The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-01

C0nttnued from Ftret rage.
members Of the Police Department to any
part OF this city he desired to send them.
Furthermore, felt that the incoming ad-
minlstration was entitled to find a COM
petent working stan in all OF the city de-
partments when II came into office. and
said TO Mr.. waldo that I could not per.
NIT any head of department to under
mine. cripple or impair the efficiency Of
the department by such action as ne had
taken. told him plainly that regarded
his action as improper and that I was
amazed that he should take such a step
without consultation with me. l ordered
Vim to restore every one Of these details.
which he stated he would do.
THAT same afternoon. without any re-
lation to this incident but in pursuance
OF a conversation which he had previously
held with me on the subject, he sent me
his resignation as Police Commissioner to
take effect at my convenience or not later
than midnight December 81. II was my
intention TO accept his resignation. but I
learned entirely from outside sources and
not through any information given me
by the Police Commissioner himself that
the Police Commissioner had demanded.
received and accepted the resignation OF
every ono Of his four deputies and that
these designations were TO become effec-
tive 1t noon to-day. 10 accept Mr..
waido'e resignation would therefore leave
the Police Department without any head
whatever from midnight tonight until
~
will take office. or until Mayor Mitchell
should appoint = Police Commissioner.
This situation, in view OF the previous
action OF the Police Commissioner in
transferring away from headquarters all
of the experienced men on detail con-
WINGED me that Commissioner Waldo had
little regard for the welfare OF the adj
minstration and that IL was a matter
OF no concern 10 him. since he was not
to be retained in office. whether or not
the administration OF the Police Depart
ment broke down completely. II was
obviously impossible to consider for
moment leaving the city without any
police head on an important night such
AS New Years Eve. when the streets
and public places are thronged with
practically the entir. population Of the
city. and the closest attention and super
vision OF the Police Department Is re-
quired to prevent disorder.
Waldo Didn't Want TO Name Mckay.
Il therefore asked Mr.. Waldo to re-
appoint First Deputy Commissioners
Mckay go that Mr. Mckay could hold
over from midnight tonight until Mr..
Mitchell takes office at noon Tomorrow
or until Mr.. Mitchell appoints "A Police
Commissioner. MIR. Waldo displayed
ale a, In
request. although he protested that he
was DESTROYS Of doing everything posi-
BILE to facilitate the work OF the new
administration. He finally consented TO
reappoint Mr.. Mckay II Mr. Mckay
would agree to remain.
Deputy Commissioner Mckay came
to the City Hall and. without the slight
est reluctance and with the evident de-
sire to save an embarrassing situation.
gladly consented to remain as First Dep
uty Commissioner until noon tomorrow,
or az long az Mr.. Mitchell might wish
him to continue informed Commits
sioner Waldo OF Mr.. McKay's Willingness
to remain. but to my utter establishment
Mr.. Waldo completely changed the
ground Of his objection ana said that
he could not reappoint Mr.. Mckay as II
would be embarrassing to him. He
sought to put of any action In the mat
ter until this morning, when. as l had
learned. he had planned to leave the
city. I demanded that he act at once
In tho interest Of the city.
"Of course l could have accepted his
resignation Immediately and appointed Mr.,
Mckay then, but ! desired to treat this
official with every consideration, although
he showed none for me or for the interests
OF the city. lie was able to give no sound
reason whatever for his action, and he
seemed to me to be acting purely In the
spirit OF pique and resentment and with
complete contempt for the public interest
not to mention my sense OF the respect
due from q subordinate to his superior.
that l would have removed him from Office
Immediately but for my desire to avoid,
at the very close of my administration.
any such disagreeable contingency. ] spent
practically the entire afternoon patiently
urging Commissioner Waldo to reappoint
Mr.. Mckay. but he was unwilling to take
such q simple action, Notwithstanding that
his failure to do 80 would leave the Police
Department without head.
''Finally, at 6 o'clock last night, at my
repeated urging and after my patience
was exhausted, no solennly promised me
that he would reappoint Mr.. Mckay AZ
soon az he arrived at Police Headquarters
this morning lie gave az his excuse for
not making the appointment last night
ment Commissioner Waldo not only failed
10 keep his pledged word. given to me
in the presence OF Commissioner Mckay.
but, instead Of complying with solemn
official promise, he sent to my ONCE be-
fore my arrival this morning an impudent
and insuhordinate letter. announcing his
refusal TO reappoint Mckay and de
, handing that his resignation be accepted
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