The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-05-22
THE MAYOR OF GOTHAM
WON'T CALL ON PLATT OR QUIGG
FOR ASSISTANCE
When Van Wyck Feels Like Chopping,
Official Heads Will Fall Into
the Basket

NEW YORK, May 2.--Mayor Van Wyck
Philips and Hamilton. He appointed Jacob
Hess in the place of Commissioner Hamil-
ton. Hess came to Police Headquarters
this afternoon and presented his certifi-
Gates of appointment. The board then or
ganized. re-electing B. ]. York President.
Then the board retired Chief McCullagh
on a pension of $4,000 a year, with the
Mayors approval. The board appointed
Deputy Chief Devery as Acting Chief.
Upon news of the removals of the COM
missioners, to a number of reporters who
called at the Mayors office, he said:
II have just been asked If l have re-
moved Police Commissioners Hamilton
and Philips. have, and have also APP
pointed Jacob Hess to succeed Mr.. Hamil-
ton. 1 want you to say to the people that
the Mayor, the servant whom they elect
ed last fall has resisted every attempt to
raid the Public Treasury, and he will con-
tinue to do SO. He will also continue to
run the affairs of the city government for
the benefit of the people and in the interest
of the people who elected him, confident
that at the end Of his term he will De en-
dorsed by such an overwhelming majority
as he has never been given in the history
of the city.
IT WILL" he continued. administer the
affairs Of the city without interference
from either Platt or Quigg. Tell the people
this and let them know that am at the
helm and while am Mayor, which will be
for the next four years. their interests
will be safe in my hands from raiders Of
all kinds. ST
IT have not vet appointed the successor
of Mr.. Philips"
The Mayor did not go into particulars or
specify any of the reasons which induced
him to remove the two Police Commission
ers, but 1t is shown that the result was
due to friction in the Police Board for
some weeks over the tranfer of some
captains and policemen.
John McCullagh, the Chief Of Police just
dropped, was Republican and refused to
make certain transfers which Democratic
commissioners wanted. The two Demo-
cratic commissioners voted to retire the
Chief, but were overruled by the votes of
the Republican commissioners.
McCullagh called at the city hall next
day and had a stormy interview with the
Mayor, during which he was told to go
back and run the department without re-
gard to politics, the Chief retorting that
in the matter of removals he would do as
he pleased. Since then there have been
numerous interviews between the Mayor
and Police Commissioners.
The Tammany version of the trouble be-
tween Mccullough and the Mayor and
Police Commissioners is that Senator Plat
and Congressman Quigg interfered with
the running of the department. 1t was said
that during an interview between the
Mayor and Commissioner Hamilton, the
latter said he would not vote for the trans
fer Of a policeman II the action was not
sanctioned by Quigg and Platt.
The Republican version is that ever
since Tammany returned to power, certain
gamblers and pool-room owners have
wanted to run wide open," and that Nc
Cullagh's opposition to this has brought
down the official axe on his neck.