New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-01

The reasons he advanced for their transfers were
changes because the Superintendent recommended
them. Commissioner Macleah alone No'eu "e"
At the following meeting Of the Commissioners
and while the board was in session, S arnn
mendng that the ward men and some sefseahts
who had been doing duty under ie" oil the cap
ferred to the precincts TO which the captains had
ton. taking the ground that If 1t was proper to
transfer the captains. 1t certainly was NOT proper
they wanted they being the same ones who had
performed duty under Them before the change.
on Me" M tse b 5eard meeting viii Verify
What say to be true SO IT IS untrue rue mat hd AZ
charge OF mis- duties. I could not have impeied
tho board except In the one case have stated.
THE srPERINTENDENT's LITTLE REMARK.
80 ny testimony before the committee did
nave effect said Superintendent Byrnes
when lie heard that Commissioner Martin had
lie Jared his intention To leave the department.
lie made the remark with a smile. IA If he
Intended u for n jest. and later he declined To
say anything about Commissioner Martins eX-
pectcd resignation. He also declined To say
anything more about his own offer to retire
from the department. but when he heard that
Commissioner kerwin had made some state
mcnts To the effect that the two Republican
Commissioners had not tried 10 hamper the
Superintendent. Mr. Byrnes said.
i want II To be understood that my testi-
mony was not intended To reflect in any way
upon Commissioners Kerwin and Murray. They
have made nc transfers except for good cause.
So Tar IA ! know. and in every way possible
th"r have aided me in my work.
commissioner Murray does not agree with
COMMISSIONS Kcrwin as 10 the plan OF proceed
ing with the trials Of policemen who were impli-
Gated by testimony before the LcNoW Commit
tee" lie said Yesterday: Il mink it would be
well 10 wait until the committee has made a re-
port 10 the Legislature. II the Legislature Is
going ahead 10 reprganiZc the Police Depart
ment ii would be best To wait and let the work
Inc nH no OF no for
ference by the Police Commissioners"
James J. Martin. who proposes 10 offer his res
gnation 10 Mayor Strong after his Inauguration.
is about fGriy-eight years old. and Is younger
brother Of Police Justice Barney" Martin. IL has
held political office most Of tn time for about twenty
years, during all Of which time he has ben n
Tammany Hall politician. He Began making
himself scrvceabc to John Kelly carly IN the
latter's leadership II Tammany Hall ana became
trusted adhcrcnt that when Kelly entered
upon the Office Of Controller 10 this city IN ISIS
he made Martin clerk IN his ofic, When The
Board of Revision and Correction ~ Assessments
created Kelly had Martin appointed score
taIy ~ the board. tn, place Was 4 sine are. and
Martin had plenty OF time % " rk politics AMI
carry out Biss Keily's Instructions The duties
f Martins municipal III" never in'erfcrci with
his work As kcily's man and Martin spent his
winters IN Albany Is confidential man 10 me bl-s
and the political AZ .ui u ianmany Han
When Richarl Croker succeeded 20 iAe Tam
many Leadership AZ kclly's death. b." iouni
james J. Martin Wiswam leader ~ the AAls,
Assembly District a place n silli holds
bymau" at tn State capitol for several years
after he loft the Finance Department ara 49,.
is credited with being u piacufod h"nd at man
ipulatng legislators. go hat week H'lA m
passes at Albany during the session without
"Jimmy's' nnr Italian nani being thrust mo
some sort Of jobbery
January. 1891 he made Martin dcputy-resisicr.
which office he held over Two years
Martins ''porane % al ser ' Wngh S;r"Tt
was elected Mayor ne mad" Martin P'hc"
Commissioner 10 succeed stephen - french
Republican thus violating the unwritt"n law ~
the municipality. which for seventeen years had
sanctioned a bipartisan Police Board. afd plar-
ing that body under Democratic ana prhcu-
cay under Tammany control Martins t.In
was for six years. and began on May ii, 1917
and would expire the LIST ~ next May.
In his testimony before the L'Now Committee
Commissioner Martin admitted that he had sent
fnr p,Iic. CAPTAIN Schmttbcrgcr as the latter
had sworn on the witness stand ana had r.
quested Schmittberger TO ceas" interfering WIN
notorious woman 81 the town named sad"
West re denied that he had ordered that
schmittbcrger's ward man must <" ana apollo
glze to the woman. ~ SchHittbeig'I s"otf' out
tried 10 Justify his course by saying that u"
requested interference with her business 10
cease t. obligc a friend - his who told MIN
thai Sadie West was his mistress. Martin also
testified that In appointing ana promoting p'-
lcemen he always gave preference To the recon-
mendations Of political friends other things be-
ing equal. ,.
intention To resign by "A newspaper reporter.
The Mayor d.d not speak ~ frsi but hnaliy
said ;houghtfully. I'm answer TO the question
whether II was surprise To him: i uld not
expect II soon
.'Thcn YOU knew that he intended To resign
yves I have been aware for some time that
the Commissioner had In mind giving up the
Office"
''Dld Mr. Martin tell you?'
Yes he told me that he intended to step out,
and think his awaiting the conclusion Of the
Toxoy innulrv was the proper course to pur-
sue." The Mayor declined to say anything
further about the action Of the president OF the
Police Board