New-York tribune., 1911-04-04
SAY CRIME ENCUlFS CITY
Police Can't Cope with Situation
West End Citizens Assert.
NEED SPECIAL POLICEMEN
Ex-senator SAKE Secures Pass
age of Resolution Taking Mat
ter to the Grand Jury.

Tho "c-inc wave" has cngulfed tho city
and the Police Department is unable 10
core with the situation. according to state
ments made at the meeting or the "eS'
End Association It the Hotel st. Andrew
last night These comments were pro'ohe'
bv ire action of Commissioner Cropsey In
revoking the licenses Of the special po'ice-
men who have been guarding the homes OF
the well-to-do on the upper West Side and
elsewhere In the city. and depriving them
Of their means OF selfprotecton.
Former City Magistrate Alfred r. ON
men, former Senator Martin SAKE ana ior-
mer Congressman William Harris Douglass
were among the speakers. The SITUATION
was reviewed by Emanuel W. Blooming
dale. OF the Sixty ninth Street Association
who said:
For many years bodies similar to the
West End Association have done much u
reinforce the regular police by SUPPORTING
n large force OF these special policemen
and the expense has been borne by the
private citizens. The city charter has maze
II proper for these special officers to be
employed. and that they be- provided win
means of protecting their lives and those
who employ them. Yet the Mayor and Po-
lice Commissioner have caused the appoint
ments of these men to be revoked, Simply
because some Of them are accused OF using
their places TO their personal advantage
As consequence OF the strong protests
made at the meeting the situation may
be nut I'D to the Grand Jury in this
phase for immediate action.
Ex-senator SAKE proposed the following
resolution, which was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the West End Associa'
ton emphatically protests against the
order OF the Police Department In depriv-
ing special policemen Of the privileges
provided by the charter OF the city or
New York. and especially at this time'
when the police conditions Of the city are
such as to cause widespread public alarm
ard. further, that committee he appointed
and authorized 10 present this resolution
TO the grand jury or other public author'-
ties 10 take such action as 10 secure a
reversal OF said order OF the Police De-
partment and to participate ia any con-
dstent movement OF other civic associa-
t,ons 10 the same end: and that such COM
mittee shall have power to add 10 l''
membership.
In presenting inns TcSpiIllpH .ht' '"N
said:
THE worst conditions TIE city has ever
seen exist nov, yet We are deprived OF our
special policemen We had them under
Commissioner Bingham. when police condi'
tons were good. and II Nc needed them
then we most certainly need them now
Mr. SAKE cited several instances where the
Commissioner had refused permits TO pN'
vate business men who considered THAI
they needed reviewers Tor their saiet!'
and had carried them for a long time
In commenting on the SITUATION FORMER
Magistrate Ommen dweit on the Mayor
attitude for personal liberty.
Personal liberty Is all right said MY
Ommen. but it has become an obsession
with the Mayor. He Is possessed ot the
idea that personal liberty f. paramount 70
everything else He has been possessed OF
this idea for twenty years. lie also Is o'
the opinion that every one knows nothing
about the city. and that orfy he is quail
fed 10 understand the Police Department
not excepting even the Police Commits
sioner himself Ar. Cropsey SAYS that he
has not enough policemen-that is. II ne
is given more. ne will give better police
protection. But the Mavor saws No. We
need no more policemen.