The New York herald., 1921-09-23

Sicuia- American line. gave testimony re
garding the luncheon at which Inspector
Henry was said to have suggested Cros,
for the pier guarding job. The witness
said he thought Police Capts. Belder
and Walsh were there.
Mr.. Graef. representing the Furness
Witty Company, said the concern EN-
ployed the Adam Cross agency last year
The watchmen on this company's pier.
became special policemen after Cros:
took hold. In 1920 the wharfage col
lected on Pier 95. Hudson River. wal
$4,000. and the cost Of watching was
s63 900.
Charles Bradley, Myles Cunningham
James Marone and Dennis Haggerty
who were employed by the Vachrii
agency. testified they were summoned u
Police Headquarters and offered posi-
tions with the Cross agency when thu
latter supplanted yachris. They were
sworn in as special policemen. Has
gerty said he was an ex-bartender.
Mr.. Brown said that for the purpose
of pulling together the testimony taker
during the week he wished to make q
statement in the nature of a sunma ry
for the record. He said:
Without attempting to foreshadov
l take the liberty of pointing out the
necessity in the Police Commissioner
office of having appointments made BY
through, and FOR him in the adminlstra-
tion of the office without the interference
of political influence from any source
whatever.
''It seems to me that the evidence
shows clearly at several periods during
the term of ONCE of the present Com
missioner and it may be of previous
commissioners that such appointments
were made exclusively upon the recon-
rnendation of the Mayor.
II do not think this can tend to
strengthen the efficiency of the Police
Administration of the city
Favors should Go by Merit.
81 have a great respect for the Police
Department. / believe that the great
body OF that force Is true TO the Interest
which 1t is created to protect. / believe
1t is self-respecting force and that
whatever may be had from time to time
ON the part of the members OF the force
by way of promotion, desirable posts. or
anything else--should come as the re-
ward of merit IN the due course of adj
ministration, and not by favor or by
outside request. And I desire particular
ly to call the attention OF the committee
to the evidence. quite extensive in its
nature. produced before the committee.
that under the existing practice many Of
these advantages are had solely on re-
quest and must therefore be at the ex-
pense of merit.
Il wish to point out that record Of
a Judgment rendered by the Police Com
missioner of the commission of a helm
GUS -offense against an officer of the
force, which can only be lessened or ex-
planned away by the ideas or personal
consciousness OF the Commissioner who
administers the discipline. is a wholly
unsatisfactory system, and the statute
ought to be changed. If an officer he
not guilty OF the soffcnse charged In all
Of it's grossness and fullness, the COM
plaint could be modified to include a
lesser offense and the record should be
I'd more serious than the evidence justi-
fed.
II believe that the police force, the
greatest force on this continent, has a
pride in its character which resents the
retention In It's ranks OF men of such
gross nature and character as some of
those are shown to be. But with rela-
tion to the discipline of the Department,
it should be the purpose of the Depart
ment to weed out men of this character.
They are not fit guardians OF men and
particularly of women and of children"
The hearing was adjourned to next
Monday afternoon.