New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
Commissioner Refused
to Suspend Motor
cycle Police, Exec
utive Asserts
Merely a Pretext,
Official Replies
Declares Mayor Tried
to Dictate Appoint
ments and Policies
Despite Promise

Mayor Hyian yesterday removed Po-
lice Commissioner Frederick H Bugher,
who had been in office just twenty
three days. The Mayors action, taken
without previous notice, and the rapid
FIRE incidents that followed it furnished
the first big sensation of the new Tam
many city administration.
The Mayor appointed Lieutenan.
Richard Z. Enright, president of the
Police Lieutenants' Benevolent Asso-
citation, as Acting Police Commissioner
before he had received Commissioner
Bugher's resignation.
Lieutenant Enright's career in the
Police Department for years has been
tumultuous. Under Commissioner
Bingham he was transferred from
headquarters for an alleged attempt to
play politics in the department., and
was sent to desk duty. Under sue
cessive commissioners he enjoyed
favor and was known as 1.-The silent
commissioner" during the Gaynor ad
mnlStration. His refusal and that of
ms organization to support the Mitchell
administration caused Commissioner
Woods to decline to promote him to a
captaincy and to send him to desk
duty at the Stage Street station. a
post he was filing when appointed
Acting Commissioner yesterday.
New Commissioners First Act
The new Commissioner first official
act was ordered by Mayor Hylan in the
Mayors letter appointing him. It di-
rected the resembling of the designa-
ton by Commissioner Bugher of Bor
ough Inspector John O'Bren as acting
chef inspector and assigning Inspector
r"Tather John") DAILY. in charge of the
broadway district. to do the work Of
chie1 Inspector James +. Dillon, who
IS on sick leave. Chief Dillon was ap-
pointed by Commissioner Woods to
succeed the late Max Schmittberger.
Inspector O'Brien will hereafter CON
line himself to the supervision of police
Work IN Manhattan and The Bronx.
Trouble had been brewing between
Mayor Hylan and Mr.. Bugher for more
than week because of the Mavor's dis
POSITION TO interfere with appointments
and policies in the department, despite
MS promise to Mr.. Bugher that he
would have free hand. Politicians
expected the break, but not quite SO
soon.
Question of Vcracitv
The question of veracity was i'm
medlately raised between the Mavor
and Commissioner Bugher as to the
real reasons for the latter's dismissal
Mayor Hylan announced that lie had
asked Tor the resignation of the Police
commissioner because he refused TO
suspend members of the motorcyclc
squad whose names had figured in
charges of graft growing out of the
kuth Cruger murder case. The Mayor
also stated that he understood "power-
Iul influences" were being exerted to
save these policemen. In his letter of
resignation, Commissioner Bugher de-
clared the Mayor was I'm error in
making such statements.
regard your notice of to-day as
covering mere pretext." said Com
missioner Bugher, "and as PROVING to
demonstration that l could not have
continued to serve as Police Commits
sloner without the abandonment of NV
principles and the loss of all seIf-re-
spect.'
Commissioner Bugher made public n
long letter he wrote to Mayor Iivlan on
tuesday, in which he fatty asked to
be relieved of his new duties unless
the Mayor kept his hands off the de-
partment He cited many instances in
detail whore the Mayor. almost from
the flrst day the Commissioner took
offlce, had insisted upon certain ap
polntments and dictated police policies
until COnTiflnDc bal
able"
Accuses Mayor OF Unfairness
The Commissioner declared he felt
warranted IL telling the true reasons
for the request for his resignation in
view OF the Mayors "unfarness and
the injustice of your innucndoes" He
made it clear that it was for the rea-
sons stated in his letter of Tuesday
and not because of those given by the
Mayor that he had resigned.
Commissioner Bugher had appointed
but one Deputy Commissioner, Cam
bridge Livingston, who was third
deputy and served as trial commits
s,oner. He resigned with Commissioner
Bugher.
Coincident with the announcement Of
Lieutenant Enrght's appointment the
Mayor announced the appointment of
John Anderson Leach, former citv
magistrate of Queens. as first DEPUTY
commissioner and trial commissioner.
The Mayor soon sent "orders" to Act
ing Commissioner Enright to suspend
the nine motorcycle policemen in cues
ton and to appoint Inspector John
DAILY as acting chief inspector Of the
fohce Department.. The acting COM
missioner complied Immediately. and so
ro.iiied Mayor Hylan before he lcst ,hs
City Hall last night.
Mayor Notifies Bugher
The Mayor called Police Commis-
.ioner Bugher to his Office Yesterday
forenoon and Informed him that he was
gong to- ask for his resignation forth
WIN. The Mayor soon afterward made
me tact known 10 thso letter to tho