The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-03
SIX DISCOUNTED SENATORS.
DIR. PAREHURST mas NO CHIRGES 10
Lar BEFORE mars MEN.

The Senate Investigating committee cams
to town last night to investigate any charge
grievance. or complaint that any body MAY
choose to make against the Police Depart
ment. Tho thing seemed very simple to the
Senators while they wero the train. All
that would be necessary. they thought would
be to call In DIR. Tarkhurst and then In
vestigatc.
Their minds were dlsabused OF that idea In
less time than II takes an able bodied man to
swallow n Manhattan cocktail. DIR. Parkhurst
told them. almost in as many words. that he
hadn't sent for them. was sorry, In fact. that
they had come and didn't see why he should
make any charges against the Police Depart
ment to q Senate committee.
Then President Charles Stewart Smith OF the
Chamber Of Comm erco told them that he had
no formal charges to make against the police
And then tho com mitteemcn looked at one
another with blank faces
The committee arrived at the Hotel Metro-
pole few minutes auer7 o'clock. There were
present Senators Lexow. Robertson. Pound.
Saxton, O'Connor and Bradley. Senator CAM
tor did not come. DR. rarkhurst. Mr.. Charles
Stewart Smith. and Darwin L. James. Presi-
dent OF the Board OF Trade and Transports-
ton, were waiting for them. The whole party
assembled In one OF the parlors OF the hotel.
and told tho sergeant. alarms to let In all re-
porters who applied.
Senator Lexow. who Is Chairman OF the COM
mittee. suggested that counsel be selected and
that the committee then adjourn for a week TO
give him chance TO get his charges in order.
Mr.. James suggested that Simon sterne be
selected as counsel and Mr.. Smith suggested
Joseph II. Choate.
Has DR.. Tarkhurst any suggestion to
maker" asked tho Chairman.
Il look upon 1t as perfectly clear" said DR..
at 10 fn Ia
any thorough work done by this committee q
considerable amount Of time will DO required
before anything like the taking Of testimony
can commence We have no indictments to
present. would like. however to raise tho
question at this point as to open or secret ses-
sions."
THAT is a question which has not been con-
sdered by the committee as yet" replied the
Chairman. DO you wish to express yourself
upon that subject2 We would like to hear
what you have to say on that point"
DR.. Parkhurst leaned forward and clutched
the back OF the chair In front OF him. Then.
speaking very rapidly. lie said:
Il will only say that have been so related
to aggrieved parties In this town during the
last two years that think II know pretty well
how these matters lie In their minds. think
know pretty WELL IL you viii! permit me. what
will be one Of the greatest obstacles you W II
have to encounter. and that Is, the fear tho
arrant-I will not say cowarhlce-tlmioity OF
these people when the matter is proposed TO
them OF speaking In any public way about the
grievances under which they suffer Ny own
judgment, therefore. is that anything that
looks in the direction Of privacy or secrecy
will operate to make them moro communion
tive. That is all have to say now"
Chairman Iexow docking a triae uneasy
fpecc SSaTses Is Rsrs a a6s upon Which,
the COMMITTEES can immediately proceed TO
has examined into this matter thoroughly. and
We all expected considerable enlightenment
Dr. Parkhurst somewhat red in the face)-I
will say in reply to that that we made the
charge two y years ago that the department In
done was either incompetent OF, was Grim
ipally negligent. and the line OF our work
Indicate the exces'iveness OF their neg
liGence. which mounts up to the stat
History Of ali that we have done. am pre-
pared to do anything that will not interfere In
now prosecuting. and the schemes which we
hayei hand which require, OF course, TO be
the rec,SIoH q tho history ' " our work dur.
Re es Silence tS OF the grave e TS the
Some OF the co3mmittee began 10 chew their
and kept his eyes on tho chandelier. The
Chairman gathered himself together for an-
Have YOU not" he asked. threads OF evil
dence in your hands that will enable the com
Your investigations have gone into the mi.
nutest details. and you must certainly be 10
il it, q Of be possible for You between now and 10
A, NJ to- morrow TO draw up a certain number
% sGss GT nT % hs the so1a
we'll 20 60 iuto the details In public or private
II don't think that is feasible" answered
DR.. Parkhurst.
senator Saxton. who, had not spoken hith-
art laap N Fng IA n IA
- don't see how i is possible to conduct
secret session. The testimony taken here has
there and presented there. We would have no
power to take Testimony which We can With
Excuse me. sir" said Dr. Parkhurst. jump
Ing up; my understanding Of the purpose Of
there was that condition OF things here that
would warrant legislative action. It. seemed
committee, as this can be conducted in the
same spirit under which Investigations are
yate body. sitting IN private session, and maxi
ing Anown e., the court the result OF their
~ /. Tor one" replied senator Saxton. who
had remained standing, came down here for
could with regard 20 the Police Department
that will lead Us to legislation TO better the
Pie Of this city are Interested in tho good gov
eminent OF thus city and we expected they
is not the purpose OF the c3mmitteo to
hasten matters GnrrasonablE II the hold
Ing OF secret sessions would facilitate ths
obtaining OF testimony ] think We would
all agree 70 do IT, but OF course the tSs-
timony must all ha submitted 10 the legslA-
ture. We report the facts which led Us to
our beliefs; Asto wlthhol dng everything. that
would be impossible. We must report to the
Legislature all the facts that we nave hsen
able 10 obtain and then give them the benefit
OF our opinion. but We certainly would not DO
entitled to withhold the faets. IL would be an
unprecedented thing Tor legislature to give
q committee power 10 acquire facts which
Il did not intend AterwgTa TO submit
70 the Legislature IL might he well
10 state here that this committee can
meet only on FTidays and saturday. and per:
haps on Mondays pn tlllays there 10 not
could come down here In the morning. We
could take testimony all that afternoon and all
day Saturday and perhaps for the greater part
OF the forenoon on Monday
Turning 10 Mr.. Smith senator LsXoW ssksdE
Has the hRmbeT ~ Commerce any fUImu-
lated charges or testimony on which theJ
have formed chargesT
: The. Cham9er o. Commeree" answered Mr..