The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-19

ENRIGHT AND HYLAN
ANSWER WALLSTEIN
.. -
Police Commissioner Explains
Abolition of "Squeal" Book
at Police Stations.
HAS IMPROVED SYSTEM
Mayor Commends Cop Chief,
Ridicules Citizens Union
and "Moneybund."
HAS IMPROVED SYSTEM

ahu 4hOhNy UuhNe
While Police Commissioner Enright
was holidaying Mt Atlantic City yester-
fay, Mayor Hylan and the stenographers
1t City Hall spent Good Friday prepar-
ing copies of the Commissioners letter
bf last Wednesday TO the Mayor In
which tho Commissioner replied to
charges made against his administra-
ton by Leonard NJ. Wallstein. counsel
for the Citizens Union. To add to the
total of the days work the Mayor got
of a letter of his own to the Police
Commissioner advising him not to take
Wallstein and his charges too seriously.
During intervals between these outgiv-
ings Mr.. Wallstein found time to issue
two statements directed specifically to
Commissioner Enrights letter to the
Mayor.
Altogether 1t was a day of many COM
pliments-some with reverse English.
Ehe Mayor comp1imented the Police Com
missioner. the Commissioner compli-
mented his own administration and put
the reverse on when he referred to his
predecessor in Office and the money
bund crowd" and the subsidized press
got their usual raking over from the
Mayor. Excerpts from the letters as
they were given out for public consump-
ton tell the story chrpnologically. I'm
der date Of April 16 Commissioner En-
right wrote to the Mayor in part:
Leonard Wailstein, ex-Commissoner
Of Accounts and now the employee of a
public official libelling organization
called the Citizens Unien, has recently
published a thoroughly misleading and
false statement regarding the admin
istration of the Police Department 1t
is the usual custom of the Citizens
Union to malign people who do not agree
with them or submit quietly to the
methods pursued by their crowd. The
people are beginning to know their meth
DDS and the statements they make do
not need a reply. but inasmuch as Wall
stein has made glaringly false statements
about this department the public should
be informed Of just how unreliable they
are.
Change the Record Keeping.
"wallstein states that the daily record
or 'squeal' book has been abolished. The
so-called daily record method gave ample
latitude for the manipulation of crime
statistics as complaints made to the
branch detective bureau were seldom en-
tered on the records until they had been
Investigated. after which the command
ing officer Of the branch detective bureau
decided whether they should form part
Of the permanent records of the Police
Department. When complaint was
made at a station house It was trans
mitted to the branch detective bureau.
located. in many instances, miles away
from the scene Of the crime.
THE branch detective bureaus have
been abolished, and all detectives make
their headquarters at precinct stations.
AT the present time, when complaint
of crime is received. II Is reported to
the precinct desk lieutenant, card
record Is made OF the complaint and
the original card is Immediately deliv-
cred to the detectives, one of whom
acknowledges receipt by his signature
fee serial number and returns 1t i'm
mediately to the precinct desk lieu
tenant, where it is filed according to its
crime classification.
"a cross index, in the shape of n
chronological record card each provid
ing for ten serially numbered cases, il
aiso extended on the receipt of the COM
plant. and there is consequently triple
check upon each case, rendering mani
pulation, distortion or destruction OF
these records a practical impossibility
"Wallstein further states that fictl
tious reports have been made as t
economies in the Police Department.
"Every other statement made BY
Wallstein Is equally untrue and can b,
easily shown to be absolutely incorrec
and false. II the Wallstein Citizeni
Union crowd had their way many of tn,
old Mitchel-Wood favorites in the Pc
lice Department would still be enjoyini
soft details.
''wallstein. while Commissioner o
Accounts under the Mitchell reform ad
ninistration. did not investigate the ap
pointment of about 1900 special patrol
men made during the last eight month
Of 1917, many Of whom were employed
To guard the property of private individ
uals and corporations such as the New
York Central Railroad. at a total cos
of S1,0SO000 to the city during 1917
During 1913 under my administrator
this force OF special patrolmen was re
duced and cost the city only $40, 00C
showing a saving of $4,000.
"Wallsteln. while on the payroll O
the city as Commissioner of Accounts
could have investigated the former pole
administration, and would have foun'
that one of the writers of a certain
newspaper published in this city, whic
Is now vilifying the present city an
police administration, was extended tn
extraordinary courtesy OF the Police De
partment steamer Patrol for JOY ride
for himself and his lady tango artist
up the Hudson and down the bay.
''These privileges are not granted b
the present police administration"
~aIIstein Makes Reply.
whereupon Mr.. Wallstein issued thi
statement:
my charge was that Enright's chang
20 the loose leaf system of crime recor
lends itself to manipulation. and tina
combined with reduced attention to sta
tistical compilation, 1t facilitates jugglin
OF statistics and Justification Of the fact
Enright admits making the change
the system of records. Apparently tn
change has resulted as might have bee
expected Enright reported to the Mayo
that there were 765 fewer burglarit
In the first three months OF 1919 tina
in the corresponding period of 1918. II
own system OF recording complaints O
loose cards probably shows that situi
tIon. But the burglary insurance con
paries report figures indicating so p
cent increase of burglaries for the 19l
period over that of last year.
when Enright denoted 1nspectC
Costigan to captain he gave out 'statl
ties calculated to show that the DEM
ton was merited by poor record
arrests Later Enright was forced
admit that his statistics were inco
rect"
All OF which prompted the Mayor b
fore he left City Hall to send the 70
lowing to Commissioner Enright:
~'Your letter OF April 16 Is receive
think you are paying too much ate
ton to the statements made by po
Wallstein who works for the Citizel