The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-12
FORK HITS RACK AT MOSS.
Says Police Trials are All Right and tho
Forco is BETTER Now Than Ever.

| Forco il Better Now Than Ever.
President York OF the Police Board gave out
| a statement yesterday in answer to tho state
mont made by Frank Moss. Counsel for tho
Mazet Committee that the Generalization OF
the force was due to the lenient manner in
which the Commissioners treated policemen
hauled MP before them for trial. Mr.. York says.
in part
81 state without fear OF contradiction that
the DISPOSITION of cases by the members of
the present board OF police will bear comparison
to the advantage OF the present board with any
board OF commissioners that preceded 1t. The
board of commissioners that preceded us dis
m Used a large number OF men from the force
upon trivial charges, and the records in those
cases show that there was no justification for
the imposition OF n sentence of dismissal. and
this Ia verified by tho subsequent action of the
Courts III reinstat'nE such persons. Cases
were very carelessly tried by the previous
comm issioners. This statement is made from
an examination of the records. / claim to be
able to try and determine any case that may
be brought before me Just as well as any other
gentleman In the city of New York. whether he
Ia All x-comm issOner OF police or not ; and
when try case l am as capable OF determine
ing what is the proper punishment to mete out
on the facts proven as Mr.. Moss.
There is no decentralization in the police
lpfce. lIs elllclency Is as ROOu tO-uay, IL not
better. than IL has ever been. and its action
within the past sixty DAYS has proved it's
efficiency and ability to cope with any situation
that can arise within the city"
Mr.. York then takes up the cases OF some OF
the policemen who were witnesses before the
Mazet committee on Thursday. and says they
were all disposed of in a proper manner. He
also says that since he entered the department
there has | cen no attempt from outside in
fuence to prosecute any one on the force Con-
tnuinR he says:
The present Police Commissioners discov-
cred so much careessness in the disposition OF
cases tried before their coming into the Depart
ment that they adopted what they believed to he
a correct policy. that dismissal from the force
only follow conviction Of offences where In the
Judgment OF the Commissioners. such convio-
ton would have to be approved by the Courts
He Moss calls attention to the fact O.
diamonds and expensive jewery having been
purchased by policemen. and that the police
commissioners. on complaint made to them.
would not compel such officers to pay the debts
created by reason OF such purchases am re-
sponshe for the refusal Of the Department to
compel the payment OF such debts and l want
to state now that. II any one chooses to sell
member Of the police department diamonds or
other expensive jewelry on the instalment or
trust plan. he will not receive assistance from
a Commissioner in compelling the officer to
pay any such debt. He has no right to sell
that kind Of luxury to a policeman unless he is
willing to take the chance OF collecting his
money. the Same as any other business man."