New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-07

cided to reduce to patrol duty all Of the ward
mon IN the city, and to have detective work In
the precincts performed hereafter by men de-
tailed from the Central Office. There was some
talk Of amending the rules Of the departmene
so as TO compel the Superintendent TO make re-
ports to the Commissioners about disorderly
houses and gambling houses in the city. The
question OF continuing the trials at the Central
Office while the investigation by the Lexow
Committee Is In pr gress was not settled, but
President Martin was directed to consult with
Senator Lexow that subject
WHERE SOME OF THE BLAME GOES.
superintendent Byrness report, although po-
lite and respectful in tone. places upon the
Commissioners the responsibility for the failure
OF the police to enforce the Excise law IN the
city, and again calls attention to the effect OF
their resolution to prevent policemen in plain
clothes from obtaining evidence of the sale OF
liquor on Sundays. 1t will be remembered that
President Martin once took advantage OF the
temporary absence Of the Superintendent from
the city to have Inspector Steers send out an
order TO the force TO pay attention to that reso-
luton The Superintendent states that he has
sent men 10 observe the sale OF liquor at pro-
hibted hours and that no less than S3,460 VIOLA
Tons or the EXCISE law were oDoetNcu ohSo
June Z
This shows that the Excise law In this city
is continually violated" he declares, and he
tells the Commissioners also that 1t must be ap-
parent 10 them that IAN officer In uniform 70
practically useless in obtaining evidence re-
qured by magistrates upon which to hold vio-
lators Of this law II
RADICAL CHANGE ASKED FOR.
AS to the discipline Of the police force. Mr..
Byrnes declares that it is not what II should be-
He points out some of the causes of demoraliza-
tion and declares that chief among them is the
system under which the inspection districts are
organized permitting too much red tape and no
end of intrigue. He would like to have the In
spectors made working aides to the Superinten-
dent instead of being bosses % districts in which
they can interfere with matters of discipline
without being held responsible FOR the enforce
ment Of law. In making so bold demand for
a change, Mr.. Byrnes does not hesitate 10 remno
the Commissioners Of their action at the time OK
the trials OF Inspectors Williams and McAvoy,
when he sought TO hold the inspectors responsible
for failure to suppress gambling houses and DIS
orderly houses in their districts. The Superin-
tendent also presents some plain statements re-
garding the need Of keeping policemen out OF
the political clubs ard Of promoting members OK
the force account OF merit and faithful SER
vice instead Of political influence
The report which Mr.. Byrnes sent to the Com
mssioners yesterday was authorized py the reso-
lution which the Commissioners passed when
they were in hurry to begin me tt1als OF tnS S
captains and ward men who had been Implicated
by the testimony Of witnesses before the Lexow
Committee From the manner In whlch they
received the report it was evident that they hao
not exnected it however and before II had been
read to them they acted as II they were AFRAID
IL might be loaded with dynamite While they
were transact!ng some unimportant business or
the meeting. a clerk from the Superintendents
Office brought in the report and laid 1t under the
unsuspecting nose of Chief Clerk Kipp. Pres.
entity Major Kipp picked up the report, sahseo =.
communication from tie superintendent.
He was about to begin the reading OF 1t when
Commissioner Murray cast searching slanS. ss.
down the first page Of manuscript and said:
can the reading Of this be delayed until toward
the end of the meeting? Frorn what l can see'
1t appears TO be matter requiring careiu a''e"-
ton"
FIGHTING SHY OF THE REPORT.
President Martin said the reading might be DE-
layed for a time and Major Kipp turned his at
tention to other papers Mr.. Murray passed the
report over to Commissioner Sheehan In .
einserly way Mr. sheenan made brief inspec-
ton OF the document and passed 1t along to
Commissioner Kerwin who looked at the first
and last pages through his glasses. and then
gently laid the report back In front OF MAJOR
Kipp. President Martin eyed the manascr,p. manu- lip.
suspicously for time and then reached over
and took II up. He read portions OF II with ev'-
dent interest After a time Major Kipp made an.
other start to read 1t. but was stopped py fres'-
dent Martin who said: Let that lie over for
a while"
OFF GOES STEPHENSON'S HEAD.
Mr. Martin took up the trial papers in the case
of Captain Stephenson. and said that the Com
missioners had agreed that the captain was
guilty Of the charges arl should be dismissed
from the force. When the roll was called on the
motion to dismiss the captain. the Commissioners
all voted aye without any remarks, ana otepn.
enson was out Of the department with as utue
fuss as II somebody in the loom had cropped
pin. D.. .~n.n...
In fsbtaining evidence against disorderly houses