New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-21
City Fathers Invade Commis
sioner's Precincts and Get
Scant Courtesy-Inves-
tigators Drag Out In
formation Slowly.
GET SILENT TREATMENT
Men Employed in Department Not
Even Permitted to Answer Ques-
tions-Orders Sent Out from
Behind Closed Doors at
Headquarters.

Headquarters.
The Police Department, through its
Commissioners, Rhnelander Waldo, and
it's First Deputy Commissioner. Doug
las I. Mckay. threw down the gauntlet
To the investigating committee OF the
Board If Aldermen Yesterday, and after
a long investigation at Police Head
quarters and at the West Attn street
station the Aldermen, through Henry
IL. Curran. chairman Of their commit
tee. made the following announcement:
"If necessary, we will back up van
and take the records Of Police Head
quarters TO the City Hall for eXamina-
ton before our committee, and we viii
sit all night. if necessary. to make such
examinations without interfering with
the Commissioner daytime labors.'
on the police side of the question
DEPUTY Commissioner Mckay. VINO
conducted the Aldermen on their tour
Of HEADQUARTERS. summed things mp in
these words. which are on the record
of the committees investigation:
We're not asking any favors. and
we're not giving any. II you want
anything. subpoena it,"
The inspection tour Of the aldermanic
committee was determined upon when
Emory r. Buckner. its counsel, an
nounced 10 the members that the in
vestiga tors employed by the committee
were being hampered and delayed at
every possible turn by the specific or
ders of Police Commissioner Waldo.
Thwarted by Waldo.
Buckner had intended TO take up a
detailed inquiry into tho administra-
tion of the Detective Bureau as his
next step, but found that his investi-
gator sent to Police Headquarters with
a special request from him that he he
allowed access TO the records Of the
Detective Bureau was thWarted at
every move by orders from the Com
missioner.
81 notified the committee that our
men could not get the information they
wanted in the detective bureau. or
anywhere else" said Mr.. BuclIner. and
this trip Of inspection by the commit
tee was the result
II the committee thought that their
personal visit Of inspection was going
to change conditions at Police Head
quarters. they were sadly disappointed,
for from the time they entered the
Headquarters building early yesterday
afternoon until they left the West 47th
street station. at six o'clock last night,
they were checked at every possible
point i'm exactly the same manner that
their investigators had reported they
had been checked.
The first room the committee in
spected-the complaints and filing bu
reau-brought them their first setback,
when Alderman Esterbrook casually
asked Deputy Commissioner Mckay
what kind Of documents were filed
there
81 would not be at liberty to answer
any questions without authority" was
McKay's punctllious answer.
"Do YOU know what records are filed
here" Alderman Folks wanted to know.
you can subpoena the records re-
n,ied the Deputy commissioner.
Chairman Curran took a hand them
nossibly thinking that the military eti-
ouette of Headquarters demanded that
Tho head of the committee should be
its spokesman.
.NIr Commissioner, can you tell us
what kind Of documents are filed
here" he asked.
Must Use a corkscrew.
"Anv information you want can be
.,,hooaraed." Mckay answered.
"Wen. do you mean that you decline
- give us any information at this
timer
T am simply answering your ques-
ton"
DO you refuse to answer our ques-
tions?"
"I will be very glad to give you any
information 1 may have~ under SUBJ
pena."
But you won't voluntarily give any
;o,ormation on the Police Depart
nent?" asked Alderman Folks, to drive
the point home clearly.
"J will give any information l have
70 give under subpoena" was Mckay's
response.
Mr.. Buckner tried to smooth matters
ont by telling the Deputy Commits
sioner that 1t would surely be less Of
trouble to the department to en-
tighten the committee as TO the system
Of records while the committee was
right there on the ground than to have
Coutipued on Nth page. third column.