New-York tribune., 1912-01-03
THINKS WALDO NEGLIGENT
Magistrate Corrigan Says Police
Head Is Furthering Ambition.
"CITY IS NOW WIDE OPEN"
Commissioner Declares Critic
Was on Most Friendly
Terms with Certain Ten
derloin Characters.

1T would be better for the city if the
Police Commissioner would attend more
strictly to his police duties instead of
furthering his political ambitions" was the
reply of Magistrate Joseph f. Corrigan
yesterday to Commissioner Waldo's re-
marks about the magistrate and his Ten
derloin associates.
Il will neither confirm nor deny that /
have any political ambitions" said Com
missioner Waldo upon being told Of Magis-
trate Corrigan's latest admOntion. 'I
might discuss police matters or the
gambling situation with some others. but
not with Judge Corrigan."
Magistrate Corrigan yesterday renewed
his attack OF last spring on the administra-
ton of police affairs and declared that in
stead of conditions improving. crime had
been gradually on the increase and the city
was wider open than ever" He put the
blame squarely up to the head OF the
Police Department, declaring that the
force was demoraliZed under the present
regime. He referred to "WaldO's station
airy posts" as obsolete and ineffective,
relic of the past, existing at present, as
far as he knew. only In Mexico and some
South American countries which were not
famed for their progress. He said the de-
tective bureau was inefficient and that the
best detectives in the department were kept
pounding the pavement long way from
the places where their work would count
Gamblers are not worrying about wal
do" he said "Why should they? The city
is wide open. There are as many gambling
houses and poolrooms doing business in the
city to-day as there ever were, and maybe
more"
When Magistrate CorriCan's statement
was repeated TO Commissioner Waldo, he
wanted to know why he should discuss
police conditions with man Of Corrigan's
character"
1T is admitted that Magistrate corrigan
should have some intimate and personal
knowledge Of Tenderloin conditions" he
said. His residence until recently was I'm
the house Of the keeper of tn" Iiaymarket
a Tcnderon resort. His pal, Charlie Bos-
ton, the opium seller and Chnatown's $
former dive keeper. was recently sentenced
to prison, carrying with him Corrigan's pis-
tol permit 4 man is usually known by
his associates"
OF course. Magistrate Corrigan heard
about the retort OF the Commissioner. He
declared the personal reflections were
absurd and said that he did not consider
his character an Issue. lie was ready and
willing to meet any authentic charges that
might be brought against him. His per-
sonal observation and information in re-
gard to crime conditions could not be well
disputed He explained that he had re-
voked the Boston permit when the Chinese
pleaded guilty TO smuggling, and so the
latter had not gone to prison with II In
his pocket
The residence incident spoken OF IS alb
surd, too" continued Magistrate Corrigan.
Il suppose that was suggested ~from the
fact that when | was about To be married
five years ago. | wished 10 move from the
district where | had lived, but desired 20
retain d technical voting residence there.
After consulting the head OF the election
bureau / rented room In house on
Stuyyesant Square and hung up some
clothes there. The house was owned by "A
man named Noonan, who was supposed TO
run the Haymarket | never lived there.
but merely visited the house occasionally
in order 10 maintain a technical residence
in that district W Bourke Cochran had a
room there for the same purpose. Prior
TO that I had lived with District Attorney
Jerome. on Rutgers street"
When Commissioner Waldo heard Of the
magistrates explanation II his residence
I'm stuyvesant Square he smiled broadly
and remarked:
That looks suspiclously like colonial
ton"
AS remedy for present conditions. Mag
istrate Corrigan suggested that the Board
Of Estimate should appoint the Police Com
missioner for fixed term at good sal
ary-Sl5O0O or more. The Commissioner
should not be subject to removal except by
the Appellate Division Of the Supreme
Court on charges sustained by that
tribunal. Mr. Corrigan said that the power
of appointment and removal as now vested
IN the Mayor went far toward demorallzlns
the department