New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-18
THE MAYORS REASONS.


In the letter TO Governor Black the Mayor
gives his reasons for deciding that the charges
AGAINST Commissioner Parker were sufficiently
nroven As to the frequent absences Of Mr..
parker from the meetings OF the Police Board. the
letter says:
I, apneared from the said testimony that during
L II npnpmths npprdre" betweer october l. 1885 and Msrc
n Isqs the Board OF Police held fory-six stated
meetings from half OF which fro
which lie was absent many Important matters or
nublic business were discussed ana CONSIDERED py
he Board and many matters OF importance were
acted upon by the Board -, .., =, .h.
Roard during the same period AT ten OF which
Commissioner Parker was present, ana from eisnt
Of which he was absent, but no proof was eiver
Of the actual service OF notice of these special
I consider this systematic neglect to attend the
meetings OF the Board TO he failure 10 perform
rho most necessary and vital duty for which
Police Commissioner Is appointed
After recitng from the testimony at Mr..
parker.s trial some cases in which the Conn
missioner neglected applications as chairman of
the Committee Pensions. the Mayor says
that Mr. Parker's failure to act created an in
iurious impression on the police force, and in
that connection he says:
The pension system In the Police Department Is
of the highest Importance: and the effect upon the
force OF continuous neglect and indifference IN sc-
cording the benefits OF the system 10 those Who
arc entitled TO them necessarily he distressing
and dishea rtenlng The members OF the force are
constantly called upon 10 face danger and death.
The confidence that. whatever may be the result
10 Themselves their families viii meet with prompt
and cheerful relief from the pension fund provided
for that purpose Is no slight element In the ready
and fearless peri f)rmance OF their duties.
pIssENsIONs THE RESULT OF NEGLECT.
The Mayor also refers to the specification
charging Mr. Parker with neglecting COM
plaints referred to him for investigation. and
declares that the Commissioner failed TO make
a valid excuse for such neglect The letter OF
the Mayor To the Governor ends as foiio"s'
Ano,her peculiar feature OF this department. "
,ha, a. ,here be dissension among the members OF
,ha poard one Commissioner, In conjunction win
The Superintendent OF Police mas power unuel 'ne
iaw 70 practically block the action OF the BOARD W
matters OF the greatest importance. mcudinS M
pfono,o nv the evidence before me thar die.
sansion did grow up In this Board OF Police tnat
Instead of harmony. controversy ana pt,er teeuhs
nnsa with the result that upon matters OF impor-
lance action OF the Board WAS hhdeted and "
so,ns resnecls prevented and that paralysis o.
s,c,,o, h.s resulted which must necessarily be In
The highest degree injurious 10 ire pubic service
+ an, satisded that this condition OF things was
H. natural N not the necessary consequence OF
ccnmmssioner Parker's practical refusal TO make
s ,ynr' which ne ought have made TO perform
h,s regular duties as 4 member OF the Board ana
Of It's Committees. and OF his continuous neglect TO
,ake mari In the meetings ana 10 WORK together
With the other members. as "A part or body o.
IN In nv Judgment the evidence that Mr.. Parke:
was In fact spending his time In such other matter
relating to the Police Department not especially
delegated to him by the Board affords no excuse
for the offences proved against him. II rather indi
Gates to my mind, when taken together with nis