The Washington times., 1903-03-03
Says Greene Was Driven to
Make Appointment.
PRESIDENTS PART IN FIGHT
Commissioner Thought to Have Had
Recent Talk With Roosevelt.
Jerome Explains Position.

lOIneg Jerome IS not pitdstu WIN LHt !
appointment Of Capt. Max schmitt- !
berger to be inspector o. police. Dis /
GUESSING the matter last night. he said: /
Il am not responsible for #. l cannot !
help IL. ! have not changed my views l
ca Schmittbergcr. I am still OF the /
opinion that he will not make an efficient /
inspector. although / admit that I have /
no legal evidence 20 establish that fact. /
Why He Opposes the Captain.
Il base my opinion on the circum-
stance that he confessed certain things
before the Lexow committee which
showed him to be an inefficient police Of
hcer. The fact that ne was granted i'm
munity cid not undo the wrong that he
had done. You would not want 10 en-
ploy a pardoned criminal as cashier OF
bank. nor do l think the public wants
a captain who has confessed TO wrong
doing promoted 10 one OF the highest
positions on the force
I think Commissioner Greene was
practically driven to do what he has
done Captain schmittberger was first
on the eligible list. and while the COM
missioner might have gotten out OF ap-
pointing him. the law is unfortunately
such that a loyal obedience to its spirit
compelled the action taken. Had he Sctcd
otherwise he would have evaded the
spirit OF the law. That. no doubt was
the way General Greene locked at Il.
don't think his estimate of Schmitt-
berger differs very much from mine"
The End Not Yet.
win this close the Schmittberger in
cident so far as you are concerned?"
Il have not said So"
Before Schmittberger had been ap-
pointed. District Attorney Jerome in an
interview said that he knew gambling
houses and other illegal resorts were
fiourishing in his precinct until the con
troversy regarding his fitness for an
inspectorship began
Then they were closed all OF a sud
den. and that only proves 10 me that II
n captain really wants TO clean up a
precinct he can do so.' said Mr.. Jerome
Inspector Schmittberger was appointed
2 patrolman in 1873 He soon rose to
roundsman, and in 1876 was made de-
tective. serving for seven years In that
capacity. His record OF arrests and con-
victions in notable cases made him very
prominent as a policeman. His record
was that OF sending SIC criminals TO the
State prison. In 1852 he was appointed
to a sergeantcy. In 1890 he was made
captain. He was aggressive all the
while. and when IN the Nineteenth pre-
cinct the citizens OF that precinct pre-
scented him with a gold medal in ap-
probation OF his services in cleaning the
district.
SchnittbeTger's Confession.
cation came hidden things were reveal
ed. Schmittberger made confessions OF
having made collections from policy
shops gambling houses. and disorderly
houses under the system" He said
that he divided the spoils with officials
higher up" His evidence saved him
from States prison. His friends declare
that he confessed in good faith, with the
intention TO reform, and that he has
been straight" since.
i is stated that prior TO the announce
nnent Of Schrnittberger' appointment yes
terday. Commissioner Greene met Mr.
Jerome and asked him II he had any
charges to make against the captain
Jerome answered in the negative. anc
Greene reJoined that he could wait foI
Jerome. no longer" and that the ap-
pointment would be made.
President Roosevelt's Part.
General Greene was asked yesterday Il
his recent talk with President Roosevelt
had influenced his action. He declined
20 answer the question. but said:
President Roosevelts attitude In tn
matter has been entirely consistent
When he wrote 90 Schmittberger that h'
could speak in the highest terms or hi
the time he was connected with the pO
lice board. The President would not sa,
anything about Schmittberger's wOrl
after that time That is why ! inquired
particularly into Schmittberger's recor
during the last four years.
president Roosevelt discussed tn
proposed promotion with me last week
but the question was not decided at tina
time"
The commissioner was aked II he ha
consulted with the President since tn
Iatter's visit 20 this city last week. II
refused to answer. but his manner indi
Gated that he had
Capt George r. Titus was also made a
inspector yesterday.
Titus Is the youngest man ever ap
pointed 10 the grade OF inspector. n
is forty-four years old and has been {
the department seventeen years He wa
rapidly promoted. and IN 1897 he reach
ed the rank OF captain. Later be wa
appointed captain OF detectives. Whe
Commissioner Greene went into Office L
reorganized the detective bureau. put
ting Inspector Brooks in charge. an
Titus was sent TO the Oak Street sta
ton
RECOGNITION PROTESTED.