New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
THE POLICE BOARD FIGHT.
ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM COMMITS
s1oNER ROOSEVELT.


FEELING THAT THE TROUBLE is
SERIOUSLY DAMAGING TO THE DIS
cIPLINE OF THE FORCE
Since the conflict in the Police Board has
reached the point where Commissioner Parker
has been accused publicly of falsehood by the
three other Commissioners. and all promotions
In the police force have been postponed IN
defnitely NEWCOMERS Of every class are tax
ing A. lively Interest In the quarrel, ana are
wondering how II Is going to end The opin-
ion that a further decentralization OF the ponce
force IL to be expected under the circumstances
was expressed freely yesterday. Wheh 'he
heads Of great department allowed themselves
to become SO much heated in a dispute that they
gave expression in public charges OF pao iai'"
and falsehood. 1t was declared the subordinates
Of the department would surely take part IN
the quarrel or become careless and negligent.
II has become apparent to the members OF the
police force that for the present, at least most
of the power is held by Chief of Police comm,
and that Commissioners Roosevelt. 1rah' anu
Andrews are nearly helpless. so Tar as REFORM
work In the Department goes 1t Is generahy
believed that Chief Conlin. who Is counted as
a weak man, is so much under the controi VI
Commissioner Parker that the Commissioner
accused
of the Department He cannot make any pro-
motions but Chief Conn has the power 10
make all details and transfers of members OF
the force All the roundsmen Of the Department
are holding their places and drawing extra pay
by his grace and he could remand all OF them
to patrol duty at moments notice, and raise
up other patromen in their places, II ne saw III
There is much speculation among the poilti-
clans In the city as to the effect which inc
latest phase of the quarrel In the Police Board
will have on the members OF the Legislature
who have favored or opposed the Dill 10 'ahe
from Chief Conlin the power to appoint rouhos-
men and make transfers and to give 10 ma
jority Of the Commissioners the power 10 H'aAe
all promotions without the Chiefs recommended
tion The bill is hanging fire IN the commit
tees Of the Legislature, and II it's not passeu
before the end Of the session the tangie at INC
Central once Is likely to last all summer.
II is understood by the politicians that when
Mr.. Parker sent to T. c. Plat and Edward Lau-
terbach statement that most Of the promotions
in the police force had been those OF democrats
and that he has caused nearly all OF the few pro-
r,o,,ons of Republicans his main purpose was to
defeat the bill which had been sent to Albany by
the other three Commissioners. Mr.. Roosevelt
heard Of the statement when he was in Albany
To advocate the passage of the bill, and he then
denounced the statement as mainly raise: ne
and Mr.. Parker talked the matter over IN the
presence of Mr.. Lauterbach at Albany, ana wnen
they returned to the city Mr.. Roosevelt consulted
with Commissioners Grant and Andrews ana
wrote the letter to Mr.. Lauterbach accusing MI
Parker Of falsehood
Mr.. Roosevelt yesterday read the statement
given out on Wednesday night by Commissioner
Parker concerning the letter, and dictated the
following statement which was concurred In oy
Commissioner Andrews:
I'VE never 30 much as spoke to any member OF
the Republican organization directly or indi-
rActly about these matters until friend or mine
brought me information about this statement OF
Mr. Parker's having been put before the ieaoers
of the party. / at once Informed Messrs An
drews and Grant. At last we saw copy OF the
statement which Mr.. Parker was secretly clrcu-
lating with view to injure his colleagues e
at once OF course wrote full and detailed answer
! to it. giving our position IN way which cannot
J he misunderstood Mr.. Parker's statement OF
this morning does not deny a single statement OF
fact made by us. In the answer we were obliged
much 10 our regret. to show that Mr. Parker mao
repeatedly been guilty Of deliberate falsehood,
This fact renders-it unnecessary to -dafaDss N
Parker's further statements
Commissioner Parker. when told OF President
Roosevelts latest statement, did not show any
sign of surprise. In reply he said II stand by
what have said, and could give plenty OF detail
TO support It, / said 1t deliberately and ad-
yisedly. not harshly. and to repeat 1t will not
strengthen It. He. and not I. has been the az
gressor at every stage Of the controversy