New-York tribune., 1901-01-02
POOLROOMS SHUT TIGHT.
ANOTHER RUMoR CONCERNING PREsI-
DENT YORK
GossTPs SLATE HIM FOR THE NEW SINGLE
CoMMIssIoNER-No CONFIRMATION

CoMMIssIoNER-No CONFIRMATION
Tammany gave one more striking demonstra-
tion OF it's hypocrisy yesterday. when It closed
up the poorooms of the city as tight as drum
ny the simre method Of sending out the Gus
tonary formal order. but backed by the oral
command that this time it must be obeyed.
Mayor Van wyck told Devery TO do this. and
although he has frequently said II could not be
done Devery did 1t because he had promised TO
be good If he were allowed to remain Chief until
the Legislature puts him and President York
out OF office at the same time by reorganizing
the Department under single Commissioner.
How long the poolrooms will remain closed can
only be conjectured. Some of the prOprietors
seemed to think it would not be long; others
took gloomy view Of IL.
The causes which led Mayor Van Wyck to use
his authority with Devery to this end are not
entirely clear Some think he was scared by
the visit Of Chairman Nixon of the Committee
of Five to District Attorney Philbin the other
day Van Wyek keeps a watchful eye also on
the Committee OF Fifteen. and Mr.. PhiIbin's
nouncement after Charles Stewart Smith called
on him. that he would appoint of his staff to
attend particularly to cases brought in by either
of these committees has caused considerable ap-
prehension in the breast of the little Mayor. who
does not want to run any risk OF Governor
OdeH administering TO him a dose Of the same
kind of medicine which Governor Roosevelt gave
TO Asa Bird Gardiner.
The fact that Mr.. Van Wyck failed yesterday
70 reappoint Police Commissioner Jacob Hess,
whose term expired with the old year. and also
failed to appoint any new man in his place, re-
vived the gossips who love To make brilliant
a-uasses about the force. Their best effort yes
terday was that President York would be made
the single Commissioner who will rule the en-
tire Department when the Legislature puts it
under one head The rumor. started. flew
from mouth to mouth. and soon 1t was said
positively that the local Democratic and the
local Republican machines at least had de-
cided on York, and that the only barrier was
Governor Ode who might demand Com
missioner with a better record than forks. IL
was pointed out, however by persons OF mature
iude ment that il was extremely unlikely that
Tammany would give up such a splendid plum
and influential position as head or the Follce
Department to the Brooklyn machine. Corpo-
ration Counsel Whalen the reputed head OF
Tammany Hall, when asked il there was any
IT, Mr. York said: we will cross that bridge
when we come to it," One of Hugh Mclaugh-
Inns friends said "Will the old man get Deverys
head a platter? L guess he Will In hve MIN
utes If York is made Commissioner.
Devery would not discuss the report at all
He locked the door OF his office and stationed
a man outside 1t TO that he was not dis
turbed The mere thought that York might be
outWitting him after all was disturbing enough
But in the opinion of close observers OF the
political game IL Is Thought that some entlrely
new man will get the place. and Lewis Nixon is
mentioned among others as representing the
kind of compromise between an out-and-out
'an1manv brave and a real refOrmer whom
Croker would recommend for the place. in de-
fault of the absolute power 10 appoint whon ne
pleased.
changes will be made this week i'm the District
Attorneys office. Mr.. Phlbn would not con-
firm the report