New-York tribune., 1901-02-23
MANNER OF NAN MURPHY is.
HIS CRUSADE AGAINST THE MANHAT-
TAN RAILWAY COMPANY RECALLED.

The new Commissioner Of Police has been
know. 10 many politicians for years as Colonel
Mike" Murphy. For about quarter Of cent
ury he has been the Democrats leader In the
Ist Assembly District. When the County
Democracy was In power he was one Of its lead
ers. Since Tammany Hall has been the regular
Democratic organization in New-YoTh County
ne has been a Tammany district leader. He has
been IN office a great deal OF the time. He was
I'm the Legislature several years as State Sena-
tor He was Excise Commissioner one term.
on March T. 1895, ne became president Of the
Board Of Health. succeeding Nathan Straus who
resigned the Office. 20 which he had been ap-
pointed al the beginning Of the year.
Mr.. Murphy has suffered for years With an
affection which has prevented him from swal-
lowing anything. even so much as a drop Of
water He formerly was 3 stout man. vigorous
and horid. and fond Of good living. His Illness
reduced him almost 10 a skeleton. His life has
been prolonged for years by injecting liquid food
into his stomach through a tube The process
Of feeding him has 10 be performed by trained
attendant at his home in Broome-st.. and his
hours Of work in his Office are regulated and
curtailed somewhat by his peculiar physical re-
ouirements
What manner ~ man is Mr.. Murphy" This
question was asked last night by many Repub-
licans who have been watching recent develop
ments in Tammany Hall. He is one Of Richard
Croker's confidential advisers. and no man is
more prompt in carrying out the orders Of the
boss. no matter what those orders may be. than
Michael c. Murphy Mr. Murphy attracted a
great deal Of attention two years go by a pecul-
lar crusade which he carried on against the
Manhattan Railway Company.
one Friday afternoon the Manhattan company
was informed by the Health Board. Of which
MI Murphy was president. that it must before
the following Monday night build drip pans over
every street crossing on the under side OF the
steel work Of the elevated road in this city.
The following Saturday was a holiday and the
company really had only one working day in
which 10 comply with the order. The company
applied 10 The State Railroad Commission. and
II vas found upon investigation that if all the
galvanized iron workers in the city had been set
at work on the drip pans IL would take six
months TO make enough 10 comply with Mr.
Murphy's order Julien 7. Davies counsel for
the COMPANY before the Railroad Commission
charged that Commissioney Aurphys order vas
issued because OF spite Ae aid that Richard
Croker was interested in a compressed air COM
pany which wanted TO suspend pipes from the
Manhattan company's structure. in order 10
save the expense OF eXcayating. The company
refused 10 grant Croker's request. Commissioner
Murphy then discovered that the bases Of the
elevated road pillars were probably affected by
electrolysis, and he ordered an investigation lest
the whole road should tumble down and there
should ensue horrible loss Of life The State
Railroad Commission made an exhaustive In
vestigation and found that Mr.. Murphy's fears
were grOundless. None ~ the pillars have
crumbled. and Mr. Murphy himself frequently
rides on the elevated road with perfect safety.
When these things were recalled yesterday Il
was suggested that anything that Mr.. Croker
might want done even from place so far away
as Vantage. England, would he attended TO by
Mr. Murphy with promptness, and no questions
would be asked