The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-31
ENRIGHT ASKS FOR
POLICE EXEMPTION
Commissioner Tells Baker As
Year Limit Would Demon
alize Department.
CITES PRESENT TROUBLE
Points Out That Requirements
of This City Are Differ
ent From Others.

In view OF the grave danger OF deple-
ton which threatens the New York po-
lice force, should the draft age be raised
TO IS, Police Commissioner Enright con-
ferred with Secretary Of War Baker al
Washington yesterday, with view OF
having members OF, the force exempted.
The call for men between the ages Of
81 and 81 years was serious to certain
degree, as large numbers of patrolmen
we're taken, but with the age limit raised
to IS years the department will lose
large numbers Of officers.
The department feels that the efficient
policing of the city is practically as
necessary to the proper termination Of
the war as are the troops on the firing
line, and In support Of his request for
the exemption of the force Commissioner
Enright presented the following memo
randum to Secretary Baker last night:
ITO date 700 men have been indicted
into the service of the Government, APP
proximating per cent. Of the total. The
years end will unquestionably see this
number increased to 1000. and ulti-
mately approximately 5000 men or
about 2S per cent. of the force will have
been drafted. When 1t Is remembered
that prior to the war there was dis
tressing shortage of men in the Police
Department the seriousness Of these con-
slant Withdrawals. further depicting Its
strength. will be grasped.
Would Take All Policemen.
1T Is rumored that the Government
contemplates raising the draft age to 40
years Should this project become an
actually practically every able bodied
policeman would be absorbed by the
army. Moreover, physically At police
men will be called before civilians with
dependents as the Fenner law gives them
the difference between the Federal and
civil compensation, and makes 1t impos-
sible for them to claim exemption on the
score Of inadequate provision being made
for their dependents.
THE provisions OF the Fenner law, be-
sides the outlay of the money necessary
to comply with 1t. works an additional
hardship on the city When policemen
have been drafted there is lien on the
money appropriated in the city budget
to pay their salaries. and their places
cannot be filed. Thus the municipality
suffers three distinct losses: (a) The
loss of the services of experienced po-
licsmen; (b) the loss of the services oil
the men who might fill the places OF
those drafted. and (c) the loss Of the
money under the Fenner law, for which
the city receives no return. In consid-
Grafton of the fact that this law is
purely patriotic. encourages the enlist
ment OF civic employees. and Is in nc
way selfish, it would appear that the
city is made to suffer rather heavily or
account Of it.
New York city is compa rable with nc
other municipality in this country. as II
occupies a position on account of the
character Of the activities carried or
here that places it in a class of It's own
1t Ia the prime gateway of the country.
commerce. IL is the financial centre O,
the country. II not of the world: from Il
radiate all activities looking to the
proper and efficient conduct of the wal
and the maintenance of the prestige anc
power of this country in the eyes OF the
world
"a disaster in or to New York city
directly or indirectly attributable to in
sufficient or inefficient policing. would
be multiplied and exaggerated thou
sand times in the enemy press and pro
vide stock from which countless argu
ments could be drawn with which Il
encourage the tagging spirits of thu
enemies OF this country.
Dahser Always rreseht'
1.-THE possibilities of serious disorder
are ever present and on the increase
Labor is restless. Pernicious and in