New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-27
M'CULLAGH AT HIS POSI.
THE NEW CHIEF RECEIVES coNGRATU-
LATIoNs AND CALLS ON THE MAYOR
DOES NOT TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE As "
CIVIL, SERVICE EXAMINATION MAY BE Me-
,. ,>.sprcroe o.RRIEN's CHANCES.


EssARY-INsPEcToR oBRIEN's CHANCES
.Jobn Mcculagh. New-YorNs new Chiel Oh TO
rcs ref,a,ncd from taking the oath OF once yes
so h,oouse doubt had been thrown upon the
no-ronencv Of his appointment but he announced
h,,,se,f 10 the force IS Chief. received coAsfa'"'"
tions and communications as chic: ana perio'i'o"
various duties AS Chief Of Police oe!hg Co'io' ="
BIZ; sure that he is secure in the once 10 VINO,
rc v,as elevated on Wednesday by the votes OF
80 commissioners Nobody in the Police De-
,,srt,,en, appeared 10 have any doubt tha' MI
NcCulIagh was real Chief OF Ponce ana "o
continue to be- even If II should be necessai! i0i
him to pass Civil Service eNamihd''o" W
taking the oath Of office
MANY LETTERS AND TELEGRAMs
Many OF the captains at the Central once
1, the course Of the day 10 congratulate MI NJ
c,uagb and so many large floral decorations
hearing the name Of Chief in notices were SEM
10 his Office that they nearly filled the large io ,
About hushel OF letters and kilograms coHNe!."e
CONGRATULATIONS was delivered to the new chei'
Mr. McCullagh went down TO the CITY han e'i's
IN the afternoon and paid his respects TO Mayor
strong and the Mayor greeted him with the sal'-
tation: Hello Chief. | am glad 10 see you u,
the conversation that followed the Mayor expressed
tho opinion that there could be no question as 10
the legality OF the appointment
The opinion Of the Corporation Counsel as 10 'ie
validity OF Chief McCullagh's appointment whch
was asked for by resolution Of the Police BOARD
on Wednesday and was eagerly awaited by SONIC
officials yesterday. not entirely satisfactory
or entirely disappointing TO any OF them wheh II
came in the afternoon Corporation Counsel Scout
returned TO the city from Maine about noon' ana
had \ talk with Mayor Strong. Mr.. Scott said
he was still on vacation. but he looked over an
opinion which had been written by Theodore Con
noly the Acting Corporation Counsel and advised
some changes President Moss Of the Police Board
also had a talk with the Mayor
CONSIDERING THE OPINION.
Mr.. Connoly's opinion did not get to Police Head
quarters until after p. m. and when president
Moss received it he read It TO Commissioners An
drews and Smith separately. and then had talk
over the telephone with Mr. Conncly. TO make
sure Of the meaning of the opinion. before placing
It on file with the chief clerk In the opinion MI.
Connoly recited the resolution of the Police Board
and Section T. Chapter $50 of the Laws OF 1895,
which reads:
the Chief OF Police the Office shall be filled by
by the appointment Of the Deputy Chief of Police
or from among the Ct .ba ana b SSp Of Police
duties Of the Office Of Chief Of Police.
In continuation the opinion is as follows:
In answer to your communication beg to re-
mind you that the rules for examination In your
WHAT positions require examinations before they
can be filed. is before the State Civil Service
and determine under section Of the civil Service
law Of 1SS' wheneT or not IN Ho are depar
ment. and. If practicable whether they should be
f1n sy the STATE ' RosTd Of civil Service comms
sioners. no examination could be had even II one
deemed 10 he necessary.
LEGALLY ACTING CHIEF.
In view Of the circumstances. I advise you that
Mr. McCullagh is at least legally Acting Chief un-
der YOUR resolution and therefore should conduct
the affairs Of the department far As regards
the uniformed force until the State Civil Service
gested. II. when YOU receive the rules as approved
ly the state Board you will communicate with
NJ McCullaeb should act under the resolution
passed by your board The Counsel 10 the Cor
( V have had conference with him upon this sub
Ject. and am autnorized 10 T,aie ma ne apoVe
Acting Counsel to the Corpora ton.
After the opinion had been placed on file Mr.
Moss said it would be uncertain for two or three
weeks II Civil Service examination would he
necessary 10 confirm the appointment of Mr. Nc
Culiagh as Chief OF Police, but that in the mean
time Air McCullagh would have all the power and
perform all the duties Of Chief. and his appoint
Culiagh VII have the right to make recommends
tons upon which apponments ana Rr9mouohas
be made by the Board OF Police, ne SAID,
thus indicating that the Comnlissi2ners could go
,yi,hout The vote Of CommissIoncr Parker. As to
changes which are expected. Mr. Moss declined to
speak yesterday.
CONFERS WITH MR.. MOSS
Chief McClIaEn nad a long t9lk with MI MOSS
in the afternoon. and later he declined 10 speak
Of his plans - newspaper men. He also had
talks with other officials AT the Central Office.
Acting-Inspector O'Brcn. who is said TO be In
danger Of being reduced plain captain in charge
of an uptown precinct. but wants TO keep charge
Of the Detective Bureau. sought an interview with
the chief. As OBrien has offended two Of the
Commissioners by treating them with marked dis
courtesy and has shown lack OF ability to run
The Detective Bureau, his removal 10 d precinct
NAV be expected soon. Acting-Captain Titus, now
IN charge Of the police in Edrdge-st. is spoken
Of as a possible successor Of O'Brien In the De
tec;ive Bureau. The number Of vacancies among
the officers OF the police force is not large. The
Is' Of captains was full before McCullagh was
promoted but several captains are acung-lnspect-
ors There should Be Eve Inspectors Of Police.
and there is only one Inspector MCLAUGHLIN.
tn re- are seven vacancies I'm the list OF seistants
,The making Of four inspectors by promQilnb cap
fains and Tie makins Ci captains 10 III INC Va
cancics thus created. would allow the appointment
% 40 Of Police VIII make me appointments ana
r,rOrnofions a. soon possible. without regard 10
obicctions by Commissioner Parker.
Mr. Parker said 20 be- preparing some Iresh
OBJECTIONS yesterday, bat he Kept ort OF inc way
Oftbe other Commissioners and did not seek an
in;cryiew with Chef McCullagh The Police Board
will not have another NEE ting until next Nednes-
DAY.
TIE MONTGOMERY IN Port.
The United States cruiser Montgomery. Com
rnander c. A. Converse. arrived of Tompkinsville.
Staten Island. yesterday from Pensacola. Fla.
,.ha.. che his be.n doing patrol duty. She will