Hot Time in the Old Town - Edward Kohn [50]
The Parker-Roosevelt rivalry had made for good copy in the yellow press and had subjected the police to derision. True, Roosevelt had successfully removed the previous corrupt police chief and had introduced a new level of professionalism to the force. Yet his efforts to enforce the Sunday saloon-closing law and the new Raines law, plus the daily spectacle of trigger-happy bluecoats gunning down small dogs in the city streets, had damaged the police department’s reputation. Today’s meeting might create more fireworks for the newspapers, and in light of how things had been going, chances were that they were the sum total of what it would produce.
The meeting was tedious. With the temperature in the room well over 90 degrees, Roosevelt led the board through the items on the agenda, including cases involving officers’ conduct. Patrolman Edward Grey was commended for the arrest of Edward Berg, who, after shooting and wounding a man, then threatened the unarmed police officer with a revolver. Two policemen who had killed suspects, including the notorious James Cody of the Tenth Avenue Gang, were restored to duty after their mandatory suspensions were lifted.
Roosevelt also addressed violations of the Raines law, including the rapid multiplying of so-called hotels and private clubs seeking to serve liquor on Sundays. Roosevelt reported he had gone down to the Oak Street station one Sunday and asked the precinct captain, Vreedenburg, to write a report, which he now read to the commissioners. “Under the old law there were only two hotels in the Fourth Precinct,” the commissioners heard. “Now there are just fifty-two, while others are being opened daily. In addition to this there are innumerable fake clubs. They are all chartered clubs, and in most cases the charter members are the proprietors and their bartenders.” Captain Vreedenburg also noted that in a majority of the “hotels” no lunch was served or could even be discovered on the premises. In some saloons crusts of bread might be found on the floor, and a thin liquid called soup was available, but that was the only food to be seen. The commissioners agreed to send the captain’s report to the chief of police.
By the time Roosevelt moved on to reading a letter of praise for the police from the American Bankers’ Association, two hours had passed inside the sweltering police headquarters. Shirts and handkerchiefs were soaked through, and faces were flushed red. Roosevelt’s fellow commissioners must have assumed he was close to ending the meeting and sending everybody home, or at least to Delmonico’s for a glass of iced tea.
As the commissioners wiped their brows and looked at their pocket watches, Roosevelt surprised everyone by bringing up the sticky question of promotions. Perhaps he felt that the heat might have weakened Parker’s resolve, or perhaps this was Roosevelt’s natural belligerency showing itself. Whatever the reason, he seemed to be picking a fight and directed his remarks squarely at Parker. A reporter for the Evening Post recorded what followed:
“Might we not take up the promotion of Inspectors?” [Roosevelt asked] And, looking at Mr. Parker, added: “Has anybody seen the eligible list?”
Mr. Parker replied, without taking his eyes from the table: “I don’t know; I haven’t seen it.”
Commissioner Grant, who occupies the seat opposite to Mr. Parker, said: “I don’t know that it would be a wise thing to do. Although, if it comes up, I stand ready to vote.”
Commissioner Parker hesitated a moment and said: “The reason I want the matter to lie over is that when I do vote I want to make a statement. That statement I have not prepared, and of course have not got with me.”
Commissioner