New-York tribune., 1901-02-27
MURPHY GETS COMPLAINTS
COMMISSIONER ORDERS SPEEDY INyES-
TIGATIoN OF THEM
OLD POLICE METHODS. HOWEVER, PROMISE
TO MAKE HIS PERSONAL ACTIVITY
WASTE OF ENERGY.

| ,Ir Nurrhv the new Commissioner of Police,
| issued the following order yesterday;
To the commanders of all districts and & precincts net
Gers Of precincts arc hereby ordered to report to
me writing with the returns m or keep
ers of gambling houses poolrooms ana otnef pabss ,b
nre"ncts toeHther with the character of the bust
| ness which is carried on and ther h"ih'e' anu
| street.
The report is in addition 10 the regular weekly
| ~aro.+ ordered under Rule No ~. Mr.. Murphy
said he did this in order that he might oecoi,ie
| snee1iIv acquainted with the condition OF the
| city.
| Some persons think" said Mr. Murphy tnat
my health is not good enough to enapie me to
be the real head of this department; put thas
view is not shared by those who know me We'll
| and are acquainted with the work ala III 'he
Health Department. NV mail to-day ahoros
| convincing proof that New-Yorkers are taking
| me at nv word when | say that | want all com
| pIainants against the police to come direct TO
| me. and I will attend to them personally. In
| my mail to-day have come fully seventy com
| plants against alleged illegal resorts of various
| kinds and in various parts Of the city. have
placed all these complaints in the hands OF
Deputy Chief Cortrght, and have instructed
him explicitly to have them investigated at once
| from headquarters by trusty men of his own
selection and if the complaints are found TO be
based on facts to have those places cleared OUT
| forthwith | will show New Workers that no
ones pull will avail with me to shield law
| breakers
Many Of these complaints I received TO-DAY
are anonymous but they will not he neglected
on that account / aware OF the fear whlch
often forces timid persons 10 endure wrongs
ra ther than invite persecution by revealing their
names TO the authorities. | always investigated
anonymous complaints in the Health Board, ana
7 will do the same here.
That Mr. Murphy has several things TO learn
about his subordinates the force is admitted
by himself readily by any one He may
be surprised however. to learn that Deputy
Chief Cortright told the reporters after they had
left the commissioners room that the complaints
were not being investigated by picked men from
headquarters but being sent over the same
old route, where many have gone before
them. never to be heard Of again. Said Deputy
Chief Cortright:
II have turned those complaints oveS TO the
inspectors BY the inspectors they will he sent
to the captains. and the captains will investi-
gate them with their own men. No need for me
10 send out men from here 10 do the work when
there many capable men in the precincts
who could do IT Just we'll"
Tom W. Mott-st. Chinaman, called at the
City Hall yesterday. saying he desired 10 see
Mayor Van Wyck. He wanted to complain OF
the number of gambling houses IN his district
WI said the evil so bad that the young
men We're not attending 10 their business, and
that the reputable merchants of that neighbor-
hood were suffering in consequence. WI men
toned a number of places in which he said
gambling was going on. tie was told that the
Mayor was not in. and advised Police
! Commissioner Murphy.