The New York herald., 1879-12-16
R8tring from the Twsnly- Ninth Precinct to Be-
come Superintendent Of Street Cleaning
What the Commissioners and the
Captain Say About 1t.
Mr. Wheeler Pronounces It Promotion
Rather than a Degradation.
NOW FOR CLEAN STREETS OR OTHERWISE

At n secret session of the Police Board yesterday
Captain Alexander s. Williams. OF the Twenty ninth
precinct was removed from his command of the
Twenty min tn precinct and appointed Superintendent
OF the Street Cleaning Bureau, in place OF Captain
uodaen This announcement at first received with
incredulity by Captain Williams political and oicis
backers, but when confirmation came from the Com
missioners themselves every conceivable expana-
ton was forthcoming to make it appear that
the change was altogether a desirable one.
aud very much to the advantage OF Cap
tain Williams. Messrs. Wheeler and French.
the republican Commissioners. who have previously
resisted every effort looking to the removal of Cap
tain Williams from the command OF the Twenty
ninth precinct to subordinate command. sgnih-
cantly limited that the Street Cleaning Bureau was
in going the dogs. and that as last resort 1t
became necessary appoint Captain Williams COM
mander of the mud scow brigade.
ANOTHER THE CASE.
This view of the case is. however, variance with
, the sentiments expressed by Messrs. French and
Wheeler, when ex-CommiAsioner Morrison, backed
by Mr.. MacLean. made vigorous effort to have
Captain Williams relieved from the command Of
the Twenty-ninth precinct and assigned to the
position in tho Street Cleaning Bureau to
which he was detailed yesterday. Mr.. Morrison
then urged his reasons for making
the motion looking to the transfer that
the condition Of the Twenty ninth precinct was o
disgrace to the police force of the city, While the
precinct possessed all the advantages Of wealth.
finement and social standing it still overrun by
class of people who should not be tolerated in .
civilized community. 1t was. he maintained. the
headquarters of gamblers and disreputabls char.
acters all Sorts who carried their evil pursuits
openly and without interference from the police.
This public scandal was, he said, encouraged and
protected by Captain Williams and his ofciai subor
dinates, and reflected upon the members OF the
Board. who charged with upholding the Cap
tain and encouraging him in his protection of well
known criminals, who place at defiance the ordi
nances of the department and the statutes OF the
State framed and designed for the suppression OF
such class of persons. The want of success in the
suppression of this vicious element in the precinct
was, he alleged good and sufficient for
a change. Whenever. he said. disorderly
house had to be raded gambling
hell suppressed the officers OF the Society
for the Prevention of Crime generally assumed
the responsibility Of tho arrests. In few cases
Commissioner Smith, without the knowledge OF
Captain Williams, had made descent with corps
of detectives on gambling saloons. arrested the pro-
prietors and carried off the machinery which be-
longed the trade II for nothing else. Mr.. Morri
son urged, than the scandal which Captain Williams
stoned to the public his transfer another precinct
was q necessity and duty which should not be
avoided Commissioner MacLean gave utterance to
similar opinions, and seconded Mr.. Morrisons en-
deavors for the Captains removal.
FIArTERING OPINIONS.
Messrs French and Wheeler vigorously combated
these arguments. They maintained that the re-
moval of Captain williums was sought political
grounds. They represented him as indispensable to
The position which he held. He decidedly the
best man to command the Twenty ninth precinct
1t would be the detriment OF the service and the
precinct if he We're removed. They would not
degrade Captain Williams on mere hearsay
evidence in Difference to public clafnor.
Whapf fhe inc in he case o. nan
Smith, who had been clubbed at Madison square.
had fallen through. and when Captain Williams was
acquitted of the charge of clubbing the young man
Smith both in the Court OF General Sessions anu in
tho Police Board. his official hackers were
tall yesterday therefore a genuine
prise. and variousy commented on
among policemen and in political circles. One
offciai at Police Headquarters remarked, while
desiring his name to be suppressed. that the Com
isms their shoulders He was continually keep
ing them aud himself in hot water. Nor is that
all said this official. "a secret investigation was
recently started in the Twenty-ninth precinct.
which. /: continued would perhaps lead to sensa-
tioual and unpleasant developments. Captain Will
Jams had ssrong pull in the Board and he knew it
would require all extraordinary effort depose him.
Perhaps you not that DR.. Crosby has taken
active his removal. 1t is safe to say
that that be attributed, than to any
thing else, the action OF the Board yesterday. DR..
Crosby, hacked up by the Society OF the Prevention
of Crime had made up his mind that Williams must
80. Mr.. Whitney, DR.. Crosby's colleague, had also
come to the same conclusion Both these gentlemen
had exhausted their energies with the Police Board
to have the Captain removed, but. hnding that the
republican Commissioners were not to be In
tuenced, they went to work in more practical
manner. part of their programne was to hold q
mass meeting to denounce Williams aud the Police
Commissioners who retained him in power. This
Indignation meeting to take place next week. and
number OF well known citizens to address the
assemblage. DIR. Crosby II Is alleged. was to arraign
wilkins and his political and official hackers and to
show cause for his removal. The action OF the
Board yesterday was for the purpose Of spiking Dr.
Crosby's oratorca guns. You can believe me that
this explains the true inwardness OF the Boards
proceedings"
Commissioner MacLean seen aftor the Board
had adjourned. lie said that the removal of Captain
Williams had been in contemplation for long time
The condition of the precinct required change.
Public opinion seemed to be opposed to Captain
Williams and there were also other onsiderations
when Justified the action OF the Board IN causing
his transfer to the Street Cleaning Bureau Mr..
MscI,ean thought the Captain would be AN efficient
officer In his new sphere of usefulness
Commissioners Wheeler and French were spoken
TO by HERALD reporter as they were about leaving
said he would like be informed upon what grounds
the Board had deposcd Captain Williams from com
mand OF the Twenty uinth precinct and degraded him
to the command OF the mud scow brigade.
"Hs transfer, sir" sad Mr.. Wheeler solemnly,
ais more OF promotion than degradation"
"He rs just the nan for the place" said Mr.
French, seriously. 'He would never hav been sent
there II he Regarded the change us hardship On the
contrary. he has been perfectly willing to be placed
IN charge of his new command. The place requires
just such man-one who will attend to his business
faithfully aud onergetically."
.His removal. them is not to be attributed 10 any
recent legal proceedings. and is to be regarded
the light OF reprmand for any official SIDE mean
ors?' quoricd the reporter.
mot ut all; quite the contrary assure you, said
Mr.. wheeler, cheerlully. ''His removal has been
under consideration for quite while He desired
the change himself. aud II he had not he would
never have been removed Please say that his trans
degradation. but. on the contrary liz in the
line of promotion"
'It is just this" said Mr.. French. encouragngly,
''thc Street Cleaning bureau required the
an intelligent active official like Captain Williams.
There has been desire to punish or humiliate
IA lta
faction at the change he would not be interfcred
wsth. lie looks upon his removal as we do--more
in the light OF compliment than otherwise. We
regard MIN good aud faithful officer. Just say
that and nothing more"
That's the way TO put It," said Mr.. wheeler. APP
frovingiy. captain Williams is all right He has
linseir desired the transfer. aud without his APP