New-York tribune., 1899-04-12

TACKLING A BIG PROBLEM
BOSS" M'LAUGHLIN wREsTLES WITH
POLICE APPOINTMENTS.
A CONFERENCE OF IMPORT TO DEMOCRATS HELD
COMMISSIONER YORK EXPLAINS WHY

A CONFERENCE or IMPORT TO DEMOCRATS HELp
COMMISSIONER YORK EXPLAINS WHY
PROMOTIONS HAVE BEEN DELAYED.
Without any unnecessary delay Boss NC
Laughlin has taken UP the difficult task OF
solving the problem OF police appointments ana
prcmotIons which has been facing the Brook-
lyn Democratic leaders for some time. ms
matter was the chief topic Of discussion at the
conference in the wioughby-st. aucton-rooms
yesterday. After the meeting 1t was SAID tha'
in all probability many Of the police promotiohs
and appointments which have been held In
allowance for so long will be made In the near
future.
Since consolidation there have been no ap-
pontments made to the uniformed force IN the
Borough OF Brooklyn. There have been some
promotions, but at the present time there are
five vacancies in the grade of captain, num-
ber in that Of sergeant several in that OF
roundsman. and about three hundred in the
list OF patrolmen. Naturally. there are many
applicants for these places. and the uncertainty
about the time when they could be filled has
caused the Willoughby Street leaders no little
uneasiness.
Yesterday morning at II o'clock Boss NC
Laughlin entered the auction-rooms. lie was
followed after by James Shevlln' fohoe
Commissioner Bernard J. York. Bridge Comnis-
sloner John L. Shea, Senator Patrick H. McCar-
rem Register Haggerty and Sheriff Creamer
Later a number Of the other leaders and many
OF the ward captains also appeared
The first subject taken under discussion was
the patronage derived from the appointment OF
the street-cleanlng force. The plan which Is 70
be followed was fully explained. Appointments
are to be distributed among the various waroS
and districts according to the strength in Demo-
foe ofoCf
seems TO have received the appreciation OF all
interested. In general way the ponce appoii'
ments were then taken up
Police Commissioner York obliged to go
away Just at this time to attend the trials OF the
Police Board Later in the day he returned. and
with Mclaughlin and Shevlin disappeared into
the inner chamber What went on In there was
not divulged but 1t is known that the whole
matter Of police appointments and promotiohs
received careful consideration
When Police Commissioner York left the con-
ference which lasted until late In the afternoon,
he was asked why the police appointments ano
promotions had not been made before ne re-
piled: a..
III is the fault neither OF the Democratic
party nor of the Police Board According 10
Section 216 Of the charter. the number OF pollce-
G'3S2. The Municipal Assembly has the power
10 increase this number each year by 100, put
so far il has taken no such action.
The number Of policemen on the rois no"
nearly equals the quota allowed by the charler'
For that reason ii has been mpo, slole TO make
the appointments that have desired. Al
times the force has fallen below 6,3S2 on account
of dismiesals but in almost ever instance the
men have been reinstated by the courts
In reply 70 a question as TO "hv the promo
tons had not been made. Commissioner YORK
said: ,.
The Board Of Estimate and Apportonment
did not give the Police Board a sufficient appro-
priation 10 conduct the department as we would
wish In fact in the running expenses we Will
be $50 900 behind this year. For this reason as
we'll as the other have been kept from max
ing appointments. II has also made II impossl-
bic for us TO make the promotions OF which you
speak In case should promote any OF the
present officers their salaries would be increased
and we are not in shape at this time TO ADD 10
salary list
II believe however. that both the Board or
Apportionment and Estimate and the Municlpal
Council will soon take action according to our
desires and needs AS soon as they give us the
power we intend 10 go ahead and make the ap
nointments and promotions. Within the last
month the number OF the force has. through one
cause and another, fallen below the legal 63s2.
and this will enable us to make few appoint
ments before the Municipal Assembly takes
steps 10 increase the limit
Both Commissioner York and Boss" Nc
Laughlin are anxious to have the police appoint
ments made before pending legislation in AL
bany comes into force.