The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-09-11

"The committee is desirous, Mr.
Mayor" Mr.. Buckner began. "of ascer-
tanning 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 general way whs, met hod the Mayor
has employed of keeping IN touch during
his administration with The administra-
ton of the Police Department"
The Mayor asked what MIR. Buckner
meant Tue counsel for the in nvestig igat ors
explained bv ssllng il the Mayor had any
system OF reports given him by the Com
missioner
Il have reports from time TO time.
Mayor Gavnor replied. He dded that
he had frequent reports from the Com
missioner about many matters These
reports. he said. were generally made 10y
letters. have instructed the Police
Commissioner. he continued "to open
mp all the correspondence and everything
IN the Police Department to you or to any
hody else who wishes to read II every
thing"
And the committee has been greatly
benefited by that courtesy, Mr.. Mayor"
Mr.. Buckner replied. and has taken I'D
vantage Of II during he past week. The
Mayor finished up this little exchange of
: courtesy with th" remark that everything
was there in his letters. and the ques-
tioning vas resumed. Mr.. Buckner re-
turning 10 The mater of reports and ask
than letters regarding specific matters.
. Do Won have any. system OF reports
other than letters or q hcr than speaking
1 10 you7 4 know Of no other way nv
which he could communicate, except by
writing speech
Q. And nave YOU used that way Of writing
and speech IN an effort to keen in touch
with the administration of the depart
/! ment' 4 ! do not think SO. | have not
made so much efrorl I have been able TO
devote very little time to each department
/, Just a little Of my time
Q. You have not then devoted any
particular time 20 the Police Department
as distinguished from other departments?
'Fcr example have YOU employed the Com
missioner OF Accounts from time 10 time
10 make investigations into any phases
Of the Police Department? A. think 80.
No Recollection of Inquiries.
Q. What kind OF Investigations have
you had the Commissioner of Accounts
|, PERFORM A. have no recollection about
O. Have you any system BY which you
have been able to ascertain the condition
or the efficiency Of. let us say. inspectors
or lieutcnants or captains. or have you
Interested yourself in that detail'
The Mayor said he did not understand
MIR. Buckner explained by citing the
methods employed by a nanufacturer TO
ASCERTAIN the efficiency o. his organiza-
tion and asked if the Mayor had had any
system Of general reports by which he
could tell what his inspectors or captains
were doing. Mr.. Gaynor said they were
reporting constantly TO the Commissioner
The method by which the Mayor found
out these things was all in the Police De-
partment. he said.
.. But in your own ONCE have yon
any way; Snpposing this afternoon you
wanted to find out the efficiency OF your
inspectors of the city. could YOU do tha,
without calling on Commissioner Waldo?
\ Well would have tony own knowledge
! suppose would go n certain way. Are
YOU asking me whether there ia a stan in
the Mayors Office charged with running
the Police Department? If that Is it I should
only say 10 YOU. Ne
Each department the Mayor con-
tinued, is run by a Commissioner. and
he reports TO the Mayor.
Q. Have YOU had any system Of reports
for the purpose OF ascertsining what in any
week of any month ~,re the Ceperal con-
dtions of the city? A, The Commissioner
makes his annual report.
2. Outside of the Commissioners annual
report have YOU had any way of ascertain
ing the general conditions of the city at
any week OF any month? 4. Oh, yes
q. How? Oh. have eyes and ears
and hands and feet
=. Have You had any other method than
YOUR personal investigation. A Tho Com
missioner is the head OF the department.
and consult with hun.
Here the Mayor began his protest
against the line of quest oning protest
which he repeated many times before
Inc hearing was over and which he sew
,eral times emphasized by starting 10 ri-,
trom his seat as if 10 leave tha commit
tee and the chamber altogCt her
Complains About Questions.
'Now gentlemen" he said. Il am will
ing TO come here 10 give any ii"i- wi,nlu
my possession and | com" voluntarily
and with pleasure showing aav Iac; OF
enforcement Of the law IN the Poiic. De-
partment That Is what have come here
Tor, don't want TO say that in the way of
diepieas suiT' AZ all On the contrary, that
Is what | come for and | would like to
have you come to that because am ready
10 give y,u tn" facts of II
Q Yes. In attempting 10 hnd out Mr.
Mayor. as 10 n" extent YOU keep in touch
with the" nnditons of the city am lnq,lir-
ing a. to the facts. and understand that
YOU have no way eXCep' conversations
With yonr Commissioner and occasional
IetleTN, " uH' TlEH'' \ ~ YOU understand
thai way you can do 80. | have no, said
Mr.. Buckner replied An right" as he
replied half a hundred times in the hear
ing when the Mayors replies were OF a
similar nature.
Mr.. Buciner then mentioned former
Commissioner of Accounts Fosdick and
. asked the Mayor if he ever directed Mr..
Fosdick. through his comprehensive
Investigations outside OF the Police De-
partment. TO conduct any comprehensive
investigation for the Mayor
'ldon't recall. was the Mayor s answer.
Q. To refresh your recollection. is 1t true
that Mr.. Fosdick. the Commissioner of
Accounts, has been largely emplo yed or
directed by YOU looking after cases OF
individual patromen such as for alleged
clubbing batteries: A don't think
many
T. Has he done anything else? A. | think
very seldom has he done anything in the
Police Department. I think
.. Well. he has made into the Police De-
rar'ment some twenty five or thirty investi-
gstionsiatt tyour direction. has he not, in two
1ndiaAhalf years? 4. ! couldn't say don't
think a. many, He has the report of each
case on file here
Y You have not directed him. have YOU,
10 ascertain at any moment the general
conditions of!the city 40 IA TO check up he