davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

The Mayor hardly glanced at Chair
man Curran when the latter arose and
formally put the Mayor under oath,
The Mayor raised his hand automat-
cally. 1t was evident that the recent
differences between the chairman and
the Mayor had led them TO adopt
strained relations toward each other
The Mayor settled down In his char
with cool composure at the start, some
what expressive Of his apparent disgust
Of the object Of the proceedings. 1t
was not long before he charged the
committee with trying to stir up scan
dal and embarrass the Mayor instead
Of working sincerely to better condi-
tions.
He referred to Mr.. Buckner as n
boy" like himself when he first came
TO New York with reputation TO
make. The Mayor declared that he
had lived so long in the community
that he had acquired "A reputation for
his good works among the majority Of
Ile people WHICH Al4t OOilllli4NNCO NNNi'
not scandalize, however hard 1t might
try He said ne had been in the re-
form business long before Mr.. Buckner
was born.
Mr.. Buckner began with questioning
the Mayor about his administrative
policy over the Police Department. He
asked:
O.-The committee IS DESTROYS, Mr..
Mayor, Of ascertaining somewhat Of the
administrative policy of the Mayor OF
New York over the Police Department.
In order to facilitate their inquiry, they
should like to know in q general way what
method the Mayor has employed Of keep
inR in touch during his administration
with the administre ton of the Police De-
partment. Allow do you meanF
Q.-Have you had any system OF re
ports given you by the Commissioner:
Al have reports from time 10 time.
Q.--You have reports? Ayes.
Q.-.Are those reports hom the Com
missioner in writing or oral? A-WcN
have frequent reports from the Com
missioner about many matters.
Q.-Are those reports oral or IN writ
Ing? A-They are by letters generally
Q.-Generally by letters? Al have
instructed the Police Commissioner 10
open up all the correspondence ana every
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

You take the first man on the list
every time" said the Mayor, "and he
doesn't care for Murphy, or Sam Koe-
mig, or any one else. | have shown
them that ! don't intend any one shall
run the city but the Mayor, who Is the
responsible person"
The Mayor showed further irritation
when Mr.. Buckner pressed questions
in regard 10 tho manner in which the
Police Department investigated candi-
dates on the civil service list. He un-
derstood, he said. that Commissioner
Waldo had abolished n special bureau
which had formerly existed for that
work. The Mayor said he knew Of no
such bureau, but that most OF the can
didates were Investigated by the Com
missioner. He said he couldn't go into
details as to that.
Needs Eyes and Ears in Every Pore.
IF you knew how many things I
had to do In q day you would know
that could not bother with every such
detail az that. | would have TO have
eyes and ears in every pore OF my
body" said the Mayor
Mr. Buckner continued:
o-You are willing to have the Police
Commissioner run the Police Depar tment
A.-Sure, he does run IL and run IL well
too He recently met with u great mis-
fortune One OF his own stan was found
to be a CRATER. and every dog in the COM
munlty IL at his heels now. That doesn' I
change me particle, not a particle.
O-Do you know whether or not his at
tention was particularly called to that
person withis the last year? A.-No. |
don't.
Q-Was T. ever called TO your atter-
ton? Al have had letters concerning
that person.
O.-And when you had letters concern
ing that person did you call them TO the
attention OF your Commissioned? A.
Yes, sir. ! have had letters about them
all, mostly anonymous ones. and | always
attend 10 them. No letter comes to my
Office that Is not answered and attended
TO forthwith
Odd you think. Notwithstanding
that that II was a safe matter TO keep
that person still In charge Of his Import
ant positionr ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS what"
Q-The anonymous letters you received
concerning him? A.-You wouldn't care
me 10 credit an anonymous letter about
you unless ] found IL TO be true would
you? -,
Ono. sir. A. (continued)-My ex-
perlence In the Police Department Is tnat
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

