New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-22
ANDREWS THEACTING HEAD
THE MIDDLE IN THE POLICE boAnD'

COMBINATION COUNSEL SCOTT FoiLS THE f'A''
OF MFssas GRANT AND PARKER
There is a promise Of long deadlock IN .he
Police Board over the election of president ai,ei
Mayor Strong appoints Commissioner u u" VIZ
vacancy created by the retirement or lhcouolo
Roosevelt and in tho mean time three commas
soners are squabbling over the quesuo" do "
which Of them shall be acting president 10 pr
vent Commissioners Grant and Parker outVo.i"s
him Yesterday Commissioner Andrews dodSed Il
regular meeting of the Police Board ana the Coi
poration Counsel was appealed TO lot a"'i1e
Colonel Grant and Mr. Parker gave nouce W '"'
MAYOR on April If that he could not dlcta'e '''
election OF a president OF the Board OF PONCE anu
II is understood that the inevitable quarrel on that
subject has caused at least one ehgipie man ~
decline appointment to the Office of Commissioners
h,h NJ, poosoveu resigned Commissioner An
drove az the senior Commissioner has peguh "
sign napers as the acting president, althoush lne
othcr Two Commissioners voted him out VI '"o
chair or April "A. Yesterday Coonei "lai' ''"'
for Chief Clerk Kipp, and asked MIN why "'
declined to recognize him as the actihs P'eSu'''
and Colonel Kipp pointed to resolution p' 80
1850 declaring that the senior Commissioner shouio
- 49, ao, rresdent in the absence of the presi-
don, Later Colonel Kipp asked for the advice OF
the CORPORATION Counsel, and Mr.. Scott gave an
onnion that Commissioner Andrews was ac''"s
president ,r,, o,rNroN
n. SCOTTS OIlNlO4>'
The CORPORATION Counsel arrives at this cohclusioh
after a careful study of the records OF inc io,ioo
Denartment. These show that on January % lsS-'
,bn BOARD of Police adopted a resolution winch mas
never been rescinded declaring that In the Az
sence Of the president of tho Board the senior
member present at headquarters shall act as pres-
dent"
Acting under this resolution. Commissioner An
drews, on the acceptance OF Mr.. Roosevelts resig-
ocfp nj
ing president and to perform other duties pertaining
to that Office.
The records further show that on April Ia iast'
Commissioners Andrews. Grant ana Parker Dcihs
present Commissioner Parker moved that COM
missioner Grant be chosen president pro tenn ior
this meeting" which was adopted, Commissioners
Grant and Parker voting aye and Commissioner
Andrews voting no. Subsequently it was asserted
that the minutes OF Clerk Kip were incorrect IN
saying "for this meeting" Commissioner farKer
alleging that he used the language from THIS meet
Ing" The Corporation Counsel assumes, however,
that Colonel Kipps records are all right and that
the power given to Commissioner Grant was TO act
as president for the meeting OF April IA only. In
summing up the case Mr. Scott thus tersely clears
away the difficulties which have arisen as TO the
acting presidency OF the Police Board:
In my opinion, therefore. until a president shall
have been elected. until the Board OF Police snail
by a vote of the proper number OF Commissioners
rescind the reso luton or January rs lSsz ana elect
q president tenn, the Police commissioner VINO
Is the senior Commissioner has the power OF acting
president of the Board
GRANT AND PARKER TO ANDREWS.
At 10 a. m yesterday, the time for the regular
meeting OF the Police Board, Commissioner An
drews hurriedy left Police Headquarters and went
consult with Mayor Strong. He remained away
from his colleagues all day, and 1t reported at
the Central Office that Mayor Strong had advised
him not to attend meeting Of the Police Board
until another Commissioner WAS appointed. Last
evening Commissioners Grant and Parker sent to
Mr.. Andrews this letter:
We have to-day seen in the public prints state
ments of apparently authoritative character and
any denial that you intend, in compliance with
suggestion or direction to that effect to absent
yourself from any meeting of the Board of Police
until after the appointment OF successor TO the
late Commissioner Roosevelt. While
uctant 10 believe that any such agreement or
understanding has been entered into by you, yet
your hurried departure from Headquarters this
morning at about 10 o'clock the precise hour for
which the stated meeting of the Board of Police
was liked without any communication with or eX-
PLANTATION to either of us during the day. leads u.s.
In view OF tho greater or less accumulation OF pub
lilo business to request from you statement to
what hour Tomorrow, the I'D inst will be conven-
lent for you TO join us in meeting Of the Board
II Is only the fact that the absence OF single Com
missioner, under present circumstances, renders II
impossible TO hold Board meeting, which con-
strains us to request your presence.