New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-24
CR0PSEY, QUITTING,
ATTACKS THE MAYOR
Issues Statement Declaring Mr.
Gaynor Wished Uniustiflable
Promotions Made.
WALDO TAKES HIS PLACE
New Police Department Head
Immediately Takes Step to
Make Appointments
Gavror Wants.

Navor Gamer aproined rev Poles
Coran7issione- yesterday. his third since
he vas elected and James @ Cropsey
stepped down and out 81 the troublesome
lob after serving just two days over
seven months Rhinelander Waldo TOOK
m the burden where Mr.. Cropsey iett
Of. giving M the post Of Fire Corn
missioner which he has held, also by
Mayor Gaynor's appointment since jan
usrv 13. 1910
The fact that Edward F Croker, tcr
r1ar chief Of the Fire Department. was
present in the Mayors Office vesterday
morning when Mr. Waldo was sworn ~
brought up the story that the former
chief was 70 be the new Fire Torris-
sioner. but on this point the Mayor said
he hadn't made Up his mind Mean
while Deputy Fire Commissioner Joserr
Johnson is IN charge Of that department
ard is also among those mentioned ga
possible successors 70 the Commissioner.
ship
4 meeting ~ business men held last
night drew up resolutions strongly rec
ommending former Chief Croker for the
Job. and they will present the recon-
mendations 70 the Mavor to-dsv.
Cropsey went ont of Office with ~.
same smiling countenance that he bcr.
when he entered it last October and that
he has borne consistently all through hi.
short and stormy career when criticisms
were raining upon him
AS his last official act Commissioner
Cropsey cleared up the celebrated
OBrien case by disrnissire from, RI.
force Captain John J O'Brien. who was
tried last summer FOR failure 70 handle
the vice situation in Conev Island 81
which he was then the inspector
Not Forced Out. Says Mayer.
His exit was surrounded with some
thing Of mystery. inasmuch as no one
had a COPY OF his resignation, although
the Mayor distinctly stated that NJ
Cropsey had resigned. The Mayor added
that Cropsey had resigned voluntarily
Late in the afternoon. however. IN.
outgoing Commissioner gave out state
ment, his first and last. which makes -
appear that far from being the rubber
stamp for the Mayor that numerous
associations of citizens have accused him
or being, he has actually been defyiry
| the Mayor on certain lines Of Police De
partment policy which Cropsey was de-
termined 10 handle in what he consid-
cred the right way.
chief among these matters in dispute
vas the appointment Of patrolmen from
the lists furnished by the Municipal
Civil Service Commission. the subject Of
the letter from James Creelman. pres,-
dent Of the commission. 70 the Mayor. on
which the latest furry in the depart
ment which ended yesterday with Crop
sey's exit was based
Cropsey's defence Of hts action in this
matter was that by investigation he had
learned that some Of the men recon-
mended by the Civil Service Conlnis-
sion were unfit. for various reasons. 10
become patrolmen. He prepared. there
fore he said. brief statement OF the
particular reason for passing over each
individual thus named whom he had
| found unit, and forwarded the same 20
the commission. and would welcome r
investigation by the commission or any
one else into those cases.
His second point OF dispute with the
Mayor was OF longer standing. for he
says in his statement that for sorne
months the Mayor had been urging him
10 make inspectors and promotions
throughout the entire department.
Cropsey Says Why He Baked.
This have declined 10 do" said Mr..
Cropsev. mot because 7 did not believe
IN promotions as an abstract proposition.
for do believe in IT, but because I could
not see that there were any vacancies IN
the real or proper sense which were 10
be filed. and so stated 10 him. alsc
furnishing him with some particulars
which bore out this statement"
Between Mr. Cropsey's statement and
the remarks of his private secretary.
Louis Birdseye. the slight mystery sur
rounding the details of his exit from the
dopartment was made clear When the
secretary vas asked whether Mr.. Cropsey
had a copy OF his resignation. he said
that there was no copy Of u, because tt
was made verbally 70 the Mayor last
THURSDAY The Mayor had asked Nr
Cropsev 10 withhold Il then. 10 give him
time 10 select a successor. Mr.. Bidssye
supposed. and Mr. Cropsey had ao-
ouiesced in that ARA ngsment.
Mr. Cropsey's explanation ~ the same
roint was contained in this. the first
raragraph Of his statement:
last Thursday when T visited III.
Navor 7 told him that 7 could not con-
,irue as police Commissioner. in view
% his criticism and evident lack Of con-
odsnca IN me. as shown by the publics-
t,,, ~ Mr. Creelman's letter
When he came out 81 the Police Com
roissioner's office late yesterday after
roor Mr. Cropsey was asked what he
meant in his statement by other mat
ters " concerning which he and the Mayor
s,d not agree. but he declined 20 amplify
his words
IN answer 70 a question why he had
DELAYED action on the case 4 Inspector
o,prien until practically the last ninuts
he was in once. Mr. Cropsey said:
The DELAY IN that case was due strnply
- the fact that was able 70 finish read