New-York tribune., 1903-07-26
THE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
"FRANKLIN SYNDICATE" MILLERS NOVEL SCHEME
TO PLEASE THE POLICE.
City Members Of Spoilers UnionNogd Botaons ont
ng-Notes from the Summer Resorts.
GOSSIP or THE BOROUGH.


Attempts that being made at this time 10
obtain Z pardon for William +. Miller, the man
ager of the Franklin Syndicate, make especially
interesting now the following story of the beardess
youth. who had clothes baskets filled with bills in
the little frame house in FIoyd-st.. from which
the business was conducted This incident hap
pened just before the Saturday night when raid
was made on the house and Miller escaped to
Montreal a big Catholic fair was in progress in
East New-York. one of the features of which was
a voting contest for the most popular member of
the police force handsome belt and club being
offered for the winner. Each vote cost 25 cents,
and the friends of the contesting police officials
bought them in blocks of hundred. The fair
was scheduled 10 close at the end Of two weeks.
running neck and neck, among them being Captain
1a1faIn Of The VeTnor-sVe nr9cinct in which the
Franklin Syndicate was operated.
On the day when the fair was to close young
man, who it was afterward learned Miller,
went TO the managers of the fair and told them
that they would keep the fair open another week
he would guarantee them at least 1000 more in the
police contest. There friend of Captain Lees
he explained, who was out of town, but who would
be back within few days and would be willing
to expend 5000 in votes in order TO have that
police official win the contest.
So the fair continued another week. and. the
contest over the prize breaking out among
the other police contestants, the managers got
than $1,000 additional. Miller did not show up
again, but that probably was due TO the fact that
the s. 900 for the votes for CaDain Lees the news
papers had Just begun to inquire into the legality
of the Franklin Syndicate 1t is supposed that the
manager of the swindle supposed he could win the
regard of Captain Lees and keep the police Of the
precinct from disturbing the business by assisting
popular policeman The reason why Miller asked
the fair to be continued another week in order
that the alleged friend of Lees might return
town was never explained. 1t is due 10 the mem
anything about Miller's attempt throw the prize
his way until long after the syndicate had been
broken up.
There is probably no head of any city department
who escapes being compelled to listen to the wild
schemes of some crank who haunts the Office until
he or she receives a hearing. Though elected
by the attendants the door, nuisances will
again and again until the pressure their brains
is relieved by unburdening their ideas to the head
Of the department The following experience of
Superintendent Clarke. in charge of the Street
Cleaning. Department in Brooklyn, is a sample of
what city officials have to put up with.
wild eyed man, who had been Fostering the
lives out of the clerks for d week, was shown into
Mr. Clarke's room.
Il inventor he said "and have propo-
sition here which will be of extraordinary value to
you. By d method that is all my own, I teach
the department horses to watch what their drivers
do during the day. The noble steeds be taken
by means of a sign language, which I can teach
them; will report the movements of the drivers. If
or quaftng beer in saloon the horses will give it
away. The drivers will never suspect their horses,
dare to disobey the rules"
Superintendent Clarke. keeping grave face with
difficulty told his visitor that the idea seemed to be
excellent one but there We're certain difficulties
that would prevent its being adopted by the city
at GhSe f he @ said f hs Was afraid that the
object to that class of work being done by the
horses. and, again, he afraid that the Civil
Service Commission would object, the horses
had not qualified ''spotters'' by passing an ex-
amina ton the geography of the South Sea
Islands. Were ii not for those obstacles however
he should be glad ito adopt the scheme The in,
Clarkes argument and left the office saying that he
would try to invent some method of circumvent-
ing the spoilers Union and the Civil Service
Commission
The First Division of the ID Naval Battalion.
under the command OF Lieutenant Samuel L. Cross
Ing started yesterday for two weeks cruise up
the Sound in a whaleboat and two cutters. Be
sides the commander Ensign P. G. Hoyt and
thirty-hve men. The boats were towed to White
stone by launch, and next Sunday will be towed
back to Brooklyn from that place, but beyond
there sails and oars will be used The tackles"
expect TO stop at Sands Point tonight and to-day
VIII go 70 oyster Bay, where they will camp until
" edIesq48y; FROM there they will go to Pleasure
Island, Bridgeport. and flying visit New
Hayen before returning. On the cruise the division
will have a series of boat and landing drills. target
practice on land and water. swimming. rowing and
sallhg races and ether aquatic sports. all of which
are right in line with the development of a naval
man. The members of the battalion say that their
camp life and outings far surpasS in real enjoy
ment those OF the members OF any other branch
loot wearing marches and drills under the hot
that there is no room for comparison.
Prospect Park has just received the addition of
two blue cranes Of rare variety. They are the
gift of {. W. Harrington of No. 1SO Madison-st.
who is an engineer in the service of the govern
specimens fer the park when he returns to duty