New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-22

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ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE DEVERY
Detailed the retirement of Chief McCu"asn'
to the rank Of Deputy Chief. was male the
Acting Chief of the Department, with 'he GER
tainty Of being the executive head Of the police
force as soon as Civil Service requirements can
be compiled with. The Mayor gave his approval
to the retirement of Chief McCuagh in order 10
make the action legal under the charter
When the politicians of the city knew that
McCullagh was out and Devery was IN 10 stay
they all agreed that the TammaHy promises to
the gamblers liquor dealers and keepers OF pool
rooms and dens of vice and crime that the city
should be run wide open under Tamn1any
police administration were 10 be carried cut NO
other Interpretation of the change at Ponce
Headquarters even considered ~ the men
whose business it is to know the reasons for po-
ltical changes. Republican politicians were
unanimous in declaring that their organization
could not be held responsible in any way for the
action Of Jacob Hess, who had been a chronic
oflce-holder for years and had read himself out
Of the Republican party by accepting an office
from Tammany as result OF so degrading a
bargain as the retirement Of a competent Chief
Of Police involved.
VAN WYCK's LAME APOLOGY.
Mayor Van Wyck evidently felt that he must
make some explanation or apology for his part
in the removal Of Chief McCuagh. for. con-
trary to his usual custom. he consented to talk
to newspaper men who went into his office after
the information Of the changes at Police Head
quarters had reached the City Hall. Assuming a
look of ferocity. and with apparent excitement.
he said:
Yes have removed Commissioners Hamilton
and Philips, and have appointed Jacob Hess In
place of Mr.. Hamilton I have not yet appointed
q successor 10 Mr. Philips want you TO say 10
the people that the Mayor, their servant whom
they elected last fall. has successfully resisted
every attempt to raid the public treasury, and
he will continue to do so. lie will also con-
tinue 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 be Endorsed. l ex
pect to be a candidate for a judicial Office when
retire from here. and l expect the people will
indorse my conduct by such an overwhe lining
majority has not before been given in the
history Of the city.
II will administer the affairs of the city with
out interference from anybody. whether he be
Chief OF Police or any Commissioner. and any
body. matter who he is who throws down
the gauntlet TO me and invites a fight will get
all he wants of It. If they succeed it will be
over my dead body Yes. tell the people that
their servant. the Mayor, will continue to run
the affairs Of the city government without the
interference OF Republican politicians and
without any dctaton from either Plat or
Qugg. Tell the people this. and let them know
that am at the helm, and while Mayor.
which will be for the next four years. their in
terests Will be safe in my hands from raiders
OF all kinds
Il have in my possession a complete roster
OF the police force with the politics Of every
member. 1 find that 60 per cent OF the Deputy
Chiefs Republicans. OF the Inspectors, 90
per cent are Republicans; OF the captains. Il
per cent: Of the sergeants. 80 per cent and OF
the roundsmen. - per cent Now that Is what
the Republican Commissioners, the Republican
Chief and Messrs. Platt and Qugg call bi-par-
tisanship In the Police Department
Some time ago Mr.. Hamilton was asked TO
vote for the transfer Of a certain police officer.
He said that the transfer was a matter Of poll
4jcs and he would not vote for IL until he had
consulted with Mr. Plat. and Mr.. Qulgg. who
were In Washington. The other question. the
matter Of the Chief. had not come up at that
time. sent for Mr. Hamilton and asked him
II II was true that he had refused to vote with
out consulting Mr.. Plat and Mr.. Quigg He
said It was. and told him that the people OF
This civ would no: have the Police Department
run In that way. told him that such con-
dtion in the Police Department was an out
rage and that 1 would put end to 1t. told
him the people Of this city would rule through
their servant that / was elected by the people
and that the Police DEPARTMENT could not be
governed by Republican politicians while was
Mayor"
HARD TO FIND REPUBLICAN FOR THE
DEAL
The Mayor declined to say where Jacob Hess
had been sworn into Office O Police Commits
sioner 1t was known that Mr.. Hess had not
been to the Mayors Office for that purpose. II
was known also that the appointment had been
offered to Charles X. Lexow. a brother Of State
Senator Lexow and to Charles II. Murray. the
Republican district leader who was removed
from the office OF AQueduct Commissioner re-
Gently but both refused to accept the
Office OF Police Commissioner condition Of
voting to retire Chief McCullagh. 1t said
that the Mayor had not been able to find any
Republican In Brooklyn who was willing to take
the Office on the same terms. The Mayor de-
TO Mr. Philips.
There was meeting Of the Police Board yes
terday morning. at which only routine business
was transacted. Commissioners Hamilton and
Philips left Headquarters half an hour before
noon They had been gone about twenty
minutes when Jacob Hess appeared. About
the same time Chief McCulagh left his ONCE
saying he had some business downtown and
would not return until late In the afternoon.
Mr.. Hess-went direct to the Board room. where