New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-24
STURGIS NOT TO RESIGN.
HAS NO THOUGHT OF LEAVING FIRE
-- DEPARTMENT CROKER DECISION
THIS WEEK.

Thomas Sturgis Commissioner of the Fire
Department, said last night at his home No. 13S
East Thirty -sixth-st, that the report printed in
one Of the newspapers yesterday that he had
handed his resignation to Mayor Low was un-
true. His relations with the Mayor were most
cordial. he asserted and he had no intention of
resigning his office, nor had Mr.. Low requested
or intimated in any way that he give up his
Office. He said he would probably make public
a decision about the charges against Chief
Croker about the middle Of this week He
emphasized in various WAYS that he intended to
continue in his office referring. for instance to
his plans for the framing of bills for the i'm
provement of his department to be presented al
the coming session of the legislature. The legis-
latve measures which he has under considera-
ton in no way the result of the Croker case,
they in the slightest degree related to it.
The impression that Chief Croker will be dis
missed from the Fire Department by Commits
sioner Sturgis seemed TO gain strength yester-
day in the minds of many persons who profess
to he in touch with the trend of administrative
affairs
Since I accepted the Office which I hold
I have had from time to time number of talks
with Mayor Low regarding the affairs of my
department" said the Commissioner. but as 10
whether we have ever spoken of the case of
Chief Croker l must beg TO refer you to Mayor
Low | think it is for him to answer that ques-
tion.
In the last three months have not spoken
to any reporter about the trial of Chief Croker
My lips this subject have been closed. As a
judicial officer / have had TO assume this atti-
tude So far only side has been heard and
that is the defendants, through his counsel. 1t
seems that some papers have from the begin
ming prejudeed this matter. Counsel for the de-
fendant could criticise me or some phase of the
subject from day to day, but owing 10 my posi-
tion could make reply.
The process of rendering a verdict in the
is a simple one. The verdict may simply he
placed on the records of the department, or an
explanatory note may be recorded with it. ali of
which are matters executed within the depart
ment"
Mr. sturgis declined to say anything which
might indicate what We're his views regarding
the case. and what might be the verdict. As
to the attitude of the Corporation Counsers
office toward the case he had this to say:
The records of the Corporation CounseTs
office will show you that hat office thinks that
the method of conducting the case has been as
fair as could be, that the delays asked by the
defendants counsel have been granted and that
members of the department We're told that they
had a right to visit Chief Croker and to testify
in his favor
Has ex-Fire Commissioner Sheffield been
identified with the Croker case in any way?"
askt d.
mo more than you have" Commissioner Stur-
gis replied. He added that neither had Cap
tain Clifford had anything to do with the case
Commissioner Sturgis then spoke of the steps
he considering to bring about the enact
ment of certain measures he had in mind for
the Improvement of the department Last
year" said he. Il succeeded in obtaining for the
freboats in the waters of the harbor the same
right of way as the fire companies have
land"
According to a report printed yesterday Will