New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-12
HOW THE CITY IS BLED.
HUGE SUMS FOR PENSIONERS
A LONG ARRAY OF STURDY POLICEMEN
LIVING IN RETIREMENT.

MANY OF THEM RECEIVE GOOD sALARIEs-ENon,
NOUS INCREASE OF THE PENSION FUND
MANY SOURCES DRAINED FOR THE BENDD
FIT OF LAZY oFFIcERs-A HORDE o.
THEM EAGER TO RETIRE AND LIVE
IN EAsE-THE FORTUNE WHICH
EX-wARDMAN CAMPBELL HAS
"AMAssED-MoRE ABOUT THE
COSTELLO CASE.
AS had been predicted by many persons who
have taken interest In the doings Of the Lexow
Committee lately. the testimony In the investigs-
ton Of the Police Department yesterday was not
particularly sensational 1t was largely Of a kind
calculated TO aid the committee In possible plans
for legislation affecting the department.
Frank Moss. Of counsel for the committee.
called to the witness stand a number Of ex-
policemen who were retired on pensions when they
were able to perform valuable police duty. He
also read from reports to show that the sums
paid for police pensions have been increasing
every year. from $3.50 900 In 1885 to over 900
last year. and shat extraordinary means have
been adopted to supply the revenues OF the fund
1t has been necessary to add 25 per cent Of the
money collected by the Excise Board to the other
means Of revenue, such as all fees collected for
engineers licenses. permits for carrying pistols.
permits for masked balls and fines for selling i'm
pure food while the members OF the force are
taxed 2 per cent Of their salaries 70 the same emo
There are 1884 pensioners the roll now. ana
there are 500 policemen. including twenty-eght
captains. who might soon be retired after twenty
years service.
Several OF the pensioners who testified before
the committee yesterday have found employ.
ment at good salaries or have been carrying on
business on their own account. while they nave
drawn half pay as retired policemen Among
them was ex-Sergeant Po.hamus. who said he
refused to listen years ago {, proposition msos
by friend OF Tammany Commissioner that
he might be captain by paying $4,000 for pro-
motion. James Curry. who had been ROUNDS
man in a court squad. declared that he had been
forced to ask for retirement because ne was
Republican and would not join Tammany Han:
He was not strong enouyi TO perform patrol
duty and when he refused 10 give up his prin-
cipIes Republican he was sent away from
the court and made u chose between retire-
ment or patrol duty.
Samuel J. Campbell. who was detective Ia
the Twenty fifth Precinct and retired on PEN
sion two years ago. was questioned about his
alleged blackmailing operations IN the precinct.
He is the who was accused by Joseph
Pospsil and other Bohemian iiquor-store keep.
ers Of collecting money for the ''pantata' ana
allowing the sale of beer in the barrooms on Sun:
day He denied yesterday that he had received
money from the Bohemilns brt he admitted that
he had accumulated thousands Of dollars while
he was a detective. and his explanation that he
had dickered In horses and real estate caused
smile in the courtroom. As he is under indct.
ment and awaiting trial for bribery. he was NOT
pressed too FAR witness.
The recent testimony II Augustin f. Costel!o
that he was arrested By order " Inspector VIII.
Jams and was taken 10 IN. First Precinct Police
station TO be assaulted with brass knucklee by
Inspector Uhen Captain Mclaughlin was
strengthened by the testimony OF other W.T.
nesses to whom Costello had shown the injuries
on his face and had told the details Of his
Yesterday that he had written full statement
OF the trouble to Richard Croker In lsss but had
received no reply from tn. Tammany boss.
The investigation will 60 on to-day.