New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-26
BAR POLITICS, LANTRY.
Uhat Is III to Him If Keeper Is
T0mmdHy Captaini

commissioner Lantry Of the Department Of Cor
'ecuon yesterday ordered an investigation OF the
cnarses made by the Charity Organization Society
OF laxtty in the department E connection with the
release of mcnd.cancy prisoners The Investigation
VIII be made by John b. Fitzgerald. secretary of
the department., and as soon possible the resuit
will be sent 70 the charity society.
The three officers Of the Department OF Correction
who are mentioned by name In the report viii be
examined by Secretary Fitzgerald They have al
ready entered informal deniaIs OF the inferred
charges with Commissioner Lantry
Meantime. Mr.. Forbes. officer OF the charity
society, is working up number OF other cases in
whichthe society believes the department. has been
at fault. at least careless These cases will prob
ably be forwarded 10 Commissioner Iantry early in
the week.
When visited Yesterday by Tribune reporter
Commissioner Iantry was inclined to resent what
n called the political phase Of the controversy
They should not bring politics into this matter"
he declared. This department is not run on a
political basis. ana can reason for IN
Guiding in a report given 10 the press that OF
the head keepers wbO are under criticism are off,
GERS in political associations
Take the case of Michael whalen whom Orncer
Forbes charges with securing the release OF a no
torioUs mendicant. He is assigned by me TO the
Essex Market court. 1t Is not easy assignment.
but he does his work there In a manner that has
always seemed satisfactory What IS il 70 mo II
he is a Tammany district captain? lie must DO his
duty as a keeper, and then he can do anything he
HIKES W Hsittu tells me that he never asked
magistrate for the release of a prisoner sentenced
10 the island a mendcant. I believe that Secre-
tary F1tzSerad'S investigation Will show that
telling the truth Furthermore. I do not believe
that any magistrate would permit keeper to apply
Tor the release of a prisOueC
1t appears 10 me that Mr.. Forbes would like to
nave the control of this matter Of release before
the end Of sentence for vagrancy. Do YOU think
II right Tor one Tlan 70 have control over the LIE
ana custody Of other citizens even though they
oIeHuerSt The present system OF granting releases
seems 70 me 10 De moTe Just The Department OF
correction has nothing do with the release or
Such prisoners The committing magistrate re-
Tg-Nes the application for release. a usual thing
re sends 10 US FOR the record in the call on
the warden, and If the prisoner a second terIner
tH matter Is dropped at once. When Officer Forbes
IluoFSeS a request for the release OF prisoner the
release Is usually granted Three or four prisoners
nave oern released by magistrates on his request
Wi'hln the last few days. We found out that one
OF tIlein a woman bseEar. had s. tn in the bank
ana would not have favored her release
i want 70 repeat that politics has nothing 10 do
with this department. There are four court as
signnents NJ disposal Three of them are Allied
by Republican veterans. If running the de-
partnlent on political basis would put them out
and give the places TO Tammany men IL there IL
anything wrong in the department. / want to know
about it. but think they should leave politics
out Of IT.