New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-21
BuCkner Develops Commission.
er'S Theory Of Contentment
as Means to Foster
Esprit de Corps.
FAV0RlTiSM IN QUESTION
Appointments and Promotions
Without Regard to Records
Mitchels Tenderloin Ex.
pose DiMegarded in
McClusky's Case.

Commissioner Rhinelander Waldo OF
tho Police Department experienced a
J trying session Yesterday as a witness
| before the aldermanic committee which
is investigating The graft situation. The
! COMMISSIONS was on the witness stand
| nearly five hours i'm all, and Emory r.
!! Buckner. chief counsel for the commit
tee, led the witness over a long and
somewhat rocky road. which at times
| caused Mr.. Waldo to display some an
noyapcc and anger.
! Mr.. Buclner pursued the investiga-
tion principally along the lines Of a
| constructive inquiry into the admins
! tration of the Police Department under
Commissioner Waldo. He paid particu-
/ lar attention. however. to some OF the
( Commissicner's appointments and pro-
motions. for the evident purpose Of
showing that a degree Of nepotism had
! been practiscd by tho head of the de-
partment i'm gathering around him at
! Headquarters men for whom hc had a
purely personal liking. without due re-
gard. perhaps. to their previous records.
The trend Of ;he inquiry Yesterday
was 10 show That Mr.. Waldo sought
| favor away from his nome Office" by
making transfers and appointments
: throughout the force which would fos-
( ter contcntmeut among the men. but
which did not always take into consid-
Grafton the efficiency and desirability
of the appolntees except as determined
hy the head Of the department.
Everybody's Happy.
Examination of the Police Commits
sioner seemed 10 indicate that he vas
first and always most solicitous Of
having a happy little family in the
official circle in which he had 10 move.
Mr.. Buckner suggested that perhaps he
had done some things to please certain
police officials just because he was "a
good fellow
Speaking of happy families. an
alderman, with his mind evidently on
the ZOO" rather than the Police De
partment. remarked after the hear
ings that he was not 80 sure from the
investigation So far whether the Com
missioner had made monkeys out OF
some OF the policemen or whether they
had made a monkey out OF him.
The Commissioner was questioned
closely in regard 10 his promotion ot
inspector George McClusky few DAYS
after he took office. McClusky had
been reduced twice prior to the Waldo
administration. Mr.. Waldo said ne
selected him as head OF the traiiic
squad purely because he considered
him the best man FOR the place and one
Of the most able police officers in the
department.
The witness admitted that he had
heard "rumors" about McClusky, but
he had heard them about every official
who had obtained any prominence In
the department and attached no weight
10 them. He thought that II MS prede-
cessors in Office had got anything very
serious on McClusky or any other OF
the men he made inspectors that they
would have been honest enough to have
dismissed them from the department
instead Of merely reducing them. He
denied that the Mayor or any one else
had told him TO advance McCiusky' or
Ingpector Lahey or Hughes.
Not Buffer for Mayor.
Mr. Buckner read a signed article
which referred 10 the fear OF The Mayor
or q war on his administration because
he had degraded the four great police
insnectors. Flood, McClusky, Hussey
and Holahan The witness denied
that he had been influenced by any
sucb condition Of affairs in promoting
McClusky and others. if such a situa-
tion had existed
The promotion Of Captains Lahey
and Hughes TO inspectorships was gone
over at length by the committees
,oursel as well as the reinstatement
~ Lieutenant Enright, in charge or
the bureau Of repairs ana supplies
whore he had been when Mr.. waldo
,as Deputy Commissioner under
Commissioner Bingham.
rho commissioners reasons for APP
,o5n,;ng DR.. Philip OHanlon, former
=. q coroner's physician, 10 the board !
~ nolice surgeons, over the heads or
rho men at the top of the eligible list,
"a Mfr Buckner said. were inquired
into The powers and influence Of the
,.utenants' Association and other po-
uce ORGANIZATIONS in lobbying for |
,oe,.,a,ion. and affecting other pos
siblo policies of the department, were |
a,so a subject Of inquiry.
t,arly In his examination the Com |
,,,issioner was asked n he had ever
roceivcd any letters Of complaint in
regard 90 his secretary. Winfield X. /
cheehan. and If he had ever made any |
investigation OF the complaints made |
g, such letters. The Commissioner |
.aid he had never received any COM.
.,,tcations which reflected on the |
character OF his secretary. and no let |
,rs which had warranted an invcsti- !
CATION
Lieutenant John +. Stanton, who /
u.a, in charge of the investigation bu-
.>,u at Police Headquarters TO look |
Continued ON third page. sixth column.