The sun., 1897-03-14
POLICE BOARD DEADLOCK.
MATOR ASKS sCOIr IF HE sHALL
TRY GRANT IND PIREER.

seth low writes Urging Him to DO 50 ard
say. That the MetropoiItnn Police BII
Furnishes the innocent and NEEDLES with
the First Election Under the New Charter.
Mayor Strong hal long talk yesterday with
CORPORATION Counsel Scott and Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Clarke about the charges
against Police Commissioners Grant and Parker
which were laid before him on Friday By COM
mittee OF the City Club. At the end OF the
conference all the PAPER. in the case were hand
cd over to Mr.. Scott for Investigation. Mr..
Scott will advise the Mayor Shethef or not
70 put the two Commis ssoners on trial. II tho
CORPORATION Counsel decides that the evidence
Is strong enough to warrant such proceedings
the Mayor will act Immediately. II, on the
other hand. Mr.. Scott says the charges nre not
strong enough The matter will be Dropped. 1t
10 known that the Corporation Counsel Is
rather skepticai about tie success OF the move
ment TO oust Ne-srs. Grant and Parker. for
when practically the same charges were pre-
sented to the MAYOR by committee rom the
Good Government clubs Mr.. Scott said that
Il was not possible to remove n man frod. on'ce
merely because he differed with you on the
method OF running 1t. The Mayor received
from Seth Low yesterday this letter:
my DEAR MR. MAYOR: As had the b )nor
OF being associated with you In dissenting In
some respects from the nolice features OF the
Greater New York charter, I hope you will
permit me to say that think the present situs-
ton In this city as regards notice matters LAYS
upon you grave resDousibi.ity md at the
same time i'es you the opportunity ~ render
a con spicunu- ouDlIc service.
The constant chickering's in the Police Blari
have at last eliminated IA q distinct issue re-
latinS to the .yIiue pt the dc part meat, IA
ree.rl 20 which the Police Board IS divided,
One .lie must be radically wrong. the
other side mus he radically rrht. In the
meanwhile. the Discipline aud morale ~ the
depar. mrnt are exposed 10 the Crayesi danger
Every BODY pcrCeiveS this. ani even one Of the
PoIics Commissioners has suggested that the
whole Police Board should be legislated out Of
Office In response 20 this 81 -gestion. II has been
proposed 10 organize the Police Department OF
Hrea.er New York In advance. bY placing IL
under q state commission created al interim
for the purpose. following as far possible
ine re INES ot the Gr,ater New York charter
There are Two objections to this proposal.
either OF which. In mj judgment. /. sufficient
to condemn II.
First: because Ola trouble In the Police
Board Of the city OF New YORK. IL Is proposed
10 leE!sate ont of Office the Police department.
and the Board OF Elections ~ Brocklyn. 'he
Police Depar .ment OF Long Island city. and
Correspoudin. officials thrDu shOut the greater
city Tnls j. eminentiy unfair: and it IL, in
my opinion. as unwi>e as II Is unfair. IL Is
not claimed. ard II cannot successfully be
claimed. that toe Greater New YORK Commis.
provisions t0r the condIct OF the cleo
tion for CITY officers o, Greater New YORK
po To ors,s rs; 'Gh the Pacc e
partnent OF Greater New York under a State
commission raises also the fundamental Gg"--
ttoh of an unnsual interference "ith the local
prer- Gative just at the moment wnsa a char
ter 1, uendins thai aims to give to the greater
CitS larger and not les control over - own
destlnieS. need not do more than polnt out
how Objectionable thi- =. Il ever t.ere was
time when ths. local authorities Included in
Greater New York should CoH.nl vigorously
for the local prerogItive. Il Is now. Their
trumoet should utter no uncertain sound in
summonine the citizens TO ihs controversy.
But the second objection To this proposal
Il hardly less serious. II assumes tIe helpless
In the Police Board. and IL coufases the moral
sense Of the community that all ot the mem.
bar- ot the board should be g0.ureled % share
the same condemnation. ho,h those who sthai
who do not.
Under these circumstancss conceive that
you owe IL "a the city 70 bring fnis situation
Immediately 70 an end by bringing some or all
OF the Police Comtpi.sioners % trial. and by
re moving from Office those whom Y0g conceive
20 be At fault. II the Governor sps;aius you.
you have viniicatHd tue prerugatlys - the
city and have solved 'ho problem. IL the Gov.
ernor does no. sustain you. YOU have done
your part: and yOu Will have made lear % the
Legislature. a. nothing else can, the inht rent
and dangerous wcaEness ot the Grea,sr New
concerned, Ia the rarticniAr. % which both
you and | have objected. | beg YOU 70 act
promptly ard 20 act decidedly. Whether tie
Greater New York = % eu'"y any considerable
measure ~ home rG." uUGer the new charter
!s 20 BE- Importantly Affected. in my opinion. by
>. Tn, 4St hot sT cnn a dispute sGs it.
that the police provisions o; the new charter
are msn!r--tlv dam --rors n establishing a
Police Board - constituted a. 20 leave the Clty
helpless in "a" prc-en q o. deadlock n the
board, o. that the charter, In y : RESPECT, e
les. n: iaGlt than many think"
When asked II ~ had any comment 70 make
on the letter, Msyo- strong said Il have
nothing 20 say about II, except that II is the
ndLyiaraL .o.0in!on Of one %; the best men in