The evening world., 1903-09-21
Association That Flourished Un-
der Old Regime Is Near Dis
bandment as Result of Com
missioner Greene's Activity.
MEMBERSRETIRE UNDER FIRE
Many Have Left Because Of Possible
Charges and Few Have Joined, 30
Organization Supposed to Be Re
lated to "eratf" viii Soon Quit.

Two years OF real reform has proved
too much for the Police Captains and
| the Police Sergeants' Benevolent Asso,
| Citations, and both are now on their
last legs, ready to give UP. A strong
effort will be made TO hold them TO-
gether but the men most interested say
they will have 10 go to the Com
missioner Greene Is blamed for It. 1t
is due to his retirement oil SO many
Captains and Scrseants.
The two organizations have existed
for years. When q Captain was forced
to cave the service. retired or was
bounced or died, a Thousand dollars was
paid either to tine Captain or his heirs.
The S~ergeants' Association pays q
smller Mount.
The two ORGANIZATIONS have been pro-
tective In character for years. They
have stood by their members and there
always has been a suspicion that
graft was one Of the controlling In
huences and the bond Of comradeship
of the order. 1t is q known fact thai
many Of the worst ''grarters' In the
depart tent have been the strongest in
the association.
Are Retired Fuot.
For the last two years the captains,
inspectors and sergeants have been re-
tired at O rate %ruinous to the funds of
the associations. About fifty captains
and inspectors nave travelled out of the
department by the pension and other
routes since Commissioner Greene took
hold. One after the other. for some
reason, preferred half pay to running
chances, and as they went out they
wanted their money from the associa-
ton.
For awhile 1t was all right. Tho new
captains being made were expected to
recruit the membership. A few came
In and then accessions ceased. Some
way or another the tip went around
tina thu association was not q good
thing with which to be identified and
the new captains failed to Joined.
They Didn't Pay.
They paid nothing for their promo
ton. Their allegiance was not with
the gang of the past, but with the now
administration. The Captains Associa-
the treasury was bankrupt and the
captains were called upon to pay az
sessments- to fattsn the pursas Cd the
retiring were unable to stand It. Being
forced to live on their salaries they
felt It a hardship to dig down for as
sessments of so and 500 10 pay thou
sands to . batch Of ritiring members
Of the order.
Several quit. some were suspended
and to-day the association is prepared
to throw up the sponge.
What Is true of the captains organi-
cation is also true Of the s%ergeants' as
ISOLATION. 1t, too. 10 on dts last legs.
The only nope 10 the election. OF
course. II Tammany should win the
captains might listen to the advice OF
the old gang and get In the assooia-
tion. but It appears to those who have
are familiar With the facts that II win
not last he six weeks unil e.ection.
On Friday las there was a meeting
OF the members OF the Captains' Assoc
citation, and all were told that the game
was up unless the new men could be
forced to join. and AL admitted that az
long as Commissioner Greene wal at
the head of the force there would be
few new captains seeding to join.