New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-18
MIR. ROOSEVELT RESIGNS.
PRAISE FOR MAYOR sTRoNGs ADMINS.
TRATION.
TRIBUTES TO SOME OF HIS coLLEAcUEs-EViLs
or THE BIPARTISAN sYsrEM-succEssoh
TO BE NAMED TOMORROW.


Theodore Roosevelt. who is to assume his new
dutie. az Assistant Secretary Of the Navy to-mor-
row sent his resignation as Police Commissioner 10
Mavor Strong yesterday and took advantage OF the
opportun!ty TO give expression to some opinions
about the police force and the Mayors aom'nis"a
ton Mayor Strong did not appoint commas
sioner Of Police yesterday. and when ne ictt MS
office In the City Hall late In the afternoon ne
declined to say II he had made up his mind as 10
the choice of a man to take the place vacated by
Mr. Roosevelt lie intimated that he would ap-
point Mr. Roosevelts successor in the Police board
tomorrow, and that the public would not De IN
formed Of his choice In advance or the appoint
ment
The following is Mr.. Roosevelts letter OF resis-
nation:
Police Department.
New-York April II. 1891
NY Dear Mr. Mayor: herewith tender you my
resignation to take effect April ~, In accord
wish s to Oa take this sir to thank you
for appointing. me and TO express my very deep
G Se Scs Eeo Of you
intrusted TO my care We have been very IN
ali meS Who have been Associated with you do
know. the devotion with which you have given an
ment of our civic conditions and the single-mnded-
ness with which at every crisis you have s1nsn
work SO jealousy under you because you have
never required of me anything but loyal service 10
York city, and I well know that had followed
any other course 1t would have met with instant mi
most Incredible difficnes with which you have
ss So rs 10 e act
firmly believe that people are now realizing that
Sgen this cy a has had IN
partmen we as well as YOU have been namperen
isered, is of such absurdly foolish character that
II bac haap .ba lts
would have been achieved had you had your hands
free with reference to your appointees. and had
Nevertheless, very much has been accomplished.
istered without regard TO politics, and with an
equitabIy and to show favor to no man. The old
system of blackTail and corruption has been al,
tho Of sp we
piete order. and we have warred against crime and
vice more effectively than ever before. The fact
that we have , come short In any measure Is que
the full measure of power over our subordinates
which could alone gparante ,s the best results We
and in letter so as 70 show that there is not the
slightest for wishing gH to get rid h Of or for
results when honestly enforced. About two-hfths
nd "p Sey
make the best body of recruits that have ever
This is about four times the number Of appoint
ments that have ever before been made in the
promotions, In promotions and appointments alike
have dsregarded wholly all considerations or
political or religious creed; we have treated all men
alike on their merits. rewarding the good and
siderations. This the course followed long
as the Board had control over all promotions; and
made. ] have joined with Commission Andrews
in refusing to take part in any effort to promote
sst expressing my appreciation of the hgh-minded-
which Commissioner Andrews has brought to the
performance of every official action.
During my term Of service we have striven espe:
the burgar the roter the tough the aW6Tsaks ir
| of every movement for good One Of my pleasant
est experiences has been working with all men, rich
estants Jews and Gentiles, who striving to make
our civic conditions better who are striving to raise
among our less fortunate brethren. We have en-.
in SUCH work e that the police their
alles We have endeavored to make the average
to be dreaded only by the and was ever
ready to treat with courtesy and to befr!efd any
The man in the ranks. the man with the night
stick has been quick to respond to all efforts quick
to recognize honesty Of purpose in his superiors
Y h in a ne pG zeaon SS % aas
the best possible work I have bitterly regretted
is so bad that has bee impossible 10 make Of this
splendid body Of men all that could be made Il the
power and absolute singleness Of purpose TO do
Again thanking you for having appointed me. and
for your Treatment of me during my term of service
ab W Y6 mpsh sraqs dsS I5eat f6ssRag ry
WORK OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.
To newspaper men, before leaving his Office at
Police Headquarters Mr.. Roosevelt made the fol-
lowing additional statement
As president OF the BoarH OF Police have been
a member Of tho Board of Health, and It has been
a real pleasure to work with three such men as
M a % hs Dn the
valuable service to the city which they have rem
testify to their sings-hearted desire to serve the
city During the entire two years / have neve.
solely by an earnest desire to benefit the public
and TO do in the best possible manner work which
with matters literally Of vital Importance to the
city's welfare. They have, to handle delicate and
the risk Of mourning dangerous enmites. l want
to bear hearty tribute to the feSressness the
have shown The work they have done toward
tenements is Of such far-reaching Importance that
people can form but faint idea more Of IT. IN any
than any other one thing Of the many excellent
things done during Mayor Strongs admnistra-
for heavy damages brought against the individual
members Of the Board Of Health by the owners
Of some OF the, hideous and dsgraceful rookeries
The work Of the Board in regard to tuberculosis.
S yet pus milk for the people to
proper sanitary conditions in tenement houses and
s he Ga Of Schools the board
al these are illustrations or the various Klnd OF
work which go to make IN the splendid record OF
efficiency Of the Department IL has been pleas
IRE to work with a DEPARTMENT presided over by
so admirable executive head as MI Wilson;
and to he able 10 second and speed the efforts or
his colleague Dr. Fowler. and himself.
There two other public ofcinis With whom;
close contact namely. Colonel Warning and District
Attorney Olcott and wish to bear testimony to
the work they have done for the city; II Is real
nrlvlege TO be associated with men OF their stamp.
No MEETING OF THE POLICE BOARD.
PARKER AND GRANT STAY AWAY AND MR..