National Republican., 1883-05-09
DYES DISCIPLINE.
1t is Not Thoroughly Approved by Those Dis
Clplined and Some 0thers
An ET-Confcdcrste in Training for Pro-
motion-Tho Major Interviewed.

general who is at the head Of our police de-
partment is In favor of 'honorably discharg-
ing so many of the members Of the police
force is because he was 'honorably discharged
himself from the United States army" said
gentleman we'll versed in police matters to
REPUBLICAN reporter yesterday on Fifteenth
street.
"Whcn did that occur2" said the reporter,
well, you know the army was top heavy
after the war--too many officers. SO to weed
out those who could best be spared congress
passed an act July 10, 1870, allowing some to
resign, others to apply for a discharge, and
others to 90 before the Hancock board for ex-
animation. Mr.. Dye, who was major In the
4th infantry at that time and had been n
colonel of volunteers by brevet, applied for
his discharge under provisions of the third
section of general orders issued by the War
department July 2, 1870, and was 'honorably
discharged Sept. 80, 1870, with one years
pay
get any pay?"
"The commissioners gave one man 500 and
two Others $50 each out Of the polcemen's
fund and did not give the others anything.
All of them are In want, with big families on
their hands, and it strikes me that II one was
entitled to any part of that fund; all of them
wore."
Did board sit upon the honorably dis
charged policemen %
YES. DIR. McKim, Capt. Vernon and
Lieut.. Gessford made up each mans record
from the back records of the police Office,
This record Is now in the office OF the COM
missioners, and is inaccessible. Hints and
rumors relative to II say that some of the
statements made against many of the honor
ably discharged men are simply outrageous.
n mr. mn
OF good physique and health, who is as vigor-
GUS in mind aud body rs any man Of his age
in the city. Bordering on imbecility' Is said
to be one of the false charges against him.
=" Look at Luskoy's case. He is charged by
Dr. McKim with having the chronic rheu-
matism, subject to heart disease, has the YER
tigo, liable to be attacked and suddenly die
at any moment, and yet he is young, hearty,
and vigorous, only ~ years Of ago, just about
the same age as Maj. Dye was when he ap-
piled for his discharge from the army twelve
years ago, and good deal more vigorous
looking. 1t is true he has attacks of rheu-
matism. Why not? He had been police.
man eighteen years, exposed to all sorts of
weather, and had faced death on more than
one occasion while in the discharge of his
duty.
Here's story about Luskey and another
officer which shows something about inside
influence at police headquarters Luskey
was detailed at tho Columbia buildings,
nice billet, where he would not be exposed to
the weather. A United States senator brings
influence enough to have a friend of his Ia
polioeman) who has the asthma too bad for
night duty, put in Luskeys place. The latter
goes to regular duty again and gets the rheu-
matism and an honorable discharge while
the man with the asthma remains on the force
and the same influence that keeps him there
puts his wife in government office also.
fHa1y tha 81 al o,at Ila to
honorably discharged for bad health upon the
say so of police surgeon, while another police
surgeon says there is not a healthier man on
the force at present Everybody knows about
Phil. Thompson, who is blind. And so
through the list IT Is contended that great in
justice has been done those men."
why don't tho commissioners do some
thing for them?"
Tho men are not able TO get hearing be-
fore Judge Edmonds, who appears TO be run
ming the machinery along with Mai. Dye, or
at least they can get no satisfaction. Have
you heard about the new appointment9" 2"
"No. Who is it2"
"Its another ex-confederato officer, although
that wouldn't be anything against him If he
was citizen. Cox, the chief Of detectives,
was citizen of kentucky when appointed,
where he has lived for many years. The new
man who is said to be in training for Capt. Ver-
mons place is Col Il. II, Cummins, who COM
manded a confederate battery of Mary
land artillersts during the war. He is
not a stranger here, resides in George.
town, and was highly recommended for in
spector of police" by Gen. p. g. T. Beaure-
gard, Gen. Joe Johnston, Gen. Longstreet,
Gen. Randall Gibson and other distinguished
confederate officers. Gen. Gibson speaks of
Cummins as one of the bravest and gallant
soldiers of the lost cause. He was appointed
two weeks ago as a private on the force, but
the fact of his appointment has been kept
dark and not even entered on the record
(which is open to public inspectionl for fear
the newspaper fellows would got it, He is
now in the Office with Maj. Dye, and just as
soon as Capt. Vernon is reduced to the ranks
OF 'honorably discharged Col. Cumipjns is
to step in as captain and Inspector"
"You appear to have everything down to
fine point relative to thesy matters" said the
reporter.
"Thats not all yet by jug full" said the
gentleman. wait few days and will give
you pointer about some of the newly ap-
pointed officers who have sworn falsely rela.
tive to their birth places and ages. In con-
olusion let me say that Dye, Cox, and Cum
minis are doing mighty well so far as getting
local offices is concerned. Two ofthem atleast
were not citizens Of the district in any sense
when appointed.
"Don't you think, major, that there may
have been some injustice done in the matter
of the recent discharges?" asked REPUB-
LIoAN reporter of Mai. Dye yesterday,
Possibly there may have been, but there
was no intention of doing injustice to. any
one. The men were all examined by the
physician aud the board, before 1 nladei any
recommendations. don't intend to. do in
justice to n man, but in SO many CASES there
may have been some one whose case was per-
haps not fully considered"
"Will any of the discharged mon be re-
stored?n -..,
81 have not considered that question yet"
"rhere has been good deal Of talk about
the appointments Of Messrs. Cox and Cum
Minis What were the considerations that in
duced their appointments
"Well, as TO Mr.. Cox, don't think his age
is any bar to his efficiency. He has been en-
ployed on special work, and you know no Is
an intelligent educated man, ono whom /
could send to cabinet minister, Unnecessary,
and feel that he would conduct himself as a
gentleman, He is not employed as police
man, and so has no claim TO retention beyond
the time when his services are valuable"
"How about Cumminsp '''
~ don't care to say anything about him
now"
"Do you think the discharged men win test
the matter in the cOurts2' 90,
81 don't know, but think notp
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