New-York tribune., 1901-03-01
MURPHY WORKING HARD.
NEW COMMISSIONER SENDS OFT ONE
HUNDRED "SLEUTHS" TO REPORT
on THE PRECINCTS

That the seemingly trail physique of MIR Mut
ply is being subjected 10 an exceedingly severe
strain is apparent TO any one who watches him
at work in Police Headquart ers. The amount OF
routine work thrust upon him ny the Condensa-
ton. so to speak. Of four commissioners into one
is alone enough for strong man tc shoulder.
but added to this is the worrying task of en-
tering upon an entirely new field of administra-
ton, and being surrounded by body of sub
ordnates whom he hardly knows. But the
first week of his tenure Police Commissioner
draws to close NIr Murphy's stock OF wiry
vitality seems to be not one whit depleted.
Reporters told him Yesterday that the large
number of orders which he gives daily to Deputy
Chief Cortright. and the small number which
he gives. openly at least to Devery. had given
rise to a rumor that he did not trust Devery
ard seemed to he making Cortright his real
chief executive. To this Mr. Murphy replied
My first executive officer differs from day to
day as the occasion requires ! try to get the
best man for the purpose ! have in view. II is
Devery to-day. COrtright tomorrow. and
To-day | called on Inspector Brooks for Il spe-
cial work because | believe l trust him. I
shall make my executive officer the best
l can get for each duty II presents itself.
Commissioner Murphy was then told that the
severe fines he haG inflicted on delinquent po-
licemen earlier in the day had caused much
grumbling in the force. and that some said he
had "salted" those who came before him first
because they were Brooklyn men. Commits
sioner Murphy said:
didn't salt any one did justice There
certain offences in the force that cannot he
overlooked They drunkenness on duty. rob
berry on post and disrespect to citizens.
James shevIin the Brooklyn politician. called
on Commissioner Murphy yesterday. After he
had gone Mr. Murphy asked the nature Of
his visit and he laughed and said:
Partly social and partly otherwise. You know
we'll enough what he called for
Commissioner Murphy then asked If he
had appointed his second deputy commissioners.
and he said he had not
The next question put to him was what he
thought of the alleged prevalence of poolrooms
and gambling houses in the city
THAT is leading question" said he. but I'll
answer it. | had a hundred men out last night.
men picked out by myself, some of them citizens
and some policemen. They didn't go to the
police nor did they go to the politicians. but
they went among gamblers, and their mission
was to hear all they could and report to
what places were doing business I state
positively now that there is not poolroom
open in this city.
How about gambling houses-are they all
closed?"
Not all of them. Some of them are. Others
are doing business. They very hard to get
Thev cant dodge me | know their tricks"
DO you believe that you can purge the city
of gambling and dsorderly houSes?'
Il believe that put the city on a basis
where we can be justly proud of it, when every
citizen will be proud of II. We can make it
clean wholesome city, and that Is what I'm
going to do l am acting entirely in harmony
with District Attorney Philbin. He has fur
nished with lists of disorderly houses. gam
bling houses, and so on, and am having each
one Investigated
At this point Commissioner Murphy showed
letter from District Attorney Philbin promising
him support. Then he continued:
Il mean to hold the captains in each precinct
responsible for the conditions in it"
How about the inspectors?''
In my judgment il is the duty of every cap
tain to report the existence of all suspicious
places running in his precinct If he does not
do he shows that he is either ignorant or is
concealing them. In either event he must
swer to me. Tomorrow each captain must have
report of the condition of his precinct in my
office. We will then know the exact condition
of each precinct If he doesn't report correctly
Continued on fourth page.