New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-02
ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME.
THE MAYOR SAYS KERwIN AND MURRAY
HAVE GOT TO GO.

HE HAD NOT INTENDED TO REMOVE THEM
UNrII. THEY VOTED AGAINST COMMISSIONER
ANDREws's REFORM RESOLUTIONS
RvMoRs ABOUT THEIR SUCCESSORS
Mayor Strong, in an interview yesterday after
noon. fully explained his intention to remove Po-
lice Commissioners Murray and Kerwin. In reply
to a question as to the accuracy of the report
which had been made by John Sabine Smith. the
Mayor said
Mr. Smith got the case as nearly right as one
could EXPECT from our conversation. He asked me
II I thought Of removing Murray and Kerwin, and
I said it would be better for them to resign
didn't know it was going to be carried to them SO
ouicklv but that makes no difference now"
"Is IL true as reported this afternoon, that you
have selected men for appointment in place of the
two Republican Commissioners" the Mayor was
asked.
II have not decided whom to appoint yet" he re-
piled, because have not yet asked the Commits
sioners to resign. When do ask for the resigna-
tons | will scurry around and try to find some
suitable men to fill the places
Mayor Strong INDUCED in a quiet chuckie' and
continued There need be no doubt as 10 my po-
sition. never had any intention OF removing MI
Murray and Mr. Kerwin until three weeks ago
said to a number Of people that ala not ih'ehu u
remove those Commissioners and that was the
vav fcIt then The Commissioners were RepuD-
lcans. and so long they kept abreast OF the re-
form rnovemont I could have no reason for want
ing 10 remove them from office. IT was not uh''l
they voted against the resolutions offered Dy CoHl-
missioner Andrews that | thought OF removing
them They had two opportunities to let their posi-
ton be known, and each time they set themselves
against the movement to introduce reforms ih'o
the Police Department. This is the department
which has been shown to be thoroughly corFup'
and rotten made up my mind that Police Com
mssoners who would not cooperate In eHorts "
reform the department were OF no use to the city
government even If they were Republicans ana
decided to remove them. Until then. say, had
no, had any intention TO remove Commissioners
Murray and Kerwn had not promised anybody
that I would not remove the Commissioners
simple had said that / had no intention 70 remove
them Now that have changed my mihd ABOUT
them I hear some OF their friends are saying mat
7 brolta my word II has been said by some OF
them that ~ vcu scratch the back Of a reforfner
Won will catch A thief Now | suppose tney WIN
say that II YOU scratch the back OF reioi'"e' 'oD
Will eaten liar.
LET THEM KNOW HIS CHANGE OF MINI
In reply to an inquiry 10 the letters whicn
he was reported t. have written TO Lleu'eha".
Governor SaxtOn and Speaker Fish about ms
intention to remove Commissioner Murray ana
K.rwin. Mayor Strong said: ''As had sa!d 10
those gentlemen that had no intenton oi re-
moving the two Commissioners at the uHe vi
our in,erview about legisation | thought IL was
proper to write 10 them and let them Kho" tla t,
/ had changed my mind. nave ho' ie0e''''
replies from them. , .,,b
Mayor strong yesterday. and it was unders.Soa %
that Mr. Smith received another lntltnaIoh . ~
the Mayor would be pleased T. rece'sa ~ Tsruin
natfons or commissioners Murray ana her"li.
There was report that the Mayor ndd Sent
letters to Theodore Roosevelt; unted ,,,aob
civil Service Commssioner' ana EuWda" .t,trf,
ell ex-I'nited States District-Attorney' ashIhs
ther, 10 accent Office Police Commissioners.
Police Commissioner Andrews said yestetoa'
that he had no Information about the cohtein-
nI't.5 removal Of his Republican colleagues In
,he Police Board. Commissioner Murray said Ne
had nothing to say on the subject. e,.u,.
Commissioner Kerwin said: II Mayor otro'e tf,Da5
has expressed a wish that ! tender my res;sha-
ZION am ignorant Of IT, don't see why am
questioned about the matter. The proper persoi,
to see is Mayor strong" Mr.. kerw.n was ASK a. So,
sign. II he expected one soon or II he had any ln'1-
nation that he would receive such commutica,
ton He said Il know absolutely no,hlhs - ha !,
took time u trace al ''''' iNf
kept busy ....,.,o,. Indicated
,t mention ~ remove Commissioner Martin,
,h tr,rm,nv member of the Police Board. but
Wv ,ii mot state when he was likely TO remove
Mr.. Martin. ,,.. - =, . ., ,,,
There was a conference OF Platt men IN an up
e,airs room, in the Fifth Avenue Hotel last even
ing when the expressed determination ol MA! o
strong n put Police Commissioners Murray ana ana
crrIn out of office talked about al conSiuer-
N,a in,ctb Politicians at the hotel said later
tbat tho Platt forces at Albany probably would Try
~ make the Mayors attitude an excuse for defeat
ing the Magistrates bill , ,., -,
,ba Committee of Seventy have declared that they
would bp satisfied II the Legislature wouid pass
the city Magistrates bill and the LeNo" oiils a.
NOW amended The attitude Of the Mayor toward
= biportsan Police Board and his determination 10
nnnnlnt Commissioners who VIII Unite IN relorhi-
ing the department have had the 'HeC. 10 mar -
rmnher of the members of the Committee oi SeN-
entv satisfied with the LeXow hilis IheN iedi'
h'vever ina, the new turn of events may nave
a,me effect further 10 delay or XIII the Cl'y MdsIS
rates bin which is regarded as a reform measure
of the first importance.