New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-30
UNFIT FOR THEIR PLA CES.
BYRNES SAYS THAT OF THE POLICE COM
MISSIONERS.
HIS TROUBLE WITH THEM BEGAN WHEN
TAINs BEFORE THE ELECTIONS OF

MARTIN GAVE ORDERS TO THE CAP
TAINs BEFORE THE ELECTIONS OF
1882 WHICH THE SUPERINTENDENT
COULDN'T STOMACH
Superintendent Byrnes said last night:
II have been thirty-two years with my nose
10 the grndstone in the Police Department and
| don't know much of anything else. For twelve
years in charge Of the Detective Bureau.
and then old Murray became paralyzed, and
was forced against my will into the position OF
Superintendent Before that Chief In
spector. an office which created for me and
was abolished when became Superintendent
During the time I In charge OF the Detective
Bureau was entirely outside the ordinary dis
cipline of the department and devoted
wholly to the detection of crime. and when be-
came superintendent saw that certain abuses
existed. These / tried to remedy as best
could.
Assuming that blackmal was being collected
for protection. made up my mind that those who
did it could not afford 10 admit IT, since It would
ruin the business for which they paid protection
Just so long as they did 50. it certain no one
would squeal knew the Commissioners would
not believe their testimony uncorroborated. even
Il they could be persuaded to testify; neither
would the District-Attorney or the Grand Jury
What to do'
"In view Of this. I selected precncts-the
Fourth. Eleventh. Fifteenth. Twenty-second and
others-and | began to shift the captains about
at short intervals. klrw this would break up
the paying OF protection sooner than anything
else | could do. If the men who were black
mailed had "A captain TO deal with every
few weeks they were bound to get discouraged
! kept captain in a precinct just so long as
IA b,. end
of the department
THE FIRST TROUBLE.
The first trouble had which made me think
Of resigning was before Election Day. 1892. when
Commissioner Martin cam in and spoke to the
captains assembled IN my room was not way
through His remarks were incendiary IN char-
acter. and when he got through Jumped up ana
said would cut the uniform on any man that
failed t. obey my Instructions Then proceeded
to lay down the law as | understood It. Martin
had spoken Of the United States marshas as
disreputabe persons | told the cnptlin' that the
Federal Government was treat and grand enough
10 accept all responsibility Tor the men II APP
pointed and that the Police Department II New
York had nothing 10 do IN the matter II hai
come down 10 the question = whether a man
should be protected In his right OF suffrage or
hndered by the New-York Police Department
When it was over Mr.. Martin sneaked out the
| side door without saying word.
several times after this I thought of resign
ing began 20 get tired ~ the whole matter
hut 7 am an aggressive man, and thought
owed a duty 70 the people Of New-fork. ana
decided to fight back and continue In the once
I'll such time as could leave my position In the
hands of some calculated to hl 1t To sooi
advantage.
| COMMISSIONERS UNFIT FOR THEIR PLACES
The whole truth was that I was police
no, and nothinp else The Commissioners
wanted 10 use the department TO further their
own political interests and that Of their party
They are men who by their training and IN
s,incts are unfit for the positions they have been
trying to fill
EVERY new Commissioner has hobby of his
own. and he spends three or four months expert
meniing on IT 10 the detTlmeht ~ INC "'S''P''''
! Of the department."
"Is YOUR resignation hnal?" was asked
"Woud YOU. under any circumstances. recon-
slider it,
.I think II is final: anything can do TO iur-
thcr the ends OF justice to assist the incoming
Mayor or 10 assist In the reorganization ot the
| department ! am ready to do
81 have read a lot Of suggestions for reor-
ganization but they are for the most part I'M
practicable. The department must be- recon-
structed SO that these abuses can't creep in
7, c.r he done So far as pr Parkhurst Is con-
cerned don't believe II would have been possi-
bic to bring about the present condition OF
affairs had II not been for the pubic sehti-
ment he created ! say that In his faVoT.
,htrL ,bis agitation is certain to result In good
but there should be the greatest care 10 see
that whatever scheme is adopted should be
tl,. force fart "
five years to come
..The Commissioners Of Police alone can accept
,,, resipnation Whether TIE MayOr-elect will
give Il to the present board or to "A new board
| T don't know don't want TO put myself In
nostion to embarrass the new administration.
have got too much respect for the people OF the
department to do that
During the time that I have been Superin-
| tendent OF Police, have done three times more
| work than any man who has preceded me- The
Iexow Comrnittee has been reaping the iruit or
| the seed that began sowing when became Su-
| ncrntendent | made II possible Tor the COM
| mittee to get the Information they have received
| "Tbe detective force Of NewYork while ] was
| I'm charge obtained over 10000 years IN conVic-
| tlons Of the criminal class. when Is more 'hah
| has been accomplished by Scotland fsrd' faris
an, Cbicapo combined not counting political
| arrests I do not believe that In all the world
| there Is a more faithful lot OF men than the
| natrol force II this city, and all they need u
| to be properly of'icered.
| "Tbe hostility of the Commissioners TO me
| dates from the time OF the trouble with Martin
| over the United States Marshals. ] was simply
doing my duty as police officer. and the Com
| missioners wanted to use the ONCE TOT so"ie-
| thing else. | am Independent OF the depart
| mcnt and am not ike 4 fellow trying L" KNOCK
| around and skin some one out of few dol
| ,ors As to the acceptance of my resignation.
| ou can sav Is | will await the pleasure Of