they are drinking from morning TO nieh,
and you know II as we'll as do, and ~
some OF these club members get up AZ
raise row in the city here because n
Bowery and everywhere else from dr,nI
ing. loud applause among Spectator
Chairman Curran raped for order WIN
the gavel.)
I do not care two cents for these IA.
pie. Some OF them are even seIlins
destroying the people Of the East s,ds .
Some OF these great retormers hers
And I shall have great occasion soon ~
tell some OF them, In place OF meddi,no
with everything just TO take that mates
in hand and keep their dirty drugs ov.
Of the East side, their cocaine and their
morphine and their poisonous druos
which are sapping the health OF tbosss
people. and yet they get up and ty,s
me. because somebody is drinking a gIss.
OF beer on Sunday
Charges Attempt at Scandal
Q.-Our only interest in the excise ou..
ton Is the interest OF grating A.
know your interest. Your interest IL .,
make some scandal about II, but n ~
happens that l have lived here so lons
that you cannot do It BIT, not IN,
believe you have been here three yes..
II ] understand It, / don't twit you "a
that. | came here when l was a boy ,on
but | know that ] have some reputano,
in this community that this committss
cannot affect in any way whatever
The Chairman: The chair would
A.-(Continuing) This examination I. .
all unseemly from first to last Cam
down here to tell you any fact about ,Ss
Police Department, any disObedenes n
law there and see II Is turned into a,
examination that is intended TO embsr.
rass the Mayor of this great city You
had better work with me in place OF try.
ing 10 embarrass me.
OIL hope you do not think that, NJ
Mayor Al think IT and know II, too
Q.-I am trying 10 ask II you can
A.-Oh, | know what you are trying IN
do. I was not born this morning, at ali
| have dealt with hypocrites for a long
time
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11
DARE NEARLY BRINGS DEATH
Bronx Man Quits Dinner to Swim;
Has Cramps, but Is Rescued.

Friends he was dining with al Cons!'
Island yesterday afternoon dared Jo-
seph Reines. who lives at No. s6o Ttnaoy
street. The Bronx. 10 swim out quarter
mile and back. He got right up from tns
table, put on a bathing suit and swan
out the required distance.
He turned and was go yards ttYn.
shore when cramps struck him and ne
yelled. Alfred Skene, a lifeguard at tne
Parkway baths, who is a halfback On
the Muhlenberg College football eleven ~
the fall season, got Reines ashore un'
conscious. ,,..
A physician brought him around al'e'
artificial respiration.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

.rd ga soon as I go outside the
n tsW; limits from one end Of the state 70
the other, there is not sanu%lcn 90 90
sight all day Sunday anu e'''0'o'
drInkins a., nstence- A. continuing
only ~, the hypocrites down in this
citv that cause this miserable evasion
of the Sunday law. .,, o.
Q.-Ine committee HAY may hut Spt 90 ions
40 the law Is on the books, do you THINK
q; a. s the be enforced? A.-You do not
need to ask me what | think L do not
intend to tell yo you wna, that T the excise
ra,., IN Ncw York City is being enforced
. as 70 hack rooms? Al suppose as
much as II can be.
Law No Proof to Wicked.
Q.-WilI you a. lcontinuingl-Th
law with regard to theft, with regard to
rot,rder. with regard TO adultery. with re-
gard 10 the Ten Commandments Is NOT
being fully enforced and never VIII be
while there are wicked people IN the
world, and you know tnat. Al the
the Ten Commandments obeyed, let alone
the excise law.
Q.-But do you know whether practi-
caly- A.-(Continuing)- you want
a drink on Sunday, and II you don't hap
pen to be q temperance man, am sure
you would get it some way If you set
about IT, but we must try 70 prevent you
as we'll as we can. and make you observe
the law as we'll as we can. ! have tod
everybody without any bones at all
that to prevent all the people OF this city
drinking on Sunday is an impossiollity.
and every sane man knows 1t, and | am
not willing to be hypocrite for one
second about It. IL you gentlemen think
you can prevent everybody In the city
from drinking. l will turn the Job over TO
you gladly All the clubs In the city are
open and in full blast. aren't they, where
the rich people go. and they swlg whiskey
and wine all day. DO you think you can
do that and that the poor people won't
drink anything on Sunday? The thing Is
preposterous. Every club OF rich men In
this town Is wide omen on Sunday. and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

