New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-12

into retirement from ofnce. These reports were
contradicted later by Commissioner McAdoo.
Cowan's alleged reason for resignins was that
he had too much work 20 do. In his letter to
the Commissioner he said he had taken Office
with the idea that his duties would be mainly
legal and judicial. but he had found that the
desk work I'm the office was more than suffi-
Gent TO take up all his time. and he had been
kept at work night after night as late as o or
10 o'clock to keep pace with the business Of a
purely clerical nature. He added:
Bearing IN mind that I am also district
leader, you Will perceive the necessity OF my
my district the demands OF which are very ex-
acting. In order 10 stay with you ! must
abandon my professional life for employ
ment absolutely uncongeniaL
Commissioner McAdoo. while accepting the
resignation wrote that he much regretted hav-
ing to lose Cowan, and added:
I beg TO request that you remain with me until
the first OF the month. at least. and II necessary
until such time as can Ind a successor.
In an interview Mr.. Cowan said he had con-
scented TO stay IN Office TO the first OF next month
and he did not believe that Mr.. McAdoo knew
who would be the next third deputy. He said
that under an order of January 1, handed to
him by the Commissioner. he had been obliged
to conduct all the police trials in Manhattan
The Bronx ana Richmond, examine ell bills
introduced at Albany which in any way affected
the Police Department and to supervise the
routine business Of several bureaus in the de-
partment
Il am Tammany district leader you see"
he added. "and in that capacity 1 have to see
the heads OF departments in relation to my
district. If 7 have TO stay I'm this office until
Q o'clock at night 1 can't find time 10 visit the
heads Of departments. It is assumed that a
district leader in this position holds place Of
tremendous influence. That is not the case 1
feel 1 ought to have my people know this"
Mr.. Cowan said he had given up a place
worth to him much more than $4,000 year TO
take office under Mr.. McAdoo. When asked If
the talk about the lid" being raised in Harlem
had anything to do with his getting out he
said: Not at all: but 1t had something to do
with my remaining until now. OF course
could not be responsible for those conditions in
Harlem. l am not charged with the special
duty Of suppression of vice and gambling, and
1 did not wish to be charged with 1t without
being responsible for it."
Mr.. Cowan said he intended to resume his
law practice with the expectation Of making
more money than he received as an oficeholder
He added that before he accepted the office he
had resigned the name OF ex-Judge Wauhope
Lynn had been mentioned in connection with
the place but it might not be given to n lawyer
unless IT was relieved of some of the burden
some clerical duty now attaching to II.
Commissioner McAdoo was asked later IL Mr.
Cowan's successor would be a man Of his own
choice and he replied promptly: Yes"
"WiH he be a lawyerT'
II don't know. 1 haven't a man in view yet"
There is a report that McAvoy is to resign.
Is that true?"
Il haven't any knowledge OF such intention,
and I think the report is unfounded"
Have you received Haggerty's resignation
YETI"
NO. but 1 won't discuss the situation in
Brooklyn"
HAD the stories that were published about the
lid" being OFF in Harlem anything to do with
MI Cowans resignation"
"Of course I can only answer for myself" re-
Piled the Commissioner speaking with great
deliberation. They had absolutely nothing TO
do with the resignation, else should not have
asked Mr.. Cowan 70 remain until had selected
his successor"
Mr.. Cowan says he remained IN Office longer