The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-07
ROTTEN ASIT CAN BE"
Gen Smiths Opinion OF the Police Mutual
Aid AssoeIatIon.

The case that was tried at Police Headquar-
ters on Wednesday promises to lead 10 an in
vestigation Of the affairs Of the Police Mutual
Aid Association. and perhaps TO new deal in
the control Of that organization. Sergt W. H.
Lenerts Is President Of the association and
Onircr Aaron Butts is It's Secretary. An In
v-tlgatng committee and a treasurer and dele
gate from each precinet also have To do with
the management Of the association.
The case that came up ut Headquarters on
Wednesday was briefly. rs follows: Capt Rob
bins Of the Twenty-thrd Precinct called Oficer
Panet 10 account for reporting that he Rob
bins had conspired with Officer Green. an ex-
precinct treasurer, and the ON GERS nj the head
quarters 81 the association 10 conceal or de stroy
evidences OF irrcrularity on the part Of G reen
while he was treasurer oi the Twenty-third
Precinct. Panet insisted that he had told the
truth. and the examination resulted in the dis
missal Oh me charge mat he had Jeportrd
falsely. This leaves Capt Robbins in I'm unrn-
y,ahe position and further result Will proba-
Div Dee an examination Of tho methods Of keep
Ing the books and conducting the affairs OF tho
association, In view OF what hats already been
developed. Gen. Smith prOnounces the Organi-
cation rs rotten as IL can he.
Although several hundred thousand dollarN
have been received and a isbursatl nj tho Prnsi.
dent s ON go, only one hook-the Secretary's-
has boon kept there. This book Is presumed
H. contain the names of all the members OF tho
In point Of fact the book Is far from ncrurnte
hecause-the Secretary avcrs-the precinct
Treasures DO not report 10 him changes in the
precinct lists OF memberships. Tho President
has blanks On his desk. and when collections
are brought N from the precincts, the Treas
urers MI out the blank with their names and
the amounts Of their collections placed oppo-
site These sheets are his record Of the amounts
received, and the receipts Of the persons to
whom sums are pnld are his record Of the
amounts paid out There is no way Of telling
whether prerinct Treasurer discharges his
duties honestly or not Complaints are made
that in some cases members who have made
payments have not been credited with them:
that ineligible persons have been placed on the
rolls thHt the families Of deceased members
have been compelled 10 wait unnecessarily for
their dues thai President Lelerts has prontcd
name ui funds ~ the so'iutl0n; and that he
has ihiled IN call To- account dishonest preclnr
Irrusurors. vino. in turn, have ncknOwledged
the favor hy repeatedly elocting him President
sergeant L"ncrts declares that all charges Of
wrong conduct on his part are false; that his
system nl Keeping accounts rs sufficient for the
purpose; ana that the precinct TreHsurers are
by the terms oi the bylaws. responsible 10 their
precincts only.
During No examination on "Wednesday. In.
hp"ri1r Dllks was Present and prompted Gen.
Sulth IN questions regarding the management
1i ihe Hsso'lRtion. lie sad last evening that
\" hadn't minute 10 devote 10 telling what he
knew or suspected concerning the manage
mrut. ami referred the reporter 10 a man who
he said. knew more about It than he did. The
person referred to said that IL the reporter had
looked INTO the manner Of keeping accounts. he
TN" reporter knew more about II than he did.
II Is probable mat the revelation Of lOOscnrss
IN the manner Oi Keeping accounts Will lead 10
an Investigation Another organization. called
the Municipal Police Aid Aesocintlon has bran
created with superintendent NHlng Hs its
President which admits persons not eligible to
membership ~ the old association, and aims to
have It's Affairs conducted on a plan that shall
auord less opportunities Tor irregular or fraud
ulent practices.