New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-09
TO TURN ON A SEARCH LIGHT.
THE LEXOw COMMITTEE ALL READY
TO RENEW ITS WORK.

TO RENEW ITS WORK.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY TO BE GIVEN THIS
wEEK-soME INTERESTING EVIDENCE
ABOUT ONE OF THE COMMITS
sIpNERs TO BE HEARD
State Senator Lexow and his colleagues in the
committee appointed to investigate the Police
Department were not in the city yesterday. but
John W. Goff was hard at work preparing for the
testimony which will be given before the commit
tee tomorrow. when the investigation is resumed
in Part Of the Superior Court Mr.. Golf said
to reporters that he expected the committee to
hear testimony Of much Importance tomorrow
and on following days OF the week but 1t would
be imprudent for him TO tell anything OF the
nature of the testimony in advance.
Il am never sure OF the appearance Of wit
ness until l see him on the stand" he said, land
then I cannot tell If he will speak the truth
boldly or try to conceal what he knows. For that
reason we have to be careful not to announce
any evidence In advance. Again, there Is con-
slant danger that witnesses may be made TO
disappear II some Of the police officials learn me
nature Of the testimony which the witnesses are
TO give: . ,o,o,,. nod
had a secret talk with Police Commissicner
Martin about the investigation He said ne had
not Mr. Martin for a long time, ana mad nO'
talked with him. 1t was understood ne said.
that the trials at the Central Office would not be
continued while the investigation by the Lexow
Committee in progress but the committee
or its counsel had not requested any postpone
ment OF the trials.
THE QUESTION OF POLICE COUNSEL
It's understood that none Of the Police Commits
soners will be witnesses before the committee
this week. but that testimony which will be in
loaS ono ~
missioners will be heard by the Senators. IT was
not known TO Mr.. Golf yesterday whether any
lawyer would represent the Police Department
IN the investigation as Mr.. Nicoll and Mr.. Ran
som represented it previous to the recess but 1t
was understood that Friend & House had been
retained TO look after the interests or certain
members OF the force whose names might De
mentioned by witnesses before the committee
| and that the inspectors and captains might De
| represented by separate counsel The commas
| sioners and Superintendent Byrnes VIII nave no
| body to represent them at the investigation "
| IS said unless they find it necessary TO pflhs
| LAWYER with them when they are called as
| witnesses. i. 49,
| Frank Moss one of Mr. COTS assistants in the
| investigation. said yesterday that he expected
| some important testimony to be presented this
| week which would show how some OF the ponce
captains had carried on their blackmaiiing opera
| lions He was the only one or the lawyers y.
| the committee who had read the recent report oi
| Superintendent Byrnes with suf1cleht care 70 W
| willing 10 EXPRESS an opinion about It, The
| recommendations which the Superintendent had
| made 10 the Commissioners. ne said. appeared 10
| him to be good. and he regarded MT b!rhess
report as an able document as Whole'
| Mr. MOSS ON MR.. BYRNEsS REPORT.
| az have been comparing Mr.. Byrness latest
| statement with those which he wrote some
| months ago" he said land it is refreshing to
cpa god
| some things. The deadly parallel might be used
| IA show to what extent the Superintendent mas
| been converted to right ideas. Perhaps ne mas
| waited until II was safe for him 20 strike re
| has been more Of foe to Inspector Williams
| than 10 the Commissioners. Williams Is 'he
| natural rival Of Byrnes in the Department. ne
| also has been more IN sympathy with the COM
| rnissioners Williams makes n pretence 10 OF
| fcial integrity and he is loyal TO ms lriehus'
| He poses as bold. bad man ana deiies an!
| body TO prove him guilty Of the insdeeaS ""'9"
| ne is supposed TO have committed
| MIR Ryrnes's report is another argument for
| aholish,ng the Police Board and having the de-
| partment under one head Al present the ue-
| partment is under the control OF four Commis,
| sioners who are not members OF the lorce' anu
therefore are not to be held responsipie 10, 'ne
non-enforcement Of the laws Inc ponce ioa ,.,,
from the Superin tendent down. is charged win
the duty OF enforcing the laws. yet Is Obliged 10
obey the orders Of men who are not so response
| BILE Naturally. SO long as the Commissioner ;
| hold
| laws will not be enforced In a manner that VIII
| interfere with other politicians.
THE POINT ILLUSTRATED
| What Mr. Byrnes has to say about the W.
ter failure Of the police to enforce the Excise
law illustrates the point well. policeman Is
| charged with the duty Of preventing the sale
| of LIQUOR on Sunday. He goes to the door OF u
| uuuor store on that day and tries 10 Be' IN
| He is IN full uniform. and. of course ne "a
| not admitted 10 witness the violation or the
law in the place. Suppose the policeman Is
| asked why he does not try TO get INTO the
| place when he Is not In uniform. ne VIII say
that he is prevented by resolution or the
| Police Board. II Is plain that the poncemai'
| cannot be punished for failing to enforce the
| law Neither can the Commissioners be pun
| ished for making 1t impossible for the police
| man 10 enforce the law. The right way 10
| reorea nize the force would be TO have no Poice
| Roard but one man at the head OF the DE,
! nartnent and that man should be member OF
| Tho force who would be responsible Tor the
enforcement of the laws The Bureau OF Elec'
| tiona should be removed from the control or the
Department and placed under non-part'san
The Rev. DR.. Parkhurst said yesterday tha'
| he had not had time to read the report OF tht
| SUPERINTENDENT with care. and he did not Wlsf
| 20 axnress any opinion about II at present nc
| soid he vas not informed as to the testimony
Witch would be presented to the Lexow Com
r,ittae this week but he believed that the
nolice methods would be exposed In strong