New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-06


According to a prominent police Off
cial who is thoroughly converSan; with
the situation within the department
the present row is the result OF the
pernicious activity OF small group OF
malcontents in the various police Or
CARNATIONS.
"The facts are as follows said this
official "The police associations are
in the nature of labor unions, and their
principal object is to protect the mem
bers Of the department from the en-
forcement of overrigid discipline or too
onerous burdens. The counsel for
these organization is expected not only
10 assist in frustrating Objectionable
police legislation. but also TO pull
strings at Police Headquarters and at
the City Hall in behalf of those mem
bers Of the inside ring who happen to
get themselves in bad with the Com
missioner.
Ellison was selected as the logical
man for the Job for two reasons. In
the first place. he was an intimate
friend Of Mayor Mitchell and the lat
ter's political sponsor. 1t was in Eli
sons office that the present Mayor be-
gan his career in public office, and 1t
was felt that he could reach the Mayor
when the Police Commissioner proved
recalcitrant or difficult TO deal with.
"The second reason was based chiefly
upon previous conditions IN the de-
partment. The time is not long since
when the so-caled Sullivan clan. rep
resented by Big Tim Little Tim
Larry Mulligan and Paddy Sullivan,
exerted a tremendous influence in po-
lice affairs. Ellison was g great friend
of the late Big Tim and Is, in fact.
the executor of the latter's estate.
"The result has been bitter disap-
pointment to both Ellison and those in
the department who were responsible
for his selection. Both at Police Head
quarters and at the City Hall he has
been unable, in the vernacular Of the
System to deliver the goods Com
missioner Woods has consistently
ignored him, and when he has waited
upon Mayor Mitchell with suggestions
concerning police affairs he has been
heard with patience and then referred
70 Police Headquarters. The result has
been that both Mr.. Ellison and a small
group Of malcontents within the de-
partment have begun 10 get very sore
81 the present administration"
Leaders Transferred.
The statement made by the speaker
quoted above is in part substaniated
by the action of Police Commissioner
Woods in dealing with various members
Of the department prominently identi-
/ fed with the various police organiza-
tions. Lieutenant Richard Enright
president of the Police Lieutenants
! Association, was transferred from 8
soft berth in charge Of the Bureau OF
Repairs and Supplies at Headquarters
I to the Schneider av. precinct, in Brook
/ lyr, in the early days Of the present
regime. lie is at present serving a
/ temporary term OF service AS acting
captain al the Atlantic av. station, in
place of Captain owen Rooney, who is
I absent from duty on leave Enright
/ las recently qualified in Civil Service
examinations for promotion TO the post
Of captain.
CAPTAIN Dominick Henry. president
of the Inspectors and Captains As.
ISOLATION. was transferred as acting in
spector in Queens TO take charge of
the Grand av. precinct, in Brooklyn,
while Sergeant John T. Conway, presi-
dent of the Sergeants' Association, who
was formerly first grade detective, Is
now back in uniform in the 2S3d Pre-
cinct, in Queens.
For these reasons it is known that
both Police Commissioner Woods and
Mayor Mitchell regard with suspicion
the sudden testimonials of loyalty to
the administration on the part Of the
various police organizations and the
tepudiations of Ellison's criticism Of
the present regime, although each is
epparently convinced that only very
small group of maieontents in the de-
partment were responsible for these
attacks.
Commissioner Woods yesterday re-
fused 20 comment upon the action OF
the police captains and inspectors in
regulating responsibility for Mr. Eli
sons statement, nor would he make
anv statement concerning the similar
action taken by the sergeants' organlzs-
tion.
lie did, however. remark that he Was
thoroughly satisfied with the entire SIT
uation.
This attack by Mr. Ellison" he OBJ
servedA"is one OF the best things that
ever happened TO a police administra-