New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-03
COLLECTING MoNET From TIE POLICE.

THE CAPTAINS INDIGNANT-WHAT THE COMMIs-
sIONEKs sAY-JUDGE RUSsELL'S POSITION.
The police captains were indignant yesterday
because of the publication OF the fact that members
OF the force had been asked to contribute money for
counsel fees Some OF the captains denied all
knowledge of the general collection which had been
taken up. Tut they showed plainly by their anger,
ana by threatening to refuse all kinds of inlorma-
ton to reporters who persisted in prying into police
secrets, that their ignorance was feigned. Other
captains curly refused to talk Oh the subject 1t
was evident that there had been an agreement
among the captains to keep the collection OF counsel
fees a close secret One captain tactlN admitted as
much hut when pressed Tor iurther Information lie
became exceedingly wrathiul, aud exclaimed:
how choose to spend my money!
Many patrolmcn appeared TO be AFRAID TO talk
about the contributions 70 the counsel fees fund,
while some sergeants of the force appeared to share
in the anger of their superior officers. IL was asceI-
tanned that the amounts collected on Thursday
varied in some of the prec nets according to the sng-
geStIOns' of the captains While the contrlbu-
tons were alleged TO he voluntary the patroIinen
We're afraid to refuse to pay. TIE total sum col
lectcd has been estimated at about $4,000, but II
impossible to get Trustworthy information on
Police commissioners French and Nichols said
that they had no information about the collection
of money by the captains Oh Thursday, but they
spoke free in regard to the employment OF cOun-
sell Both had learned that the captains EN-
the Police Pension BILL and it was understood that
lawyers were sent to Albany by the captains to
watch the bill in its passage through the Legisa-
ture. EX-Judge Russell. the Commissioners sad,
was retained by the inspectors and captains to rep
resent the Police Department before the Assembly
Investigating Committee. he engagement OF Mr..
Russell was brought about without consultation
with the Commissioners. and nothing had been said
to either of the Commissioners concerning the pay
ment of the lawyer for his services. Under the
rules the members of the force have the privilege to
employ counsel without the consent OF the Board
of Police Mcssrs. French aud Nichols thought that
if the captains were collecting money from the
force the money TO be nsed partly to pay the
counsel who drafted the Pension bill. and partly to
pay for the services of cX-Judge Russell. There
could be no objection on the part OF the Commits
siOneTs to such action, provided that no cOmpuSlon
was used by captains IN obtaining contributions
from patrolmen. Mr.. French and Alr. Nichols said
they did not believe that any money had been used
or promised by the captains to purchase votes Tor
the Pension bill in the Legislature. II corrupt m
ucnces had been eNertcd, the secret probably
would be kept from the Commissioners. Mr.
French sad that Mr. RoOseyclts committee at the
Metropolitan Hotel could deal with such matter
more effectively than the Board of Police could
Mr. Roosevelt Said in the afternoon that the con-
Injttce nrohahlv would investigate the subject
EN-Jndgs Russell said that the first ntlmation ne
had money being collected from police OihCels 10
pay for counsel fees. etc., in connection with the
police matters before the Legislature and the In
cstigatng Committee, was from reading IN ac-
counts in the newspapers yesterday morning Nnch
he was retained, "A police captain ana an inspector
came 10 him and asked him to appear Tor those con-
ncctcd with the Police Department. lic understood
that be represented every one. and was TO champion
The cause OF any one WHO was aSsalltd, fon the
Police Commissioners down 10 the lowest subordl.
nate under their control. Nothing was said about
the payment Of fees and he had not considered how
the money to lie raised Ellie had expected 10 DO
paid, but to the particular lance5 under
which the money was To be raised he had not con-
cerned himself The whole question of employment
and payment Of counsel however. lac considered a
private matter. Mr.. Russell added that he did not
suppose that the money which the police officers
were contributing out OF their salaries was designed
merely To pay his fees; but that the most of il prob
ably would he paid 10 counsel who were endeayOr-
ing to secure the passage OF bills in the interest of
the police force.