The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-01
THE MAYOR is EMBARRASSED
Does Not Want to Antagonize
ParkhurSt.
AFTERMATH OF THE EXPOSURES
President Martin of the Police
Commissioners Ready to Sub
NIT His Resignation.

New YORK. Dec. 31.-Police Snperin-
tendent Byrnes' appearance before :he
Lexow committee, his offer to Mayor-eleci
Strong to resign, and the accompanying
tender of his services in recognizing the
police force are variously received. Rev.
DR.. Parkhurst has intimated that the in
QUESTION when Byrnes was upon the stand
was not made sufficiently searching for
practical purposes. Parkhurst sists tina;
Byrnes is responsible for most of the cor
rupton exposed by the Senate committee.
and he is indignant over the police cap
tain's ''pompous vanity and self-glOrifiea-
tion," as he termed it.
Mayor-elect Strong is said to hold Byrnes
in high estimation, and would be inclined
to urge the withdrawal of the Superin-
tendents resignation were 1t not for his
reluctance 10 antagonze the Parkhurst
society.
1t is known that Messrs. Larogue, Smith,
Taylor and the od-goVernment element
of the Committee of Seventy entertain a
cordial dislike for the Superin tendent.
This committee, which consists of DR..
ParShurst, Frank Moss, Assistant to Com
mittee Counsel Golf, and Mr.. Kenneon
held consultation this afternoon.
Il think" Mr.. Moss said. just before
this consultation. that it will put Mayor
Strong in something of hole. The action
of this man, who spent several hours on
the witness-stand narratiDg with the most
absurd self-eonceit his deeds of valor and
saying naught but bad for the other off,
cials of the department, was peculiar, al
least"
Mr.. Moss said that Superintendent
Byrnes' allegation that he had frequently
assisted the Lexow committee in appre-
hending delinquent witnesses and in other
ways placed himself at the service of the
senator's, was news to Mr.. Golf and him.
''At the time of CAPTAIN Devery's trial
and frequently since then" said MIR.
Moss, Superintendent Byrnes, Delaney,
NcOll and several other influential gentle
men, came to US and wanted to know why
amicable relations could not be main.
tanned between the society and the head
of the police. The Superintendent made
numerous overtures in this direction, but
all Of them were rejected, because from
the very first, from the time of Agent
Ga1dlel's arrest we were confident that
We could expect little or no help from the
police force"
Superintendent Byrnes has given this
statement out:
SIN my examination before the Lexow
committee OH Saturday. when l referred to
the Police Commissioners interfering with
me, said did not include the members
of the board. Since the latter have be-
come Commissioners they have done
everything TO assist me, and have made it
possible for Inc 10 take some action which
/ had hitherto been unable to take"
General Kern, the newest member of
the Police Board commission and Re-
publican. said to- day that the board had
not hampered Superln tendent Byrnes
during the period that he has been men,
Der. Commissioner Kern also said he had
no knowledge of the Superintendent ap-
piication for retirement. and that the rec
ommendation of the Lexow committee for
the retirement of Captain Creedon couldn't
In the least affect his opinion in the matter,
James j. Martin. president of the Board
of Police. Will resign his position in a few
days. He made this announcement Just
after his arrival at his Office at police
headquarters to-day. These are President
Martins words:
II have read the evidence by the super
intendent before the investigating COM
mittee of Saturday as well as his interview
given in the newspapers.
Il have no desire TO enter into any con-
troversy with the superintendent. Nv
official acts have been under investigate
for year. l am willing to stand the re-
suit of the investigation. As my friends
know l have been anxious to retire from
the department. tor some time. This has
never been g congenial place for me, and
my resignation will, in a few days, be in
the Mayors hands. The investigation is
over, and now that / am no longer under
IRE, feel that am justified in reslgning,
and | hope that Mr.. Strong will accept it
at once when he goes in to office.
superintendent Byrnes," be continued.
"was appointed to his present position on
my motion. He has been supported by
me and by the board since he has been
superintendent. Twice before the inves-
tigating committee | was examined as to
dispute which was said 10 have had with
the superintendent when be conferred
with tie captains. Twice under oath
denied that had any words or disagree
ment with him. empbatically deny that
have in any way hampered him.
Every one that knows me knows that
have told the truth. feel that the pub
lie believes what l say under oath, and
that by no act Of mine have I contributed
to the abuses existing in the department"
FLINCHED AT THE CRISIS.
Parkhurst Saws That the Committee