New-York tribune., 1918-01-26
Police Head Replies to ''Ru-
NOR Factory; Insists He
Will Run Department
Church Pillar Named
Deputy Commissioners
Frederick A. Wallis, Active
Religious Worker, to Go
After Vice Conditions

You may say without the least quail
ihcat'on," he said yesterday, chat the
I'D will be screwed down during my
administration tighter than ever be-
fore. If anybody thinks to the con-
trary, whether inside or outside of the
department, he is greatly mistaken"
The new Police Commissioner sat at
his big desk at Headquarters and spoke
eMphatically. He laughed at the sug-
gestion that rumors and reports were
rife to the effect that things might
loosen up in the "white light" districts.
He admitted that he had noticed "the
rumor factory was working overtime"
but declined to discuss present condi-
tions in the city, only repeating that
the city would be kept clean"
Says He Has Free Hand
do you consider that you have a
free hand in running the department ?"
he was asked yesterday.
absolutely" he replied.
!, was that your understanding with
the Mayor when you became Police
Commissioner"
1T was. But | am part of the
administration, and I will cooperate
IN carrying out the Mayors policies
the same -as any other department
head"
Has there been any interference
from the Mayor so far?'
NO, none at all; Furthermore.
don't think he tried to interfere with
anybody" ava
The Commissioner announced the ap
po!ntment OF Frederick A. Wallis, of
zoo vest Fifty-eig Street, as Fourth
Deputy Police Commissioner. He will
have charge Of the Bureau of Repairs
and Supplies, the property clerks
office, the lost and found bureau, the
statlstlclan bureau and the printing
department. The Commissioner also
announced the appointment Of Colonel
Augustus Drum Porter as his private
secretary. Colonel Porter was secre
tary to Douglas I. Mckay when the
latter was First Deputy Commissioner
under Commissioner Waldo, and after
ward, when Mr.. Mckay became Police
Commissioner under Mayor Mitchell for
four months, until Arthur Woods was
appointed. He was formerly member
OF the Pennsylvania State Guard and
the New York National Guard.
Wallis an Insurance Man
MR. Wallis is general manager for
New Ne ork and New jersey for the
Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Com
pany, of Philadelphia, with Offices at
Ill Broadway. He has been active in
phllanthropic and church work. He is
an elder in the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terian Church, and was one of COM
mlttee of three who went to ENGLAND
and secured the Rev. DR.. John Henry
Jowett, the present pastor of the
church. He is chairman Of tho public
service committee of the church and
president Of the mems Bible class. He
has been president of the Brotherhood
of Presbyterian Churches Of New York
and is treasurer Of the Home Missions
Committee of the Prcsbytery Of New
York.
Mr.. Wallis was a member of Mayor
Mltchcrs Committee on National De-
fence. He is Democrat, but has never
been active in politics.
The new deputy said last night that
he was an old friend of District A.
torney Swami and that the latter had
taken him to sec the Mayor recently.
He said he understood that former
Commissioner Bugher was to appojn,
him deputy commissioner, but that
it had been "called off"
"Thosc two men (rcfcrring to Mavor
Iylan and Commissioner Enricht)
mean business" said Mr.. Wallis. "Thev
arc going. to stop gambling. graft and
vice in this town. would give my
last drop OF blood to sec vice stamped
out
MIR. Wallis vas reminded that Police
headquarters usually proved to be the
political graveyard Of the commission
crS.
"Well. this is going to be the Rcsur-
rcction Morn." he said.
"Dillon Not Out"
Commissioner Enright said yesterday
that he would soon resign as prcsi
dent of the Police Licutenants' Bcncvo-
lent Association, an Office which he has
held for twelve years. Asked if there
was any truth in the report that Chief
Inspector James L. Dillon was to be
supplanted by Inspector John Daily.
who is now serving as acting chief in
spector. the commissioner said:
"DilIon is chief inspector of the de-
oartment. He is on leave OF absence
because Of illness and another man is
temporarily filling his position. That
is all | want to say and all I want to
know about it now"
The new Commissioner still has the
appointment of fifth deputy com
missioner. lie said that he had no.
had time yet to take up the matter
of q special deputy to have charge of
the Home Defence League He in
timated that he might appoint man
from the uniformed force to that posi-
tion instead of Il special deputy, as un-
der the Woods regime.
The Commissioner was reminded that
most of the political criticism aimed
at him in recent years grew cut Of
his fight at Albany against the So
called Goethals bills which were intro
duced early in Mayor Mitchels admin
istration at the instance of Major
General George W. Goethals. whom
Mayor Mitchell sought as Police Com
missioner. The bills amended the laws
SO that policemen dismissed from the
department would not have recourse
to the Appellate Division of the Su-
preme Court for review of their cases,
which usually tcsulted in their rein
statement.