New-York tribune., 1918-02-19
Swami to Report
To the Mayor on
Vice and Police
He Is Expected to Show
How Police Stand on Sup
preston of Gambling
Hylan Requested 1t
Asked Further Details After
Conference With Prosecu-
tor and His Assistant

When Mayor uylan gets back to City
Hail one of the first things he will
do will be to plunge into q detailed re
nor, on the present relation of the Po-
leo Department to vice suppression,
particularly gambling. This report is
being prepared for the Mayor by Dis
trit Attorney Swami. The Mayor, it
was learned yesterday requested it
after he had held long conferences with
the Prosecutor and Assistant District
Attorney James +. Smith, who has been
"vice expert in the District Attorneys
office for more than six years.
II was learned on good authority last
night that Mayor Hylan. after going
over the situation with Mr.. Swami and
Mr.. Smith. expressed desire to hear
more about police conditions, past and
present, and would have arranged
further conferences but for the fact
that he had arranged to 90 70 Palm
Beach He asked that MIR, Smith make
detailed report.
Mr.. Swami seemed to be anxious yes
terday 20 avoid an impression that he
has broken with Commissioner Enright.
All that he would say about his report
= to the Mayor was that it would in
clude facts as to the police, past and
present.
Much gossip has been going the
rounds since the District Attorney said
a few days ago that if he wasn't able
TO accomplish what he wants and was
deprived of the free use OF Inspector
Costigan he would take the public into
his ConNdence' II was reported that
the prosecutor has determined to drive
at least one subordinate Police Com
missioner from Headquarters. This of
fetal. it was learned. is regarded by
the District Attorney as responsible
for the lack OF harmony between Head
quarters and the prosecutors office:
Mayor Hylan Enlightened
The story is going the rounds that
District Attorney Swami and Mr. Smith
told Mayor Hylan more truths about
The police situation in two hours last
week than he has ever heard before. In
oidcntally they removed some OF the
prejudice which they found the Mayor
vas entertaining against some phases
OF the "John Doe gambling inquiry.
The Mayor, it was learned, admitted
that moro than one person had essayed
10 prejudice him in that direction
1t was learned last night that the
District Attorney is running down q
lumber Of uncorroborated rumors that
point to the probability Of an attempt
TO resurrcct the old police System. =
One Of these was to the effect that
well known retired police captain has
actually been selected to act as "col-
lcctor'
Another charge has been made that
Inspector CoStlgan's assignment to the
lower East Side was only the first step
IN well mapped out plan to eliminate
HIM from active suppression of vice.
One story was that Costigan was Re
publican and bad to go Another was
that he WAS and had been for some
time persona non gvata with the pres
ent police powers.
AIR. Swami has been Informed that
the present police theory is that gamb-
ing is insignificant in New ork to-day
and mas been tor several years and that
there is no necessity for keeping Costi-
gan on rowing" commission. The
answer to this, the prosecutor has been
told, Is that the real reason why COST
gan isn't wanted as "roVer" is because
when the good tlme comes for the old
out and out gambling to open up. they
don I want man like Costigan on the
j., JOB, because they know he would soon
close them up
Mayor Got Much Information
he whole situation LEADING nm to
the conference between Mr.. Swami and
inc Mayor grew out Of the breaking
up o. Inspector Costjgan's vice SQUAD
oy commissioner tnright and the
transfer to Brooklyn of one Of his
men who. only Il few days before,
Aad raided "Beansy" Rosenfeld's ganb-
ing club. In addition to this Commits
bionor EnrlSht, practically ignoring the
wishes of the District Attorney, as
signed Costigan to the lower East Side
instead Of lending him to the prose
eulor. This and much more was laid
before the Mayor By Mr.. Swami and
ms assistant.
Mr. Swann. together with Mr.. Smith
ana Inspector Costigan. were in con-
terence for nearly two hours last even
ing. All the time was devoted to the
report that will be submitted to the
MAYOR.
While this situation has been grow
ing during the last fortnight. it is
worth noting that there have been no
personal negotiations carried on be-
tween Commissioner Enright and the
District Attorney. There has been only
one exchange Of views between them
since, and that was on Saturday, when
Commissioner Enright called up MIR.
Swami over the telephone to express
his regrets that there had been 50
much publicity and "Inisunderstand-
ing growing out of his efforts to con-
solidate vice squads for efficiency rea-
sons
The examination of seven defendants
charged with operating gambling
houses at 108 East Seventeenth Street
aud 22 West Thirty y-iirst Street was
adjourned yesterday by Judge Wad-
hams. in General Sessions, unit
Wednesday afternoon.
Judge Wadhams told Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Smith to notify attor-
neys for Colonel George b. Mcclellan
that the latter's premises at % West
fhirty-hrst Street arc being used fol
gambling purposes. The attorneys are
Satterlcc Garfield & Stone.
Robinson Library Exhibited