The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-22
PHILADELPHIA
T0BE SP0TLESS
BY WEDNESDAY
Acting Police Chief to Issue
Order To-day in Conform.
ity to Federal Demand.
VICE DENIZENS IN FLIGHT
Mayors Assertion of Force
Being "Commandeered" by
L. s. Is Disputed.
Special Dsspatch 70 TaI srN,


PHILADELPHIA, April cl.--Twenty-
four hours after the Federal ultimatum
10 clean up Philadelphia had expired
,he police authorities and the Mayor
q the city found themselves a, odds
over just exactly what the Federal order
meant.
Mayor Smith. after sending the de-
iosed Superintendent. James Robinson.
IN a vacation, said the Federal Gov
eminent had "commandeered'' the de.
rartmert. He washed his hands OF the
,at,e problem and announced openly
ia, IL was a matter for Lieut.. Col.
charles B. Hatch of the Marine Corps.
Secretary Daniele's representative here,
ard the new police chief, Assistant
Superintendent Wi.lias e. Mills. to
solve.
Mills either nl!sinterpreted the 1Iatc!,
sdic. or else the Mayor is mistaken
,or the nrst Official act OF the acting
Superintendent to-day was to Issue a
statement saving that the Federal Gov
--nment had not "commandeered" the
Philadelphia police department and that
Re was going to listen TO the orders
ct Director Wilson, head OF the De
,ariment Of Public Safety.
~ UEtlIt8 ~ ".A''
Mills will meet the various captains ant
!iertcnants Of the department to-nor
'ow and issue orders that the lid mus
he c!amped on vice and must stay SO
lie will tel the police that by Wedncs
lay night this city Is expected TO b
spotless. town.
This acton Is the result OF a confer
zee between the Assistant Superintend.
cat and Lieut. Col Charles B. Hatch. who
.as instructed acting Superintendent,
Ills as TO exactly what tina Federal au-
,ho.ities demand Of Philadelphia. Mil.
SAYS he has a programme 20 cope VIII
i. he vice situation which he believes viii
comply In every way with the desires O.
ne United States Government.
The first official action Of the new po
'.e head to-day was 70 issue state
rent 10 the reporters. I'm which he tool
's.ue with Mayor Smiths own view tina
he department had been ''com
uandee.cd.' Assistant Superintendent
Mis- objected TO this language and alst
declared that ne still was in cooperation
w.h and responsible to Director Wilson
Nnswerable to Director.
The statement in part follows:
There IS no truth in the etatemen
appearing IN lAlC PuohS COS NA'pt s'''
I'rlted States Government has com
uandeered the Bureau Of Police. Their
sa perfect understanding between ID!
rector Wilson and myself, and hav'
cen given By him full power and con
'-ol over the entire bureau. and l an
ansverable to him Cor every official act
Z believe that in times like the pres
81. the welfare OF our men who ar
alled 10 fight our battles abroad shou''
he the first consideration. and I pledg'
rr earnes. efforts In seeing to Il tina
Philadelphia Is kept clear OF all agencie
haNHc a tendency to AFFORD temptatio'
ia detrimental character to our younl
zen engaged in the service OF thei
e,rnt-y.'
Police captains and lieutenan;s sa!
that Il the department Is told to 60 IN
nit there woa.d he no vice within th'
'0-'y-e!ght hours allotted to clean vi
I'd make the city "airtight.' II haI
a'ea said hy Mayor Smith and Others
'amilia- with the vice situation that th'
'apta!ns and lieute,Ants can clean VI
Whenever they get the orders to g
iaead
II Is no secret that vice conditions ar
- well known to the commanding OF
H'ers Of the police divisions and dis
'1''s "a they are 10 the ward leaders
"7o are said to afford protection TO th
GEes