New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-03
DOORMEN ASKED TO PAY
FOR SALARY INCREASE
Fosdick Tells Mayor Former Pa
troIman Collected for Ser
vice Not Performed.
WALDO FATHERED MEASURE
Says Case Should Go to Bar As
ISOLATION Nv. e. Murphy,
Who Claims $4,000 Fee,
Was Counsel for Doormen.

According 20 report made by Ray
mond h. Fosdick. Commissioner OF Ac-
counts, TO Mayor Gaynor yesterday.
active efforts have been made within the
last two months to induce former door
men in the Police Department, now
ranked as patromen, TO give up various
sums of money. ranging from so 10 800.
The collections were received. the report
states. by William L. Murphy. a lawyer,
Of No. 3i6 Broadway. Mr.. Murphy was a
policeman for many years, and until 1t
was disbanded recently Was counsel for
the Doormen's Association. He declared
when he was examined by Commissioner
Fosdick, that the money was being con-
tributed 60 cover his fee OF 1900 for pro-
fessiona services for three years The
Commissioner suggests that copies OF his
report be sent TO the District Attorney
and the grievance committee OF the Der
Association
Commissioner Tosdick stated that he
had begun his investigation at the re-
quest Of Police Commissioner Waldo. who
had heard certain allegations that a fund
was being collected for the passage Of
the bin in the Legislature which changed
the grade Of doorman to patrolman in the
department Tho change in grade car
ried On increase in salary from 81 900 TO
sl,40o
The bill was passed In April. having
been introduced at the suggestion OF
Commissioner Waldo. The report says:
II appears from the testimony OF a
number Of eXdooCrnen. whom SUBJ
ppnaed as Witnesses. that letters were
sent out from Mr.. Murphys Office during
The month OF June to all the policemen
affected by the passage Of the BILL These
letters invited the officers TO call on Mr..
Murphy 10 discuss "a matter of mutual
Interest The number OF policemen who
accepted the invitation We were unable TO
ascertain.
Those who went to sec Mr.. Murphy
We're Informed by him that IL was neces-
Sary for them 10 pay their part Of tho
expense In securing the passage Of the
bill through the Legislature.
officer Valentine Brandt testified that
az MIrphy's demand he signed n note
for 500. payable to Murphy I'm monthly
instruments OF SIS each. HIS first pay
ment Of ~ was made on July . His
receipt, which he produced. is signed
WIN. +. Murphy. per NJ. Johnston.
Brandt understood that the figure A0o
was fixed by the amount OF tho increase
In his annual salary.
officer Paul X. Tclke gave Murphy So
on July 3. He was under the impression
that that sum constituted his full obliga-
ton
OFFICER BENJAMIN Bracket. the presi-
dent OF the Doormen's Association, con
tribut"d 81 as his share.
Officer Barr. failing tG call at Murphys
office In July, received the following
note:
Dear Sir During the month OF June
last you called at my office. and We had
a conversation In relation 10 IA certain
obligation which is due me from you.
! believe that you promised TO present
yourself at my Office IN July 10 make a
payment. but up to the present time |
have not heard from you VIII YOU
kindly advise me tho reason ~ the de-
lay? expect your answer promptly.
WILLIAM f. MURPHY"
Commissioner Fosdick said that all OF
the officers examined were Of the I'm
preston that the money was going 20
Murphy 10 satisfy the amount Of his bill
FOR professional services a. counsel in
connection with the passage Of the door
mems bill.
In regard 10 the BIZ for $4,000 which
Dir Murphy said lie bad handed TO the
president OF the Doormen's Association
on May 81. covering services FOR 1910.
1911 and 1912. Commissioner Fosdick
said I'm his report:
lie Murphy stated that IN 1910 he
lad prepared a memorandum for the
Wins Charter Revision Commission. and
In 1911 be had attended three sessions
Of the Legislative Charter Revision Com
mission. The services rendered In 1872.
In connection with the passage Of tho
bill, he was doubtful OF.
He did not draw the bill; he did not
go To Albany he did not Interview either
In other words. he appears 20 have had
very little. II anything. TO do with the
passage OF the dOormen's act.
am Of the belief that Mr.. Murphy
claim IS sham. Certainly the amount
Of the hill IS out OF ell proportion 10 any
service which he may have rendered.
while the methods he has employed in
collecting his fee are utterly discredita-
bic
Mr. Fosdick ends his report with the
following general observation on police
conditions:
The police seem to be obsessed with
the idea that the passage Of any measure
beneficial 10 them cannot be accom-
plished without the payment OF large
sums Of money. They thus become the
easy victims Of tho INSCRIPTIONS
Mr. Murphy was seen last night at Cur
leys Fifth Avenue Hotel. at Rockaway
Park, where he went over the matter of
the fund with which his name was con-
nected In Commissioner Fosdick's report
THE entire sum which | received from
the Doormen's Association" said Mr..
Murphy, for my work here in the city
and at Albany during the whole period of
my connection with the organization rs
counsel was between 500 and $500 The
secret OF this whole disturbance is this:
Il have Commissioner Waldo I'm fine
hole. In the latter part Of 1911 thirty
patrolmen were before Fourth Deputy
Commissioner Dillon on petty charges,
and each one was fined fifteen days pay
] was retained as their counsel. and
served an appeal of the case in October
In March, however Commissioner Waldo
upheld the action of Dillon. and when
he appeared in July on the case said
that he had gone over all the testimony
and was convinced that Dillon was right
on the other hand, Nathan Behrn. who
took all the stenographic notes in the
case Is willing TO go on the stand and
swear that at the time he mentioned
Waldo had never seen the testimony.
Waldo knows I've got him. and he's try
ing TO make trouble for me. This Is all
lot OF talk about nothing"