The sun., 1897-04-27
POLICE BOARD Is TIED UP.
COMMISSIONER GRANT CAN'T BE
PRESIDENT.


Elected-vyants to stop All Busipcsp, but
cou,uaiasioper Parker vgonr hack Buiu, ir
That, SO sorne Rsutine Matters Are Settled.
Col. Grant was beaten for the Presidency oi
tho Police Board by tio vote yesterday, and In
his chngrin he refused to let the business OF the
department 60 on. Commissioner Mos, who
was the cause Of his defeat. warned him that IL
was a serious matter TO hold up police business.
and Commissioner Parker, who suffered defeat
with Col. Grant, Joined In starting the board
machinery. Once 1t was set running Col Grant
voted on routine matters with the rest.
It was nearly an hour af.or tho time set for
the meeting by President Pro Tenn. Andrews
when the four Commissioners met. They had
barely taken their seats when Mr. Androws. ro-
marking that the organization OF the board was
merely temporary, moved the election OF CON-
missioner Moss as Chairman.
why, we haven't started tho meeting yet, !"
said Commissioner Porkor, and the motion was
laid aside to lot tho clerk read tho minutes OF
tho preceding meeting. Tho record OF the meet
ing OF April IA, when Col. Grant was elected
Chairman pro TEN. on Mr.. Parker's motion. was
challenged at once by the Colonel The Chief
Clerk 9 minutes had the motion as peing 10 eject
"for this meeting"
THAT is not the resolution voted for." said
COL Grant. Mr.. Parker persuaded him TO wait.
"All right" he said II am willing to wait,
but that is not the resolution 1 voted for"
After the minutes had been read the matter
was taken up. Col Grant moved that the min
utes be corrected to read that he was elected
Chairman pro TEN. simply. An argument en-.
sued, and Commissioner Parker made long
speech in which he said that he was surprised
when he saw the words " for this meeting" in
the minutes.
"Iwanted to make Col. Grant Chairman pro
tenn, pure and simple" he said. land meant 1t
to operate from that meeting"
He added that he did not attempt to have the
minutes changed, and that the matter was Of no
Importance.
"Col Kipp, ho asked the Chief Clerk, "did
ever ask you to change the minntesT
"In answer to that" said Col. Kipp, Twill
read just what took place -"
"No, never mind! Did I ask you to change
the minutesT
There was a solemn pause, during which IL
pin had dropped It would have raped the
You did not, said tho Chief Clerk at last.
"You informed me that the minutes should
vi sS s1 III PsfS TF
"No" said Col. Grant. Mr.. Parker was not
k6s fam B. Gs q T6H Paeo G
Out Of the whole discussion. which, Mr.; Parker
Moss's mind" there, came no less than three
Fixed and one movable version Of what the Eeso-
tried hard to follow. but grew more and more
bewildered, When at last Col. kipp read on
Mr. motion sSaas "a be Be
meeting. Mr.. Moss called halt ,
HSW is that he asked ME 1ai pabSker
That is So" said Mr.: Parker: when the
This neetins.' 1 said that meant from the
Mr.. Moss gazed thoughtfqlly at his colleague
You were not here. Mr. Moss" said Col.
Grant, turning around in his chair. Il don't
see how you can very well vote"
II do it," said Commissioner Moss, because
don't want to cast reflections on the Chief Clerk
and the stenographer. who have their minutes.
Hs tam % as the return u " Of Mr. % not 3
with him, retorted Col. Grant.
Il wouldn't cast q reflection on you. Colonel.
for anything Mr.. Moss said, and OF all days,
not on this. But q man may be mistaken.
have been, and have been set right by the
men. who are here without color or favor to any
one. and anxious to do their duty"
tie % Vote They Were afterWnrd M approved S' ex
cept as to the reso luton in question.
M Pafkr 9Pb tho of GU
ship to the senior Commissioner In the absence
Of the Presiden under reso
@ but only % to Il the % intervals between en- them. % When
meetings. % the chsTmanship ] pro fota3ed. The CHEZ lief
Clerk said that it was as to the intervals be-
tween meetings that he had questioned the Cor
Thsn said cq Grant "he gave an opinion
He made IL a little broader than the question
was." said Mr.. Parker. Commissioner Andrews
contended that the old board always had the
senior Commissioner preside in the absence of
'ns @That ' is It.. broke in Col. Grant, land that
motion at the meeting on April IA or course,
4 Mr. Moss votes that that isn't SO. that makes
Commissioner Parker said that he didn't caro-
II now move" he said. that Col. Grant be
elected President of the board for the ensuing
Commissioner Andrews asked If that was an
No." said Mr.; Parker. there was no meet-
and Grant voted yes. Commissioners Andrews
and Moss no. SO the motion was lost.
be made President. It was lost. two to two.
Andrews nd, VS. and Moss Moss voting ,ing YES. yes p.u.,
President. The proposition amused Mr.. Parker
greatly and he laughed long and silently over 1t.
Moss might Sots ySS Hsn for me ana apG then
said Mr.. Moss.
1t was over. There was no President, and
there was to be none.
"Shall We proceed with business r. asked Mr..
Andrews.
II don't know that we can," said Col. Grant,
who was hard hit and showed IL very plainly.
"I don't see how we can do business with no
organization"
HOh, / think we had betterr broke in Mr..
Moss. ut is a very serious thing to stop the
police business of the city, very serious thing.
gentlemen"
He spoke very slowly and distinctly. and his
words had the intended effect.
"0h, yes! let us 20 on and do business. said
Mr.. Parker. and threw some papers on the table.
"The Committee on Pensions reports" he said.
Col. Grant wavered. With u sudden inspiration
he said:
Chairman.
Tho motion was voted down by Commissioners
Andrews and Moss. Mr.. Moss explained his vote.
II came here and found a condition am
averse ,o disturbing" he said, My first act
was to attend meeting called by Mr.. Andrews,
and find an opinion OF the Corporation Counsel
under which he is Chairman. don't feel like
disturbing it."
Almost the first business that came up was Q
letter from Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant Soc
fetary of the NAVY. referred To the poliCo by the