The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-22
POLICE CHIEF AXED
Tammany's Tomahawk De-
capitates MCCuIIagh.
VAN WICK Is THE BOSS
DefeS Plat and Quigg--Both
Sides of the Case.

New York. May 21.-Mayor Van Wyck
today removed Police Commissioners
Philips and Hamilton. He appointed
Jacob Hess in the place Of Commissioner
Hamilton. Hess came to police headquaf-
ters this afternoon and presented his Ger
tificate of appointment. The board then
reorganized, electing 3. J. York president.
Then heboard retired Chief McCuilagh
on pension of $1,000 a year. with the
MAYORS approval The board appointed
Deputy Chief Devery as acting chief
Upon the news of the removals OF the
commissioners and chief of police reach
ing them number Of reporters went TO
the mayors office to obtain confirmation
Of the rumor. When their mission was
announced the mayor called them in and
said:
u have just been asked if I have re-
moved Police Commissioners Hamilton
and Philips.
Il have; and I have also appointed
Jacob Hess TO succeed Mr.. Hamilton. I
want you to say to 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. He will also con-
tinue to run the affairs Of the city gov
eminent for the benefit of the people and
I'm the interest of the people who elected
him, confidnt that at the end Of his term
he will be endorsed by such an over
whelming majority as has never been
known in the history Of the city.
II will he continued. administer the
affairs OF the city without interference
from either Plat or Quigg. Tell the peo-
pie this and let them know that ] am at
the helm and while I am mayor, winch
will be for the next four years. their in
terests will be safe in my hands from
raiders of ali kinds.
81 have, not yet appointed the success
sor of Mr. Philips
The MAYOR did not go into particulars
or snecffv any of the reasons which in
dncad him 10 remove the two police COM
was due to friction in the police board for
some weeks over the transfer Oh some
captains and policemen.
John McCallagh, the chief Of police just
dropped. was a Republican and refused
10 make certain transfers that the Demo-
cratic commissioners, York and SetXon,
wanted The two Democratic commits
sinners voted TO retire the chief but were
overruled by the votes Of the Republican
commissioners.
McCullagh called at the city hall next
dav and had a stormy interview with the
mavor. during which he was told to go
hack and run the department without re-
gard 10 politics. the chief retorting that
,n the matter of removals he would do
as he pleased. Since then there have
been numerous interviews between the
Ynavor and tn police commissioners.
The Tammany version of the trouble be-
tween McCullagh and the Tammany
mayor and the police commissioners is
that Senator Platt and Congressman
Ouigg interfered with the running of the
department. 1t was said that during an
interview between the mayor and Com
missioner Hamilton the latter said he
would not vote for the transfer Of a
policeman if the act was not sanctioned-by
Plat and Quigg.
The Republican version of the trouble
is that ever since Tammany returned 10
power certain gamblers and pooi room
owners have wanted to ru n"wIie opon"
and that McCunaghs opposition tc this
has brought down the official axe upon
his neck.