Evening star., 1898-05-25
LIVELY FIGHT IN PROSPECT
HI
Chief McGullagh,s Removal Will Stir Up
New York Politicians
His Suecessor, Devery, Has an I'm
savory Political Record-War
ON Van wyck.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
NEW YORK, May "A. 1898.
The removal Of Chief of Police McCul-
lagh bids fair to precipitate serious quar-
rel between the republican and democratic
organizations of New York city and New
YORK state. In the event of the attempted
removal Of Mayor Van Wyck by Governor
Black the quarrel may not stop short of
the election next fall It is the first radical
oreak that has occurred between the re-
publican and democratic organizations since
last fall, and politicians are all at sea as
to final results
everything now depends upon the view
point adopted by Governor Black, and Gov
ernor Black is now in the heart of the
Adfrondacks, and hence cannot be reached.
1t is not SO certain that Black will remove
van Wyck at the request of the republic
can organization of New York city, assum-
ing tnat the request is made. To remove
van Wyck would be to make the mayor
or Greater New York a martyr" and
Black has no desire to stir up the troubled
water Of state politics for the next six
months
Threat Of the Democrats.
Already the democrats are threatening
that in the event Of the removal Of Van
Wyck by Black they will nominate the New
YORK mayor for governor. This would give
the democrats what they desire most of
allan tssue-the issue of home rule for
cities-the right of the governor to interfere
In matters of this character
AS matters now stand the republicans, by
the removal of McCullagh from the impor-
tant office of chief of police and the SUBJ
stitutlon OF Devery, have the long end of
the proposition. The appointment of Dew
cry Is quite generally taken to mean re-
turn of the old blackmaiing, bulldozng
Gays OF Tammany in the ante-Lexow days,
When the police extorted money from
everybody, from merchant to bootblack.
Good government clubs. citizens union or
carnations, independents, have all taken
alarm at the selection of Devery, fearing
that 1t means a coming back of the city
gamblers, thugs, policy sharks, etc. If the
governor in turn should remove Van Wyck
and Van Wyck should then run for gov
ernor against Black the whole question
would descend to the level of q party
scrap at the polls.
One little thing which. it is claimed, Tam
many overlooked in it's headlong race for
the possession of the police department
was the charter. Section 27O, which deals
with the. constitution of the police board
begins. begins this way: The police board shall
consist OF four members" That is all that
Is necessary to invaiidate the boards ac-
tion in the removal Of McCullagh. There
We're only three members on Saturday,
when the so-called board removed McCul-
lagh and put in Devery. Under the char
ter, 1t Is argued. there was no board in ex-
istence, and therefore the removal was ille-
gal, void and impossible.
Strong Case Against Tammany.
The case against Tammany is strength
ened when 1t is remembered. what was in
tended by the charter provision. that the po-
lice board should have four members. Two
of them were to be democrats two republi-
cans, so as TO preserve the balance of pow
er in the board.
Three MAKE quorum of board existing
and organized, but not until 1t exists and
has been organized. The removal of the
two republican, commissioners destroyed
the old board. The fact was recognized by
the Tammany members who remained over
when they called session, upon the ap-
pointment of Jacob Hess, organized formal
ly and elected president. They began as
new board, but they began too early.
The charter-does not recognize "a board of
three members. 1t says there shall be four.
Even UP to this moment only three have
been appointed.
Tammany Hall leaders practically admit
square matters by appointing another
republican member of the board and again
going through with the firing and ap-
pointing process.
Chief Devery's Record.
In this connection it is interesting to note
that when Richard Croker shook hands
with Police Captain Devery on last cleo
ton night and told him he would be chief
of police there was more behind his state
ment than the mere promise of appoint
ment. Devery as political police captain
had been worth more to Tammany Hall
than any six assembly district leaders.
The enormous fraudulent VOTE so proved
in court, in the districts controlled by Pat
rick Diver and Timothy D. Sullivan had
been made possible only by the aid of the
police department.
Police Captain Devery's part in elections
was known TO Richard Croker, not only
through his lieutenants, Senator Sullivan
and Former Police Judge Diver, but
through the records of the Lexow investi-
eating committee. 1t was not strange,
therefore, that Croker, drunk with success
on last election night and reaching for
state leadership should look upon his old
friend Devery as useful chief Of police
in city of G000OO voters. The new board
of police commissioners removed Devery
without hearing on charges of corruption,
and the election day episodes were for
gotten. The courts in reinstating Devery
did not pass upon his guilt or Innocence,
but held he should not have been tried
while unable . because of illness, to appear
and defend himself. On his nstatement
nothing was done in the way Of bringing
forward charges against him Of abetting
fraudulent registration and voting.