New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-04
GAYNOR To Be FIRST
POLICE PROBE WITNESS
Mayor Promises Alderman Cur
ran To Be on Hand Mon
day to Testify.
BUCkNER TO BE EXAM INER
Committee Will Also Gall Waldo
and Several of His Predeces-
sors in the Commits
sionership.

Mayor Gaynor will be sworn as the
Curran aldermanic committee MONDAY in
the Council Chamber at City Hall
Out OF respect TO him, the Mayor was
not subpnnaed. He was asked 10 appear
by Henry II. Curran. chairman OF the
committee. who dispatched one OF the
assistant counsel 10 the committee, Will
lam A. Moore. to 81. James with letter
yesterday afternoon.
Mayor Gaynor told Mr.. Moore after
reading the letter that he would think
carefully over the specifications OF the
letter and would be on hand Monday to
testify and Cooperate with the commit
tee
Chairman Curran. who related 70 the
newspaper men what the Mayor had said
10 Mr. Moore. added that the Mayor had
expressed himself as pleased with "the
broad spirited manner in which the COM
ulittee had gone about its work"
The Endorsement OF the committee by
the Mayor was a surprise TO the chief Of
the aldermanic probers. who was told by
Mayor Gaynor when ne asked him 10 call
a special meeting Of the board in order
that the committee might be appointed
that ne was trying TO "emoarrass" him.
Curran's Letter to the Mayor.
The letter 10 the Mayor was as follows:
New York. September .. 1912.
Hon. William J, Gsynor. Mayer o. the
CITY o. New York, City Hall, New
Sir. II is manned 10 call a meeting Of
the special committee appointed by the
Board OF Aldermen 70 inquire into police
conditions to be held In the Council
Chamber, in the City Hall, at o'clock
?. m. MOnday. September 3. 1912, for the
purpose Of beginning the inQuirl
We respectfully ask your attendance al
that time and place, 70 inform US with
respect % certain matters involved IN our
Inquiry including the Administrative 70
lationship OF the Ma"or ard the Police
department and the policies which have
ceen adopted during your sdnlinistra ton
70 secure efficiency and 70 deal with par
ticuar problems OF police ACTIVITY.
II will be OF value 20 the committee II
you VIII also. az such time, give A. ex-
preston OF your views as 70 what changes.
II any. In substantive law or adnlinistra-
tive system, are needed 80 10 strengthen
the head OF the Police Department a. 70
enable him better 10 meet his personal re-
sJonslbility fOr the the maintenance of
efficiency ano the stamping out Of currup-
HENRY II CCRRAN. Chairman.
Emory r. Bgckner. chief counsel 10 the
committee. Will conduct the examination
OF the Mayor which is expected TO take
up the entire session
Police Commissioner Waldo also will be
a witness. as will mis- predecessors in
offce District Attorney Jsmes C. Crop
II
Bingham and Chief Magistrate William
McAdoo. as was told exclusively In The
Tribune Friday.
Mayor Gaynor viii be asked II he
doesn't believe that the best check on
police graft would be to have the Com
missioner OF Police make daily. or al
least q weekly. report 10 the Mayor. de-
falling the work OF the department.
What Report Should Contain.
This report, IT is the opinion OF the po-
lice probers. should contain lists OF
properties suspected OF being used as
disorderly houses or gambling dens. with
full particulars as 20 whether the places
have been -aided. and the property
owners names. and stating IL the police
have made any attempt TO obtain evil
dsnce against them.
With the magazine stories OF former
Police Commissioner Bingham IN mind.
the graft probers will ask Police Commits
sioner Waldo. when he takes the stand,
~ the numerous transfers OF policemen
have been due TO any political pressure.
The mystery which has always SUI
rounded these transfers will be inquired
into by the Curran committee. The usual
excuse given when Police Commits
sioner has been asked why he made such
a transfer has been the -honored
one OF "for the good OF the service" But
General Bingham has declared above hts
signature that frequently this really
means at the request OF politician"
Shortly after Mayor Mcclellan forced
General Bingham out OF ONCE the former
Police Commissioner wrote a series Of ar
ticles entitled why 7 Was Removed"
for Van Norden's Magazine. Some OF
these articles s1ggested 10 Mr.. Buckner
yesterday 70 send 70 Police Headquarters
for copies Of all reports OF police cap
tains and inspectors az 10 disorderly
houses and gambling dcns for eight
years back