The sun., 1895-05-05
KERWIN AND MURRAY BIDE
KERHIY WRITES TO THB MAYOR
REFUSING TO RESIGN.

Prefer, TO ne n Party Martyr end wait
for the Axe-Murrny VIII DO the Same.
and the Axe IL Sure TO Fail on Monday.
Mayor Strong will have TO remove Police Com
missioners Kerwin and Murray TO get rid Of
them, They won't resign. Gen. Kerwin sent
the Mayor this letter yesterday:
DEAR SIR: Yours Of tho ed inst. requesting
NV resignation as Police Commissioners OF the
city OF New York. received.
To accede to your request would mean that, ns
nm officer and Republican, confess incapacity
to perform tho duties of the position I hold. or
that am guilty of that which might necessi-
tate my retirement. am not aware that. up TO
this time. anything has been brought forward
that could be construed "a reason that should
resign.
Had failed to execute the trust reposed in me
As a citizen and as representative Of the Re-
publican party In my official capacity, l should,
in dccency, have anticipated your request,
Had the Police Department Of this city been
manipulated by either party for unfair political
purposes. instead Of being SO conducted that an
honest ballot and your official existence was
made n fact. the Judgment Of the community
would have been against my continuance as q
Police Commissioner.
Had my conduct been in opposition to the de-
mand for reform in the administration of tho
affairs of this city l should be without moral
ground for declining TO grant your request.
1t has been stated that l voted against the
proposals Of the Democratic Commissioner who
is regarded as tho mouthpieco in the Police De-
partment Of the Republican Mayor OF this city.
The records will show that the measures pro-
posed by that Commissioner were Illegal, and
should have violated my oath OF once had
supported them.
came into the Board as a Republican pledged
I'm mi. n = hat r.dn md
TO the credit of the community and Of the party
OF my choice in their enactment None has
challenged my conduct from this standpoint
II you, sir as the Maror OF this city. elected by
Republican votes, and because you were believed
to be the exponent of Repubicanism In the
city's administration, had suggestions to
offer as to the reorganization OF the Po-
lice Department.. the most ordinary cour-
tesy dictated that you should first
suit with tho members of the Board
who are in harmony with the political princi-
Piles you professed 10 support and with the de-
sire tor complete reform. On the contrary. no
word, either directly or indirectly, has ever
missioners indicating your desire to have any
measures OF reform carried out by the Police
Board. Your choice OF nonresident Demo
crat as your spokesman was an acknowedg-
ment before the whole people that you dis
trusted and discredited your party and its rep
1t is not inappropriate at this time, in the
light OF recent events, to remind you that your
trustfulness in seif-styed refOrmers and irre-
sponsible persons without party has not led to
the happiest results In your public utterances
regarding the finances of this city.
Because feel secure in the judgment of con-
scientious people that as a citiz,n. as public
performed the duties OF my position without
giving any pretext for honest criticism, l re-
spectfully decline to comply with your request
NJ. KERwiS, Police Commissioners.
Commissioner Murray had not mailed his let
OF it yesterday and took it homo with him to
revise it. 1t is very similar in tone to that Of
Commissioner kerwin. but a trite milder. Tho
Commissioner suggests that the Republican
the power of removal with the idea that tho
Mayor would use 1t to build up faction in the
larty. He adds that II Col Strong thinks TINT
lie should use the power for that purpose. tho
OF such misuse of 1t.
Nothing In Gen. Kerwin's letter is expected to
deter Col. strong from removing Commissioners
Murray and kerwin tomorrow, and at the
samo time appointing the successor Of Police
Commissioner Martin.
Ex-Uni:cd States Civil Service Commissioner
Theodore Roosevelt is due in the city to. day.
1t is understood that he Ii to be the President Of
Treasurer. 1t Is not known Just how the Mayor
will appoint his men. II the LeXow bipartisan
bill is not to become . law the man who 10 ap-
pointed to succeed Commissioner Martin will
1901. 1t is believed that Mr.. Roosevelt will get
this term. The successor to Gen. Kerwin will
have little less than a year to serve, and the
successor to Commissioner Murray nearly i've
years, year C1mmissonsr sas Andrsws'' term will ex-
Should the bipartisan bill become law
new Board with new terms will have to be ap-
pointed.