New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-03
NOT YET READY FOR WORK.
FIRST MEETING OF THE SENATE INVESTI-
eating COMMITTED

UNSETTLED QUESTION OF COUNSEL IN
TERFEREs-DR PARKHURsr SETS FORTH
HIS PosITIoN-A SHORT POSTPONE
MENT MAY BE NECESSARY.
! The investigation Of the Police Department
| in this city by a Senate committee, which was
expected to begin in earnest to-day. IS likely
: TO be delayed a week. On account Of the strife
| in the Senate Chamber at Albany yesterday. the
members of the committee We're not able to start
for this city I'm time to arrive the Hotel Metro
! pole, at Broadway and Forty-second-st. at 4
/ p. M. the hour which had been appointed for
meeting with the Rev. Or. Charles II. Park
| hurst and with representatives of the Chamber
Of Commerce. 1t was after p. m. when six
members of the committee arrived at the hotel
They were Senators Clarence Lexow. Of Nyack
the chairman Edmund OConnor Of Bingham
ton: George W. Robertson. Of Peekskill: Charles
T. Saxton. off Clyde; Cuthbert W. Pound. Of
Lockport and Daniel Bradley. of Brooklyn
Senator Jacob Cantor. of this city, who is the
seventh member Of the committee. not with
them. but Sergeant-at-Arms Schram in at
tendance. The Senators met at the hotel
by L. G. De Cant. the assistant sergeant-at-
arms. who vas sent to the city Thursday even
Ing to engage rooms for the committee. Mr..
De Cant had been at the Court House early
Yesterday and had engaged the rooms In Part
III Of the Superior Court. on the third floor Of
the building in Chambers-st.. for the Of
the committee. lie also had Engaged rooms at
the hotel for five Of the Senators. Messrs. Brad
ley and Cantor having said that they would
sleep at their homes.
THOSE WHO WERE AT THE CONFERENCE.
Shortly before p. m. the six Senators of the
committee went TO parlors No. and No s. on
the second floor of the hotel. and We're met there
by DR.. Parkhurst. president of the Society for
the Prevention of Crime; Charles Stewart
Smith. president of the Chamber Of Commerce.
and Darwin r. James. president Of the Board Of
Trade and Transportation. Senator Lcxow pre-
sided at the meeting. There was some Informal
talk at first. Mr.. Smith said that the Chamber
Of Commerce had desired TO have Joseph Il
Choate act as the counsel for the committee In
the investigation. but Mr.. Choate was In Wash
ington. and 1t not known definitely whether
he would consent to undertake the work Mr.
James on behalf Of the Board Of Trade and
Transportation, suggested that Simon Stcrnc bc
selected the counsel for the committee. or AS
assistant TO Mr.. ChOate. He also said that II
would be well to delay the taking Of testimony
before the committee for a week. in order TO
give the lawyers time to prepare lines Of in
vestigation. Senator Bradley said that If there
any charges indictments against the
police they might be presented for the consdera-
ton of the committee while the lawyers were
getting other matters ready. and the committee
could proceed with the investigation. Mr.
James said that he thought 1t would be better
to wait until the counsel had been prepared for
the work.
DR.. PARKHURsT WANTS CLOSED DOORS.
Dr. Parkhurst then rose and said:
III you are TO do satisfactory work. there is
much to be done before you begin the taking
Of testimony. I should like 10 raise the question
Of conducting the investigation secretly. have
been related to aggrieved parties In this city
for the last two years that ! think know how
the matter lies In their minds. and what will BE-
the great obstacle in the way of the committee.
/ mean what l might call the arrant cowardice
OF these people when It comes to speaking pub
l.cly Of thei- grievances Therefore ! am con-
vinced that the more secrecy there Is In the in
vestigaton the more effective the investigation
will be"
Senator Lexow asked II any person present had
any charge 10 present on which the committee
might proceed and Or. Parkhurst replied; 1.-TWO
years ago we charged that the Police Department
was either incompetent or crimnany Negligent.
and during these two years We have amassed con
siderable evidence 10 show that the department
has violated the statute Of criWinaliiy.
Can you not separate the drOss from the real
in the evidence taken by your society," Senator
Lexow asked.
DIR. ,arkhurst said he was not a lawyer. and
he added that his society had no formal charge
to make to the committee He shook his head
give reply in the negative when Senator
Bradley asked II he could have some charges
ready by 10 A. m. today. Senator Lexow said
he did not think secresy In the investigation
would be possible. because the committee would
have to make a report 10 the senate, and Dr.
Parkhurst rejoined: II was Of the opinion that
tn, in ,es irat could be conducted after the
fashion, and with the limitations as 10 pub
,icity. Of the Grand jury
sEcREsY DEEMED IMPOSSIBLE
Senator saxton then said "As we have 10
formulate opinions and express them publicly
on the evidence 1T would be practically i'm
possible to have the investigation in secret.
should like to know how long it would take Mr..
Choate to prepare for the investigation. We
can be down here only on Fridays. Saturdays ana
Mondays Of each week and we do not want to
waste any time in beginning the investigation"
Senator Lexow asked Mr.. Smith If the Cham
ber OF Commerce had formulated any charges
and Mr. Smith replied that any charges which
might be formulated by the Chamber Of Com
nerce would be presented only through counsel
To a question by Senator SaXton as to whether
Mr. Choate would need assistance In outlining
the investigation Mr.. Smith answered: "You
Will have to ask Mr. Choate Whatever he un-
dertakes he is likely to carry through
II mean to make reflection upon Mr.
Choate's ability" Senator Saxton said
Mr.. Smith offered to send a telegram to Mr.
Choate at the Arlington Hotel. in Washington
nd ino,Iire for the committee If he would act
as the committees counsel. and the Senator'S
assented to that. 1t was understood. when Mr. |
smith left the room to send the telegram. that |
Mr. Choate would not be expected to go on
with the investigation until next Friday. SEN |
ator Lexow then said that the committee ex- !
pected to depend on DR.. Parkhurst for aid in the
Investigation, and he inquired II Or. Parkhurst |
would aid the committee. DR.. Parkhurst re-
Piled
mind that this work s not started with any |
solicitation on our part. In certain ways we
regret 1t, but we do not intend to hold aloof |
from II IL It Is to be thorough. The plan OF |
devoting only three days a week to 1t is not en-
couraging at the outset. We are making our |
own Investigations. We have made our own |
charees and they being verified. If | can |
ne of service without multiplying the work Of our |
society. I will cheerfully aid the committee"
TO MEET AT NOON TO-DAY.