar from
tho policeman's fund, In violation Of their at
torney's opinion, nor In excess Of the strictcst
construction of law. The only money ever
paid by this board from that fund was $50 to
Private O'Ncil during his term Of disability,
as certified to by Police Surgeon Mckim. No
other application was made to the board for
relief from this fund, and no other money was
paid from II.
3. The resignation Of the secretary and his
appointment as property clerk was In effect
only transfer from one payroll TO another.
For many months Major Curtis has discharged
the duties of both Offices but drew only pay as
secretary. A doubt existed as to whether the
abolition of the board did not carry with It the
sccro,aryship, while that oilicer.would neccs.
sarily have for some days or weeks to continue
the performance Of duty. There was no doubt
rs TO continuance Of the property clerk. The
saarics of the two Offices were tho same--OnC
nau filled both, drawing but one pay and
until the new government expressed its wishes
by removal or continuance OF the present in.
cumbcnt the board protected his compensation
by vaCatng the salary of secretary and filling
the Office Of property clerk upon the agreed
condition that Major Curtis should continue to
perform the duties of both offices at but ono
salary until the new Commissioners otherwise
directed.
l. During the last years labor riots the War
Department loaned the board 2l0 rcvOlvers for
use of the force, upon condition of their being
returned in good condition when called for, OF
paid for at the rate of Si3 each. They were
placed in charge of the captain and inspector,
W. @. Brock, aud by him distributed through
the different stations. Recently the War De.
partment demanded return, and when the pis-
tolls were called In four were found missing
viz: the Superintendent and three undeliv.
cred by the captain. 1t was ascertaincd that
these had been stolen by one Roller, who had
bcCn appointed telegraph operator by former
the War Department out Of the regular police
appropriations. Ono other pistol was in a bad
condition, and rather than return it in that
shape the president Of the board, on the 26tl
of June, paid in the cash for the same out o
his own pocket, drawing his check therefor on
tho Bank of Washington, to tho order Of the
secretary of the board.
.. The board will bo glad to have the fullos,
Investigation Of its disbursements Vouchers
will be found on flo for every cent expended
In Its regular appropriation it will turn over
an uncxpcnded balance Of nearly - 900, much
of which was held back by the District until
the June payment, so as TO cover possible con
| tingencies for which the District Commission.
crs might be liable. That the Board of Police
returns this balance unexpcnded fully answers
any allegation of cXtravagaut expenditure iu
| its last moments.
When this board came into power the po
| liceman's fund consisted of $4,000 in bonds
about 5000 cash, and box OF clothing Of es
timutcd value ;, ,J67. That represented tn,
results of sixteen years. The board will turr
over TO its succeSsOrs $4,000 in bonds Owe
| II 400 in cash. aud clothing to amount of ab9u
| 800. In one year and half the fund hai
baCu increased about 1000.