New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
FUND FOR POLICE LOBBYISTS!
BLUECoATs SAID TO BE GETTING READY
TO TRY TO INFLUENCE LEGISLATION.
NOT so EASY TO RAISE MONEY AMONG POLICE
MEN THIS YEAR-PATROLMEN ARE sUs-
PIcrous AND COMMISSIONERS SAY
THEY WILL PUNISH MEN
WHO RAISE 4 CORRUP-
TION FUND.


TIoN FUND
Grumbng among the members OF the police force
has indicated tina, the time has arrived for making
another collection OF money TO influence iegisatlon
Last year and the year before and In several previ-
years the policemen Of this city were asked 20
subscribe and pay money for lobbying purposes anu
has been the rule to without being 100 inqus'-
tive to the channels through which the money was
to be used at Albany. The policemen paid because
they wanted their salaries raised because they
were afraid their pay would be reduced. or because
they wanted to defeat legislation by which their rsht
to retire half-pay after twenty years OF service
might be taken away. Among themselves tne! nave
expressed suspicion that much OF the money raised
never was sent Albany. and this year the tax nas
indicated sllsplcon that the collection Is intended
for some ring of policemen who have been collecting
agents in the past
The ostensibe reason for the collection this year Is
that the Greater New-York charter may equahze the
police salaries by reducing the salaries OF New orK
policemen and raising the salaries OF the broohy"
and Long Island City police. To try to prevent the
reduction OF police salaries in this city the ponce
are asked to raise corruption fund oy paying 90
each, according the latest report Many Oh .''e
lately appointed policemen said to be regarded
with 80 much suspicion by the older policemen tnat
there is hesitation about asking them 10 suosc'ioe'
At the same time no policeman wants 10 pay any
thing unless he is sure that every other policeman
will have TO pay. Therefore there Is saia 10 oe u'i
usual difficulty In making the coilectloh this ye"''
Police Commissioners In this city said yesterday
tina, they had no knowledge about the reported COL
lection except what they had received from OUTSIDE
sources but that they would punish any members VI
rho force who could be convicted of raising or con-
tributng money for the purpose or Influencing 'ce'
Iatlon Chief Conlin said he did not believe any COL
lection was being made. Two weeks ago he raised 10
tho rank Of roundsman policeman who had Deen re-
manded to patrol duty because, when ne was a
roundsman last year he was suspected OF being one
q, tho agents for the collection OF police corruption
fund. ..
The report as to the raising OF police iuno
vas received with increduty by Police Commis-
s,oner Welles and the other officers OF the Brook
lvn force Yesterday. Commissioner Welles said
.I.d like to get the names OF the members OF tnat
committee II anybody will give me their names
well I'll thank him. don't allow the men 10
combine for the purpose OF influencing legislation
| would not countenance for minute .me ,"sts thi.
story II Is true there have been ruinors IN VI.
past Of the raising OF such fund. noiaoy LAST iass
we're assessed for a corruption fund. But never
knew definitely of any such case. ana was hoe
able to ferret any such combination out. p.u..
CAPTAIN Eason who was In charge az fonc9
+, Ueadauarters in Brooklyn last evening. said:
know nothing about any movement looking 70 TN, tne
raising OF a corruption fund In Brooklyn. thnS iS
were being done. I have ffty-seven men under
me in my precinct. and II they were peine ap-
preached for assessments OF this nature rs
and that their superior officers would KNOW VIVA. a.
was going on. 1t is my belief that everybody IN
enioys the use OF every cent Of his salary for his
own private purposes. The only organization u,on
among the rank and file OF the ponce Is 'ue , roare @
flrely to the collection OF beneht iund ana the
expenditure of the same among the benehciaries."