New-York tribune., 1918-01-24

Seii - w tbtil iQCdi ICSlNcICp WllTlH
the city, except as to Brooklyn.
1t goes. without saying that if we
can get a competent man from Rich
mond County or from any other
county within the city for any of
these offices, the question of his resi-
dence would not enter into the prob
lem, but he would have to be (ex-
cept as to the Brooklyn deputy) at
headquarters in Manhattan and
should be selected without regard to
the section of the city from which,
he comes.
Uneasy About Other Suggestions
Other suggestions, such as that of
Mr.. Soievey and your letter strongly
urging Mr.. Schneider as the Brook
lyn deputy, have also given me
great uneaslness, for reasons already
stated to you. Although it is but
falr to say that you have thus far
always yielded to my objections
wnen you believed them to be we'll
taken, have been particularly dis
turbed by your frequent urging that
take guidance and advice from one
OF the subordinates on the force and
listen to his views regarding the way
the department should be conducted,
''''~it '4>" . al W DC conveyed 10
me by him through you if not di-
rectly by him to me.
surely YOU must realize that this
would be utterly destructive of dis
clpline, no matter how discreet the
man might be. in the first place, I
have sufficient vanity or self-confi-
dcnce to believe that know as much
about the work of the department
which | am to conduct as the man
IRON whom | am asked to take ad-
wee, and in the next place this
would create a situation in which it
would be known throughout the force
betore a month is over that | am
pelng virtually compelled to show
special consideration to man whose
sole duty should be to obey orders
instead OF indirectly giving them.
Ihere is as great necessity for dis
clpllne and rigid rules of disciplinc
and priority in the police force as in
the army and especially in these alb
normal times. This departure, how
ever lnocent it may appear to the ci-
vlllan, would be destructive of dis
clpllne. No member of the force
must be given the slightest encour-
agement to believe that any one con-
nected with the department has
either "a pull" or "the ear of the
Mayor as against his Commissioner.
About Appointments
a few days ago you sent for the
Third Deputy by direct message to
him instead of through me. This
was happily corrected by your sending
Tor me, which is as it should be. You
nave also notified me not to fiji even
the most unimportant exempt posi-
tlohs, which would include clerks and
stenogr&phcrs, without first consult
ing you.
Surely, You must realize how en-
parrasslng and unpleasant it is TO be
forced constantly into the position of
differing from and being unab to
comply with the wishes Of nv supe-
rlor, which under ordinary condi-
tons should be equivalent to a COM
mand. But that was not the under
standing On which accepted the Of
hce.
Let me repeat that am very
anxious not to embarrass YOU.
want to help you That | cannot do
unless permitted to run the dcpart.
ment in tho way | was promised.
The undertaking is difficult under the
mos; favorable conditions, with vour
iuIl support. Without it the task is
impossible. If you find that am not
the man YOU want shall be the first
person TO ask to be relieved of NV
office bat in the. meantime YOU must
let me have my way if | am to re-
main.
Unless, there fore, you feel that
you can leave to me the selection of
my assistants, on whose loyalty and
efficiency | must rely, cannot stav.
No Friends to Favor
Not one of the many men whom
have had under consideration is per-
sonally known to me. have no
trends to favor or reward, no enc
mics to punish, no political ambi-
tlons to further and no politicians
with a string tied to me. have
been and am steadily and unremit-
tingly looking for the right men, and
would, Of course, at all times welcome
suggestions from you. But if I be-
lieVe that a man Will measure up TO
my standards | must have the right.
without question, to appoint him.
te must owe his office and his undi-
vlded loyalty to me, as | owe mine to
you, and to you alone. 1t is difficult
to find the right men, but can bet
ter get along for time without
them than to discredit your and NV
administration at the start by max
ing mistakes.
Every man on the force and the
public at large and the newspapers
are suspending Judgment on me.
waiting to know the personnel of nv
deputies. II they prove disap-
po'ntment. my admins stration will be
foredoomed failure.
Whilst you have the chief rcspon-
s'billty, have my own reputation
and the good of the service. as sec
IT. to safeguard. am satisfied from
our various talks that our aims are
the same. and | am still hoping that
we may find way of reconciling our
methods of encompassing th>m. The
difference between us seems to arise
out OF the fact that instead of rely
INC on me until l have had the ou-