and convinced the Board of his thorough capability for the higher place.

Frank Morris had been ten years on the force; during the past three years he had arrested 107 persons, six of whom were homicides and one of whom had since been executed. He had had but two complaints made against him in the Department-one for sitting while on post, and the other for accidentally discharging his revolver, In the latter case it is customary in the Department for a formal complaint to be made.

In a number of cases where promotions have been made, recommendations from the captains of precincts have been received and given consideration. Mr. Roosevelt exhibited a number of letters of recommendation from citizens urging promotions on purely general grounds, and stated regarding them: "These letters do not count for one particle. Occasionally, I think I may say, that, if anything, it counts against a man. We like at all times, however, to be informed specific instances of good conduct, such as an officer stopping a runaway, etc., and invariably give such testimonials weight."

ROUNDSMEN WHO HAVE BECOME SERGEANTS.

We examined personally a number of the men who had recently been promoted from roundsmen to sergeants. The following cases are illustrative:

Michael Gorman had been 23 years on the force, and had saved 25 persons from death—18 from drowning and 7 from burning buildings. He has two medals from Congress, and two letters from the Secretary of the Treasury. Under the old regime such men as Burke and Gorman would hardly have obtained recognition for similar reasons.

He

Sergeant Petty had been on the force for eleven years, and had had in that time seven complaints made against him. holds the revolver championship in the United States, and had distinguished himself by his gallantry and vigilance in a number of arrests made prior to his promotion.

Sergeant Flood had been educated for the priesthood. He had been ten years on the force, and in that time had not had a single complaint made against him. He had a remarkable record for faithful performance of duty.

Sergeant Steinbruck had been a "shoo-fly" roundsman, i. e., attached to police headquarters, and had made 170 com

plaints. He had been eleven years on the force, and during that period had had but eight complaints made against him, all for slight offences. He had been a peculiarly efficient roundsman.

PROMOTIONS IN THE HIGHER GRADES.

The promotions made from sergeant to captain had been in each case after the appointee had served for some time on probation as acting captain, and had shown, by actual work, his ability to handle his men and to keep down crime in his district. A number of the captains recently promoted were examined.

Captain Thompson, a veteran of the war, had been captain in the State militia subsequent to service in the United States army, and had served on the police force as a sergeant for a long term of years. The Board did not know his politics.

Captains Hawley and O'Keefe had been appointed because of their excellent records, and particularly good service during the probationary period. In reply to questions Captain O'Keefe stated to the Committee that no influence whatever had been used in obtaining his present promotion. When the present Board came into office, the Captain of the precinct in which he was then stationed had been suspended, and he had been recommended by the Chief for promotion. It was his idea that the Board had put him on probation to test his ability; and on taking command of the precinct, he had discharged his duty faithfully in every case, and after six months service had been notified to appear for examination. He was third on the eligible list for promotion.

The considerations governing the Board in appointing captains have been partly the record of the men and partly the peculiar fitness shown in handling precincts assigned to them on probation. One man had shown great usefulness in the intricate detail of the Election Bureau. One had effectually cleared up a disorderly district from which the former captain had been removed. Others had performed particularly efficient service in other directions.

Besides these Captains the Committee interviewed Inspector Cortright, who had been promoted from a captaincy after probationary service; also Chief Conlin, who, as it is well known, was promoted after a similar test.

A COMPLETE SUBSTITUTION OF MERIT FOR "PULL." Commissioner Roosevelt assured the Committee that in the great majority of the cases of promotion in all grades the members of the Board had been ignorant of the politics of the men promoted. Where they possessed information on this subject, it had been accidental, and had not in the slightest degree affected the chances of the candidate either way.

As the system of promotion has developed, the Commissioners have been able to maintain regular records of the service of every man in each grade of the Department. Those kept by Commissioner Grant are particularly comprehensive, and were examined fully. The entries in each case are similar to those above quoted-i. e., the length of service on the force and in the particular grade; the number and character of the complaints made against the officer, the number and character of arrests he had made, and the nature of the penalties inflicted, particular instances of good service in any capacity, and other data of like nature. Whenever an eligible list is to be formed in future these memoranda will form the basis for the merit marks.

The testimony of those familiar with conditions at Police Headquarters under the old regime and since the change of administration, is that the influence of the new plan is felt throughout the entire department. The men are said to appreciate generally that their advancement in the future is to depend upon the character of their service; and the increased efficiency shown in the general work of the Department is due principally to this cause.

There is one other feature of the new administration worthy of mention. This is the matter of dismissals. In enforcing its rule of appointment and advancement for merit, the Board has insisted that retention in the service or in any particular grade shall be for the same consideration. The number of dismissals from the force for all causes during the past five years, has been as follows: 1891, 30; 1892, 14; 1893, 14; 1894, 40; 1895-6, 109. Total, 207.

The increase during 1894 was connected directly with the disclosures of the Lexow Committee. During the year ending April 30, 1895, the number of dismissals had been 49. Since that date the number had been 74. Under the old regime, the penalties for infraction of the rules were generally

light; and the fact that penalties were provided for certain offences, contributed but little to the maintenance of discipline. The present Board has dismissed men for offences which, while serious, would have been punished in the old days by a fine of a few days' pay. The fact that cases of infraction of the rules are dealt with impartially and severely, had aided materially in bringing the Department to the improved condition of discipline in which it now seems to be. (Signed,)

CARL SCHURZ.

ALFRED BISHOP MASON.
GEORGE R. BISHOP.

WM. JAY SCHIEFFELIN.
GEORGE MCANENY, Secy.

I have carefully read the above report.

I was present at the examination for a part of the time only, but my previous investigations covered that part under review by the Committee when I was absent.

The report is fair and accurate, and I cordially agree in its conclusions. The merit system of appointment and promotion has never had a more fair and painstaking trial than has been given it by the present Board of Police Commissioners; in their action I have never seen even a trace of partisanship, but on the other hand an anxious endeavor to secure the services of the most capable and the promotion of the most meritorious.