New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-20
STATEMENT OF THE CHIEF.
MCULLAGH SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO
ENFORCE THE LAW.

HE ASSERTS THAT he DUES MI pH' ~
CROKER GAVE ORDERS FOR HIS REMOVAL
SOME POLITICIANS RELIEVE THAT THE
HEAD OF THE FORCE NAY NOT
BE DRIVEN TO RETIRE.
While politicians in this city continued to assert
Yesterday that Tammany would find way to re-
tire John McCullagh. the Chief OF Police ana 10
promote Deputy Chief Devery. the Tammany ia
vorite to be the head of the police force. 1t was
made known that the only way TO retire MT NC
Cuagh would be to remove one or both OF the
Republican members of the Police Board ana APP
point Republicans who would vote 10 AID the plans
Of the Tammany Commissioners of Police Thomas
/, Hamilton and William T. Philips. the Repuh-
can Commissioners. were known TO nave asserteu
that they would not vote to retire MI Mc'uIlash
in order to save their own official heads. such
assurances made to prominent Repupllcah
politicians who declared that the Republican or
eanizaton would not recommend any person TO De
appointed in place of either Mr. Hamilton or MT
Philips II the Mayor made use of his power OF re-
moval In order to force the retirement of Mt NC
Cullagh.
The only for wanting change In IN"
office of Chief OF Police the Republican politicians
said that Tammany might carry out ah'r
election pledges to gamblers. liquor dealers ana
sporting men to have New York run wide open
under n Tammany police administration 'h'el
McCullagh II was declared. had enforced the laws
against gambling and other forms of vice. ana had
enforced the excise laws impartially. and the re
publican organization could not afford to assume
any responsibility for change by recommending
for appointment a Republican Police Commissioner
who would vote for the retirement OF chef NC
Cullagh. Some Of the politicians who were ~ the
meeting Of the Republican County committee last
evening said that Mayor Van Wyck had been IN
formed as to the attitude OF the Republican or
ganizatlon In the city. and in the circumstances
they did not believe he would remove either OF the
Republican Police Commissioners or that 'hief
McCuaeh would be forced into retirement
Last evening Chief McCulagh issued a statement
plainly intended 10 sustain the position taken py
the Republican organization. and asserting thht ne
would continue to enforce the Inv fairly and Inn
partially so long he permitted TO hod MS
Office His statement as follows
on August 25 1885, was appointed Chief Of Pole, ice
OF the then city OF Ncw-IOrk 10y a majority OF in'
Board OF Police. This was done without any sQll,ih
ton my part, and without any p~lees ha.'nSS
been made by required 81 M 10 any pu'u'as
organization At that time n deadlock existed IN
the Board caused 10y my predecessor refusing !"
upon assuming the ONCE OF chief OF Police made
recommendations. the deadlock was broken ana AL
the vacancies existing In the various Offices or m
specior captain and sergeant OF police were Iilsi,
WERE also Transferred and placed by In precincts
which in my judgment, their ability ani Per- ne
partmen would get the best results from their ser
vices That matter was entirely eit 10 me- ana
without any Interference with me whatever a..
At the election held last November for the first
time in the history Of the Police Department, IN"
p9e we ra kT made G1 ic OF Se ~
Illegal registration. In making this canvass t~rn'y
and the Completeness OF this Investigation is evi-
denced by the fact that Of this number ony nm" "
thousand voted on Election Day Inc r","'"T "''
on file at Police headquarters 10 prove TINS
At the close 81 the year ia. IN" Department was
+ the discipline Of the force manifest on Jan.
1@.y eI city was T P was s6 done without any
solicitation on my part and defy any man 10 say
,eTest himself in my behalf with either of the
orranizations Evicntiy il seemed to the Commis-
position. and was promoted to the place Of 'hiei
Of Police on February i,'" kumors wrfe cur,
:" stafcm,nt az president YORK verified In my pres
ence and published In the papers 81 the day IN
"MrCullagh was made Chief by the unanimous
vote OF the Board The Board has tuil confidence
e ne new Chief and as Iong as am presii,rnt 81
retire He "A competent man well all" 10 carry
the duties of the place. and H. IN the opinion 81
CHEF | will 90 further than this viii say
Predecessors ever dld. and know what am AK,
Ing about The stories that have been printed
about his retirement are al bosh MoCu'laeh Is
Hacked by this voluntary esPTcsTsion Of Ss
and Loyalty supported IN my wors Is,i o rngry
bling houses and poolrooms and a great number %
house Of Sqd qs soM and Is h. e too
notwithstanding that rumors were prevalent that
everything In the Greater New-iork was 10 De
run wide open"
Regarding the statements published n some OF
the newspapers concerning transfers OF Captains
Delaney and lierlihy. I will state that whatever
may have occurred In the Boara relative TO th ms
matter | have as vet see In the minutes o. IN"
Board the record Of any action regarding the trans
iers OF these cepans ana made no % TO tfanser
either OF the men named. and y there was GER
2S2 OF the charter gives tho. chief the power 10
transfer and assign and detail TO duty all members
.1i fore. md &
ments from time to time wheneyer. In his lnds
ment. The exieencies OF NE ssrV,s inay 10 he
words Of the law. in his Judgment" and VIII
/ here state that no matter what request any
Commissioner may make OF me in regard 70 the
transfer Of any poice capan snnh h p'S unles
/ In my judgment such transfer Is beneficial 10 tho
During the latter part Of the year 1897 was look
Ing up n commander for the Tendcrloin. and q
but few persons wiling to be transferred any OF
Them and take the responsibility 81 them, lmme.
willing cnndidatss ana ~ rea,,csind and shall
may be Or from whom eScept IN my ~, 5u1 rhanpe
10 be MADE. As 10 the assignment OF patrolmen 20
light duty. I have in every instance whore ! coulI
do 20 CONSISTENCY given the preference 10 old men
ment. Where a man has performed faithful and
wears and upward consider him 10 be veteran
/ Of the Department. and as such entitled to any
The rSpors made to s Honor the Mayor
! am attempting 10 run the Department for ths
furtherance OF political interests are entirely un-
true and would here state that any rumors pup-
lished 10 the effect that Mr.. Croker has given
orders that shall be retired are In my opinion mon
! false as he stated 10 mo that no desired very
! much go far as he concerned. to keep politic9
out OF the Department; and think II HIS Honor
| the MAYOR will make further Investigation II VIII
I throw a little more Hight upon this subject ana
think he will take different view OF the matter
/ from TINT which he now evidently holds i1ut.
M once as these rurnors that the chief s getting
out from day TO day create feeling OF discomfort
figf
| among the members Of the force which IL hghly
/ detrimental TO discipline. and very much lmpairs
the efficiency protectors OF the lives and prop
crty Of our citizens. II Is the more disquetng be
/ cause of the fact that these members number
1000 men. and also because the city Is now In the
/ midst of restless and disturbing times. when the
force should not be without Il competent com