New-York tribune., 1906-08-01
WANTS GIRDERS BACK.
Father MclfahOn Resents Red Tape
of Police Department.
the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: was very much amused while reading this
afternoon Of Deputy Commissioner WaldO's Murnt-
mating experiences in police matters abroad and the
difference in my own experience In this quiet ham
let of New York. I aroused out Of a reverie
by violent inquiry my telephone as TO whether
l had given permission 10 have number OF IRON
gir1ers removed from our property. where they
had been stored in view Of future building opera
tions. I emphaticalIy negatived tho inquiry and
then went over to our lots to find out the exact
condition Of affairs It was o'clock In the after
noon. bright and sunshiny. with plenty OF people
in movement in all directions and there learned
that truck had driven up upon the vacant lots.
had loaded my iron girders. and had driven Off,
pursued by my watchman and a policeman that he
had caught on the avenue, after he had learned
that had not given permission for the aforesaid
girders removal They chased the truck down
Amsterdam avenue for distance. but evidently
were not sprnters enough 20 Overtake IL. as the
driver whipped up his horses and gallOped down
the hill.
Naturally outraged at this violent removal OF
my property and fearing that perhaps they would
come and take up the building next, called up
Police Headquarters and requested TO be put into
communication with the captain Of the precinct.
whose number forgot. but whose situs is in West
l25th street. Police Headquarters inquired what
wanted. told the intelligent operator what was
required. and he proceeded to instruct me: That
1 should first find out whether anybody was with
me- and while I arguing that point with him.
not being able exactly TO see the appropriateness
of my single or multiple condition. while my girders
were flying down the avenue, he told me that he
could rot, or would not, connect with the l25th
street precinct but that I should send man down
there and tell them all about IT, When I told him
that would prefer to be connected with the po-
lice station, he informed that It against
the rules. and when I again told him that I had
often been connected under similar circumstances
with the station. he politely inquired whether
wanted To tell him that he was liar. AS the fact
matter. namely, to inform him that he was liar
under these circumstances, whereupOn he promptly
rang off and closed the interesting conversation
Is IL not the height OF absurdity for this Deputy
when the Police Department of New York Is NOT
able to prevent trucks driving upCn a mans props
eTty, loading up with building material that must
have weighed 2t least ton. and driving down
interruption or detection Could YOU ask the
esteemed Deputy Commissioner to give little
attention 20 burglary or highway robbery, or what
ever YOU want To call Il. OF this kind and never
mind about the finger prints when the wheel tracks
Of burglarious trucks can be traced In the dirt OF
vacant lots? I presume that since the burglars
find the matter was easy, they will come and re-
our church next and l should like 20 ask the
Deputy Police Commissioner 60 come up and look at
those tracks. so that he might be able TO invent
system by which in the event OF the removal OF
property by main strength. he might be able
to detect them after they have done II.
] should also like To commend 20 the Police Com
missioner the intelligence OF his telephone operator
which certainly marvellous. Had he Connect
with the precinct. I requested, the truck
could have been stopped before Il down the HILL
but rules must be Obeyed even though iron gFders
be stolen. Yours sincerely.
JOSEPH n. M'MArlON.
Rector Church OF Our Lady o I.ourGaa
New York. July 50. 1905.