The San Francisco call., 1898-05-22
POLITICS CUTS A FIGURE.
VACANCIES IN THE POLICE
 COMMISSION.
Republicans Claim the Action Was Taken Because the Deposed Men Were Foes of Gotham
 Gamblers.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, May 2L-Mayor Van Wyck to-day removed Police CommIs- sioners Phillips and Hamilton. He ap- pointed Jacob Hess in the place of Com missioner Hamilton. Hess came to police headquarters after noon and pre- scented his certificate of appointment. The board then organized, re-electing B. J. York president. Then the board retired Chief McCunagh on pension of 5000 a year with the Mayors ap- provaL The board appointed Deputy Chief Devery as acting chief.
 Upon news of the removals of the Commissioners and to number of re- porters, who called at the Mayors of flee to obtain a confirmation of the re- port of the removal of the Commission CTS, the Mayor said:
 T have just been asked if 1 have re- moved Police Commissioner Hamilton and Phillips. l have, and l have also appointed Jacob Hess to succeed MT. Hamilton. 1 want you to say to the people that the Mayor, their servant, whom they elected last fall, has re- sisted every attempt to raid the public treasury and he will continue to do SO. He will also continue to run the af- fairs of the city government for the benefit of the people and in the interest of the people who elected him, confl- dent that at the end of his term he will be indorsed by such an overwhelm- ing majority as has never been given in the history of the city.
 T will" he continued. administer the affairs of the city without inter- ference from either Platt or Quigg. Tell the people this and let them know that l am at the helm and while l am Mayor, which will be for the next four years, their interests will be safe in my hands from raiders of all kinds.
 T have not yet appointed the sue cessor of MT. Phillips"
 The Mayor did not go into particulars or specify any of the reasons which in duced him to remove the two Police Commissioners, but it is known that the result was due to friction in the Police Board for some weeks over the transfer of some captains and policemen.
 John McCullagh, the Chief of Police, just dropped, was a Republican and re- fused to make certain transfers the Democratic Commissioners wanted. The two Democratic Commissioners voted to retire the Chief, but were over ruled by the votes of the Republican Commissioners.
 McCullagh called at the City Hall next day and had stormy interview with the Mayor, during which he was told to go back and run the department
  torting that in the matter of removals he would do as he pleased. Since then there have been numerous interviews between the Mayor and the Police Com missioners
 The Tammany version of the trouble between McCullagh and the Mayor and the Police Commissioners is that Sena- tor Platt and Congressman Quigg inter fered with the running of the depart ment. It was said that during an in- terview between the Mayor ond Com missioner Hamilton the latter said he would not vote for the transfer of a po- liceman if the action was not sanc- toned by Quigg and Platt.
 The Republican version is that ever since Tammany returned to power cer- tain gamblers and poolroom owners have wanted to run wide open" but that McCullaghs opposition to this has brought down the official ax upon his neck.