away with IT,. too. There are a lot or
other things / did. but ! am not able TO
do everything at once. ! have 10 blde
my time and act as best ! can. That
was the time that the men dubbed.
They thought nothing OF going TO your
house smashing your front door In and
ransaCking your house. ! called them IN
for that and for those lawless things
that they were taught TO DO II that Is
what you have reference to- that is what
Q-But has the matter been brought TO
your attention that the policemen, I'M
properly, OF course. misunderstood the
attitude Of the Mayor OF the city, and
would not even use their clubs? A
What has that 10 do with all this. DO
not think they misunderstood me at all.
I think they well understood me. THe
result shows It. Now. I must say. once
for all | will have to withdraw from
this line Of examination II II continues
came here-I suppose you had some
facts 20 show that there was some Vio-
lation OF the law In the Police Depart
ment. by the Commissioner or somebody.
! am the Mayor Of the city. and | run
the Police Department through Com
missioner. The details OF It ! cannot
follow.
for mo TO ask Al feel as though
were brought. here under false pretences
81 this line OF questioning continues.
Will Stick 10 Policies.
Q.-You do not think 1t Is impairment
for me to inquire OF you II you ever
heard that the policemen understood from IN
any difference whether I heard IL or
not No policeman ever told me any
such thing. II | were 10 90 by what
/ heard from the newspapers and cut
threats OF the city, the newspaper pro
prlctors and others I would Yacillate
every hour in the day. But | pursue
my own course, even I'm the boiler shop
OF the city now with every eI-convict
or newspaper proprietor or whoever
wishes attacking me. / have not varied
an iota UP to this time. and | hope /
shall not until | get through.
Q-But has not IL been called 10 your
attention, not by newspapers, but by
private parties that the policemen mis-
understood your attitude on clubbingP
Al do not care whether IL has been or
not I know IL Is not true. ] know |
corrected the evil and | know the whole
city thanked me for A. That IL what
know They do not club boys and de-
fenceless people In this town since |
have been there; not after the first month
| was Mayor nor smash In doors with
out a warrant either.
O-Has your experience shown you
whether or not the publication OF your
letters to the Commissioner with reference
To disciplining patrolmen for clubbing,
end then those patrOlmen being dismissed
By the Commissioner. and afterward re
instated by the courts. has been lnimical
to discipline? Al know OF no such
thing; neither do You.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

those who do their duty best nave the
most enemies end the most people 10
bark at their heels and happen " know
that personally myself, as Mayor.
Mr.. Buckner asked the Mayor about
many appointments Of men to the
force who had been passed over on the
civil service lists by Commissioners
Cropsey. Commissioner Waldo's prede-
cessor. Some Of them had bad rec
ords, according TO the reasons gwen
for their failure Of appointment under
the Cropsey regime. The witness said
all the records OF the appointees were
examined by the civil Service Com
mission and the Police Commissioners
before they were appointed. He re-
ferred the committee 10 Commissioner
Waldo for many details on this sto-
ject. At this point the Mayor shouted:
The Commissioner will tell you all
me. You are asking all these things,
fully aware, and trying TO crafty the
notion here that those people were ap-
pointed policemen with these bad rec
ords. I will state anything now that
there is not word OF truth in what
you have been going over. Mr. Waldo
don't appoint any convict or disrcpu-
table person to the police force"
Didn't he appoint any men whom
Commissioner Cropsey passed over?"
the Mayor was asked.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11
CHARGES ATTEMPT
TO EMBARRASS MAYOR

thing in the Police Department TO you or
to anybody else who wishes to read 1t
everything
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

man Frank L. Bowling, leader OF the
Tammany minority on the committee.
before taking his seat in the witness
chair.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11


