New-York tribune., 1896-06-04
POLICE PROMOTION WAR.
HIGH WORDS AT YESTERDAYS MEErlNu
OF THE COMMISSIONERS.


AN EXAMINATION FOR THE
RANK OF CAPTAIN To
Be HELD SOON
Thare have been several open and violent quarrels
at meetings of the Police Board on account OF the
long-deayed promotions in the Department, but
never more heated and prolonged wrange than
the one which occurred yesterday. when an lour
Commissioners were present. Theodore Roosevelt
the president of the Board. and Commissioner An
drew D. Parker who declares that he will not re-
sign although the Mayor wants him to get OUT re-
newed hosties disputed. contradicted each other
and tried TO hold each other UP to ridicule, whiIe
Commissioners Grant and Andrews supported MI
Roosevelt.
All the occasion for the fuss a set Of resou-
tions which had been drawn up by Commissioner
Grant with the avowed purpose OF settling the as
pute over promotions and establishing rules 10 gov
ern the examination Of all applicants for promotion
Twelve rules of them intended to govern the
method OF rating men by the Commissioners. were
included in the lot Three Of the rules provided for
the prompt action of the Commissioners on eligible
lists obtained from the civil Service Board for the
immediate revocation of lists after vacancies had
been filed and for the abolition OF the period Of
probation of men who are promoted
WARM DISCUSSION.
Mr. Parker expressed his disapproval of the three
rules. and said that one Of them was intended to
create a state OF hgh-blndng. He made long
speech in which he denied that he had he'd up
promotions in the Department. and sought to lay
the blame upon the other Commissioners Then he
said that Colonel Grants set Of rules had been
shown to Mr.. Roosevelt nearly n month ago H.s
remarks stirred up Nlr Roosevelt. who replied with
spirit and the discussion which at first was suled
with frozen poiieness. soon became bitter and per-
sonal. The first contradiction OF "A personal KIND
followed the assertion OF Mr. Roosevelt that Mr..
Parker was responsible for the "stagnaton" In
promotions
IL beg pardon" said Mr. Parker; that stagnaton
has been due to YOU Colonel Grant has labored
hard 10 have something done"
Commissioner Roosevelt getting angry when
Commissioner Andrews broke In with "Mr Parker.
We have listened to you without intcrrupting and It
is only fair you should not interrupt now"
Commissioner Parker then said that Colonel Grant
had been willing all along to take steps TO appoint
some inspectors.
"You are in error" snapped Mr.. Roosevelt.
Colonel Grant has stated repeatedly that nc would
vote for no other men until Brooks and McCullagh
were appointed unless some legitimate objection
was made"
Commissioner Parker looked greatly surprised
and turning 10 Colonel Grant. asked "Did you say
that Colonel?'
Yes | did" replied the Colonel
Mr. Parker addressing Mr.. Roosevelt)-Does
Colonel Grant say never told him my reasons for
not voting Tor BrooE ana MCN uitkH'
COLONEL GRANTS ANSWER.
Commissioner Grant answering the question:
You never told me until a short time ago. and then
you gave reasons which did not consider good.
Mr. Parker-I have given every member OF this
Board my reasons | see Mr.. Andrews looks up
surprised
Mr.. Andrews-l am surprised.
Mr. Roosevoit-You told some suspicion you
had that based on the idlest kind OF chatter
and WAS not worth considering
Mr. Parker heard specific charges long before
was made Police Commissi oner Your oh
jections 20 Allairc were simply because there was
n charge
Mr. Roosevelt-Thc difference is that there was A
presen,men, Of the Grand jury agains, Allaire You
have offered one atom Of proof against Brooks
and McCullagh.
Mr. Parker proof dd you furnish asans,
Byrnes2
Mr. Roosevelt had ample proof. especially ss 10
his statement about getting money from Jay
Could. NOW. you say the force can only be built
up from the ranks. You Are putting that ~ order
not 10 promote officers higher up. ihnk Il comes
with ID grace from you. The main cause q abolish
ing the eligible list because Ne had become IN
easy Of the advantage that was being taken - the
delay. 1t was rumorcl that men ~'rc being ap-
preached by outsiders and told the could get their
appointments and promotion FOR ray. Eroris were
made 10 extort money from them. one case f!f
como to my knowledge where man hal pad some
one for his appointment think you know about
the case. feli It was important that no color 4
that old suspicion should Obtain.
sTA1NKAMp HELD UP"
The ln.imat.on that Mr Parker hal known of
money being pad Tor promotion did not cause
an explosion Mr. Parker apparently tried 10 get
away from the subject by saying that he had tod
the other Commissioners o. his objections 10 Act
ing Captain Siainkamp MI Roosevelt promptly
drews Then Mr.. Koosesc.i returned TO NE sub
)ect OF payment for promotion and - d forcoy
one word about sainkamp. But ho Was n ID up.
just Captain Creeden was. He was he'd up
and held up. and when ne paid he was promoted
heard rum9r after rimor about money In Wow
Si %pa al dn oai. M pSrfer ' sa se oSs
fectly well 4 you VAL behave toward your col,
viii make concessions az We all must We can Get
some talk followed about the rating. Of the can
dldaies. Mr. Rooseyeii reminded Commi..ioner
Parker Of a caucus hey had when commi-'loncr
Commissioners had conceded everything TO Mr.
Parker in the way OF merit marking
"Oh, no" said Mr.. Parker. ''commissioner An.
drews was mad on account OF Colonel Grants
Mr.. Rooseveli-That is not so.
Mr. Parker-Was he mad twice then? =, 49,.
acterizcd by you
NOT AN ADMONITION.
Mr. Roosevelt--If you expect. Mr Parker. to ac-
compish anything you must work with IA. DO
not say this TO admonsh you. n have said In In
teryews. given nominally by yourself and repudated
Immediately aftcrward, that you and Colonel Grant
would longer be dictated 10 by
Mr.. Parker never spOnc for Colonel Grant
Mr. Roosevelt This matter amounts TO nothing
n not coupled your part with sincere purpose
TO combine with your colleagues ! shall oppose
keeping men on the eligible list because that action
in the past has caused revival Of talk OF
ruptiOn in the department.
Mr. Parker-If your remarks 10 the cor se-
quence that viii ensue unless Join with you De
admonitlon then they have no relevancy whatever.
objected 10 the promotion Of certain because
the law told me could. As TO two OF them, ! have
maintained my
There some talk relative TO Chief Conlins
nf III nd Mr. Par rknr sald