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

ii
not TO trust entirely the reports OF the
Police Department? 4 have had him
do so occasionally. have lust az much
confidence in MIR Waldo as | have IN the
Commissioner Of Accounts I did no'
need 10. "" il a thoroughly honest man.
Q man OF high intelli gence and he has my
absolute confidence. | never found him
lacking yet.
. But Of course Commissioner waldo
might easily be deceived by hls subordinate es
In making his reports? \ do not know
What have TO do with this | come here o
give facts 10 this committee If they DO
not wish to ask them | will have toretire
| might as well he plain with YOU.
. The particular question ! am asking
YOU now is if you have.uscd Commissioner
Fosdick for any Kind 81 AN iuvesti CATION
except small. petty cases? 4. | do not know
what ne has been used for
= For instance. in the latter part Of July
OF this year you did not employ IA. Conn
missioner of Accounts to make any investi
CATION. did YOU. into allie gat ions that were
spread broadcast a. that time?
Mayors Anger Aroused.
This question caused the Mayor To
straighten up quickly and assume an atti-
tude considers bly, more beDigerent than
he had yet shown.
Spread broadcast by whoms- h.
asked. Il do not know what yo,i are
talking about. | must again say that
shall withdraw unless yo,i, come to some
facts about tho failure of the police de.
partment 10 enforce the law. That i,
the inquiry here"
=. Did you ever employ Commissioner
FosdicN to make a general Investigation
into the alleged conditions OF graft il the
Police Department after the murder o'
Herman Rosenthal? \ tie was not EN-
ployed AT all.
q. Dld YOU know at that time or did
you hsa" that he had material ia hand
on that subject: 4 No. sir
.. Going back for a moment - ,he sum
mer Of 1910. did IL occur 10 vou after tn,
disclosures made by the investigation OF
Commissioner FosdiCk under the direct ion
of the acting mayor. that perhaps yours sys.
tenn of keeping in touch with the conditions
OF the city was detective Al decline 10
answer I shall go no further with this
business unless you come to some failure
Of the Police Department TO obey the law
think the whole world knows that. and
brr | should not be asked word about
II here
-. You do not think then that your sys-
'"in was defective. A. do no, tell YOU
What think AT all. | come here to produce
fucrs.
q All right. After the disclosures made
with reference to the condition OF Coney
Island in 1910 did YOU change. improve or
modify your system OF keeping IN touch
with general conditions in the city OF New
York: 4. | have nothing 10 do with that
matter,
.. DO you think the Mayor OF New York
should keep in touch with general vice
conditions in the city 4 | shall not state
what think on that subject,
Mr.. Buckner then let the liestion drop
and took lp line Of questioRinR that had
TO do with the police commissioners and
one deputy commissioner. Mr.. Bugher.
who have been in Office under Mayor
Gaynors administration. When Mr.
Buckner, in an effort to have Deputy Com
missioner Bugher's letter Of resgna ton
identified, asked the Mayor il the fol-
lowing, TO the best OF your recollection, =
was tho text of MIR. Bughers resignation.
got TO the date. October 10. 1910. with
Il do not need to recollect at all; il there
is a record. there il is"
Mr.. Buckner continued reading the
letter. Il have for some time remained
in the department with very great reluc-
tance. as you know. Twice before"
Mayor knows to Contrary.
know the very contrary" interrupted
the Mayor. He was trying to get me to
appoint him commissioner. He was wor-
nf ma IN eyat inf "a
to be the head of the department"
MIR. Buckner continued reading the
letter, in which Mr.. Bugher told OF twice
placing his resignation in the hands OF
the Mayor, and continued.
Since the first OF the year | have seen
the department become increasingly de
mOralized and the violation of the law more
and more fragrant until now ! am con.
yinccd that ] cannot retain my position
with self-respect.
Nothing short OF a complete reorganIza.
tion of the depart ment and the appoint
ment of u Commissioner who will make |,
clear That he intends to enforce discipline
and viii support The honest and seif-re-
specting members OF the force in enforc-
ing the law will, in my opinion. give to the
city The kind Of police administration it
should have
-IhhN dhos am
since. you indicated o mo that you int enc ed
10 make such a change.
81 have remained in tho department In
the hope that you would recognize the
gravity of existing conditions and deaI
effectively with them. ] cannot see how
matters can contuiuc much longer as they
arc without a complete breakdown OF
police control
'Ih" limitations OF my power as First
Deputy make 1t impossible for me 10 further
rlsk apparent responsibility for such con-
ditions
=. Now after receiving that letter did
You institute any investigation into the
Police department to see whether the ale
gallons we're true or false? A. | have nc
| reecollection OF what was done. ] only knov Y
| the allegation was chiefly untrue; worse
| II was untruthful
q, Did you direct commissioner i'osdick