patience when Mr.. Buckner questioned
him in regard to any system Of reports
he might have in any week or month
for the purpose Of ascertaining the gen.
eral conditions Of the city. The Mayor
replied that the Police Commissioners
made an annual report, and, asked II
he had any other way Of ascertaining
the general conditions Of the city, he
said: ooh, yes. l have eyes and ears
and hands and feet"
Have you had any other method
than your personal investigation? MI.
Buckner asked the witness.
The Mayor replied CURLY that the
Commissioner was the head of the de-
partment, and he consulted with him,
and then he added:
Now, gentlemen, l am willing TO
come here to give any facts within my
possession, and come voluntarily and
with pleasure, showing any lack Of en-
forcement Of the law in the Police De-
partment That is what l have come
here for. / don't want to say that in
the way Of displeasure at all. On the
contrary, that is what l come for. and
I would like TO have you come TO that
because am ready to give you the
facts Of IT,"
Mr. Buckner continued
ON attempting TO find out Mr..
Mayor, as 10 the extent you Keep IN
touch with the conditions OF the cry,
am inquiring as to the facts. ana un.
derstand that you have no way eScepI
conversations with your COMMISSIONS
and occasional letters-is That right,
Ar you understand ii that way you
can say So ] have not said so. =, 80
Q.-All right then. VIII you tell Us
what method you have for ascertainine
al any given time the general conditions
OF the city with reference to VIOLATIONS
Of law? Al have already tod you
Q-Au right. The Commissioner OF
Accounts has a large STAFF, has he mott
Q.~And you have employed the Com
missioner OF Accounts TO make lnyesti-
cations from time 10 timer Al oil
rect him from time TO time.
Recalls No Order to Fosdiok.
o.--Have you ever directed Mr.. Fos-
dick through his independent inves s;n,'t
=
10 conduct any comprehensive InvesAga'
ton for you? Al don't recall. =,
O-To refresh your recollection, is II
true that Mr.. Fosdick, the Commissions
OF Accounts. has been largely employed
or directed by you looking after cases Of
tndiyiduel patrolmen, such as for allegee
Undergraduates? Al don't thlhf
o.EHes he done anything else? Al
think very seldom has he done anything
in the Police Department l think.
Dwell, he has made into the Ponce
Department some twenty-five or thirty
Investigations at your direction, has NJ
not. in two and half years? Al
Couldn't say. l don't think as many
He has the report Of each case on hl'
here. ,,s ~, Noy,
YOU. TO ascertain at any moment th'
general conditions of the city so as e
Shsck up the reports you have received
from your Commissioner? A.-The gen
eral conditions of the city? He has
nothing 10 do with that at all. =,
OFT would be his duty to do 1t II
you directed him, wouldn't II? A.
don't know as his office extends to that
think not
The Mayor couldn't recall that Com
missioner Fosdick had made an investi'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11
Committee Appreciates Courtesy.

Q.--And the committee has been greatly
benefited by that courtesy, Mr.. MdyVI,
and has taken advantage OF II during tiie
last week. A.-Everything is there IN
my letters.
Q.-But on the question OF the reports
which you received from YOUR Conulls-
siOner do you receive anything other
than letters regarding specific matters
A.-The Commissioner often speaks with
me. Of course.
Do you have any system Of reports
other than letters or other than speaKihS
TO you? Al know Of no other way py
which he could communicate, except oy
writing or speech.
Q.-And have you used that way o,
writing and speech in an effort 10 Keep III
touch with the administration Of the de
partment? A.--Oh. ! do not think SO.
have not made so much effort nave
been able to devote very little time-to
each department just little OF my tlihe.
That is al J can say to you. have
thousand things 70 do.
Q.-Have you any system by which you
have been able 10 ascertain the condi-
ton or the efficiency Of, let us say, In
spectors or leutenants or captains or
have you interested yourself IN maj ue-
tail? Al do not understand YOU.
Q.-For instance, the president OF
manufacturing company has method OF
ascertaining ct any time the efhclehcy
of his various foremen or superlnteIl-
dents and the cost Of his article. lave
you ndd any system OF genera ltP'ss
by which you could tell what your IN
spectCrs or captains We're doing
A-They are reporting constantly.
Q.--To the Commissioner? A--CeT-
tainly; il is daily and an hourly oc-
Q.GTo the Commissioners Then has
the Mayor don't know that II is
good thing or bad thing-but has the
Mayor any system of finding out at any
moment just what his inspectors or ms
caDte{Ds are doing in the city. A.--N eS.
O.-And what is that method? Alt
is all in the Police Department.
Q.-An in the department? A.-by
assignments and reports.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

lam Kennel, who guards the door Of
the Mayors office. The room was
crowded and there was applause at his
entrance. He shook hands with Alder
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11
Stopped Police lawlessness.

O.-Showing the Commissioners pres
ence? Al don't know whether there
is a record of Il or not. lie might not
always have been present. ! recoliect
ne was sometimes present do remem-
Der from the first month / was Mayor
the first thing / said when | became
MAYOR / would do away with the law
lessness and violence OF the police force
in this city took that up and l did
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11

