The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-05-18

these forty-eight patrolmen TO suffer in
pocket. Az the men took their appoint
ments in good faith and spent their money
in providing themselves with outfits they
will have to he rsimbureed. That re-
fund will not come from the city but from
the official who appointed them, accord.
ing 10 the legal men in the City Hall. and
IL Ia understood that tho men will be ad-
vised that they can recover from Mr..
Cropsey what they spent on their outfits
The average outlay for first oitht IA $50.
80 that " Commissioner Cropeey has 70
make good to the forty eight men he will
have to paw them $500.
Mr.. Creelman Gays his commission VII!
not certify theee narnce because 1t would
be false certiication, not only Grim
inal act but a substitution of the Police
Department for tho Civil Service Com
mission. He says:
bring this matter 70 your ofiicial atten-
tion because there was lawful way open
TO the Police Commissioner TO protect his
department from unit persons. Having
diecovered any evidence showing that
name. on the eligible list presented to him
were those Of persona physically or other
wise undesirable. his duty under the law
was 10 present that evidence TO this com
mission 90 that the evidence might be con-
eidered. and n In the Judgment OF the com
mission a eufY1ciept case wae mado out. the
CHALLENGED candidate or candidates might
be sum moned for a hearing. and II on re-
examination they should he found TO be
unfit their names should he stricken from
the eligible list. But the Commissioners
Of Police set up q rule Of his own In place
Of the law. have called the attention
Of the Police Commissioner 20 this delib-
crate violation Of the law. and he has agreed
.tth hA Ia iv,
case OF the torty-four patrolmen he claims
that he acted under eome sort ~ of1cial
consent obtained In advance. but no per-
con In or out OF this commission has power
20 consent 70 a violation OF tho law. and no
false certincation OF the payrolle can be
made. II is, however. still in the power
of the Police Commissioner TO revoke these
unlawful appointments and submit such
evidence a. he has In hie possession con-
oernins the persons whose names appear
on the eligible list 90 that this commission
may consider ".
II IL within my knowledge that you on
cially directed the Police Commissioner to
make appointments for the police force
from the civil service eligible ust in numeri-
cal order. even forbiddins the exercise
Of the usual discretionary choice OF one
name out OF three. That order. a. I am
Informed. was intended to eliminate. a.
far as was humanity poesible. the exercise
Of political or other private influence in
the selection Of members Of the police
force OF course I do not in any way duee-
ton the motives Of the Police Commiseio oner
In doing what he has done. but l call your
attention TO the fact that he has not only
violated the law but has disreearded your
positive Instructions.
desire also to call your attention to the
fact that the Police Department alone. OF all
the branches Of the city government. has
repeatedly attempted to break down the
civil service law and 10 take into its hands
functions which do not belong to 1t. II has
been charged for many years that candi-
dates for membership in the police force
have been compelled TO resort TO corrupt
practices in order TO prevent themselves
from being rejected by the Police Depart
nent, even though they had secured places
on the eligible list provided by the NUM-
cipal Civil Service Commission. These
charges. which are Of common knowledge.
taken in connection with the constant and
deliberate attempts OF that department
to trampie the civil service law under foot
so that IL might take into its own hands the
power OF rejecting candidates az will and
in defiance of the law constitute a grave
scandal.
i especially and gently call your atten
tion to the board Of police surgeons and
70 an ofacial communication sent 10 me by
IN charge OF the bureau Of physical exam
inatione IA copy Of which have already
forwarded to youI. showing that for FIVE
years this hoard waged deliberate war
upon the Civil Service Commission and that
At timee in the past reeHamination of candi-
dates presented by this mmission and
rejected by the police surgeons demon
etrated that a majority OF those rejected
did not actually have the disabilities for
which the police surgeons had rejected
them for reasons Of their own.
have directed a denomination Of those
rejected by the board of police surgeons
in the case OF the present eligible list. and
the commissions examination shows that
these men we're qualified for service on the
police force and that in two cases at least
the cause Of rejection alleged by the police
surgeons did not actually exist. Ono of the
most surprising things about the unlawful
and insubordinate act of the Police Com
missioner is that he had the audacity 10
pass over men regularly placed on the
eligible list and appoint others at his own
will for no other reason than that he had
postponed Investigation respecting those
whose rights we're thus wilfully violated.
Knowing how firm you are in your deter
mination to compel obedience TO the Ia "
Of public officers in your administration.
and to eliminate as far as possible all oppor-
tunity for improper influence to creep into
the public service have the honor to sub