q new stan and snew Police Commits
sioner and changes OF all kinds
Q.-You have changed the personnel OF
the force since that time, have you? A
That letter was written when Baker was
Commissioner, II | remember right.
Q.-Yes. but / am not asking about mo
personnel Of the force, but whether you
have inaugurated any new system of
keeping Yourself In touch with what is
going on? A.--Whst new system are you
talking about2
OF am asking you II there is a new
system, MFR Mayor? A.-What new sys-
TEN? The law establishes the system. !
have changed things conctantly, or VIC
Commissioner has. They are changsd
from week TO week and month TO month;
all sorts OF safeguards. All the time
something new has been done
Crimes Of Violence First.
O-Hasn't it been your effort to pat
the Police Department on An efncient
basis with reference 20 crimes OF violence.
az distinguished from other crimes? A
In every respect.
ODD you ever hear OF any practice
OF not reporting crimes which were re
ported TO the station houses In order 10
make the statistics better? A.-No.
Q.-Would YOU be surprised TO learn
that after remaining stationary for eighs
years burglary insurance has Increased
Sc per. cent during. the last twelve
prise or any opinion about anything, nor
DO ! take your word for the truth OF any
such statement.
Q.-The committee would Ike TO know
Mr.. Mayor. TO what extent you have
given TO the Police Commissioner free
hand in matters Of his administration
and policy2 Ale Is the head or the
department. and has a free hand In the
administra ton OF the department.
Q-For instance. have you from time
10 time had brought TO your ONCE indi-
vidual patrolmen concerning whom you
received complaints without communi-
eating with the Commissioner? A,-No.
Q.SDuring Commissioner Bakers ad-
ministration, in the early part OF your
administration, didn't you have Il large
number OF individual patrolmcn In your
Office for your owh examination! A
Yes-he was present.
Q.-The Commissioner was present?
O.-At all times? Al think so. or
else he sent them In.
O-And have you n record OF those
examination or those visits? Al dom
know.
Stopped Police Lawlessness.
O.-Showing the Commissioners pres
ence? Al don't know whether there
is a record of Il or not lie might not
always have been present ! recollect
a n 4. M
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11
Would Call on Waldo.

Q-But in YOUR own office have YOU
any? Supposng this afternoon you
wanted TO find out the efficiency OF your
inspectors OF the city. could you DO that
without calling on Commissioner Waldo.
A-Wcn. | would have tony own
knowledge | suppose would go a certain
way Are you asking me whether there
is staff in the Mayors Office charged
with running the Police Department? II
that is Il | snould only say 70 YOU NO.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-11
Mayor Vigorously AppIsuded.

NO, sir" he replied.
Mayor Vigorously AppIsuded.
Mr.. BuclSner continued to press his
questions about individual cases of APP
pointments on the force OF men who
had been passed over by the former
Police Commissioner until the Mayor
became exasperated and declared heat
eddy:
Il tell you again that | know moth
ing about this investigation. and yet
you keep asking me over and over. IL
is not on honesty. II is for scandal.
II so happens that have a reputation
in this community and you cannot
scandalize me. So l will be as patient
with you as l can. was engaged In
purifying the government here long be-
fore you came in sight"
The Mayors remarks were vigorous
~ applauded from various sections OF
the chamber. and Chairman Curran
raped for order and declared that no
demonstration should take place again.
Mr.. Buckner took up the enforce
ment Of the excise law and the Mayor
said he had stopped grating in that
direction. He said he had consulted
with the Liquor Dealers Association
about that, and knew they had been
blackmailed and treated UNANIMOUSLY
under the regime which he came into.
He declared the manner In which he
did away with graft was all pointed
out in a letter Of his on the subject
that the committee had.
Asked how he had found out that the
graft had stopped In the excise situa-
ton, he replied that Il used my facul-
ties, Just as you do" The witness said
he did not permit the police force to
20 into saloons right and left and col
lect graft as they had done before.
Stopped 100000 Excise Graft.
The Mayor calculated that he had
done away with about S4.0OO,O0O of ex-
else graft. figuring on n basis OF 1900
pldttS V-o a no
witness said that he would undertake
to say that he had vacated every
barroom in the city so far as selling
liquor on Sunday went, as the law re-
quired, but the law did not prevent
them from selling on Sunday in the
proprietor's diningroom. where meal
Of victuals," or sandwich was
served, he said. The Mayor didn't
know how many men Commissioner
Waldo delegated to look after excise
violations.
Q.-The committee would like TO know
If you think you could enforce the law
generally as we'll as on the Complaint Of
neighbors? A.-Oh. the best way on this
earth ito enforce the law is by private
complaint. Every lawyer knows that
Q.-Has II been your policy in the
case of excise to enforce the law only
when somebody complains? A.-No. sir:
there is my letter
o. call your attention to
A.-Why. In the city on Sunday the
hotels. from the Waldorf Astoria down
TO the little hotel over in Brooklyn al
Coney Island put a sandwich before you
as an excuse for selling II, and every
-'Ne i see one OF those sandwiches
sa, TO myself, TT Is only teaching
everybody how easy IL is to evade the