The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-12
MAYOR LAYS CRIME
HERE TO STRANGERS
Says Administration Is Blame
less, While Press Distorts
Facts.
BURGLARIES CUT DOWN
Hylan Threatens to Get List
Of Thugs to Prove They
Are Carpetbaggers.

After q fleetins indication that pos
sibly the pon-existent crime wave is be-
ginning 10 come into existence trife,
though the city administration Is wholly
blaneless, Mayor Hylan sent a letter
yesterday to Police Commissioner En-
right which in effect urged the Commits
sioner to bear up under the stings and
arrows Of outrageous fortune. because
he knew-and above all. the Mayor
knew-that the metropolitan press is al
most TO linotype doing its wickedest
to soap the rails for the city administra-
ton, particularly the Police Department
The letter 10 Commissioner Enright
which was given out to the inaccurate
press by the Mayors office. ran as fol-
lows:
Your letter Of April 2 with reference
to the number Of burglaries committed
in this city for the three months OF
January, February and March In the last
five years is received. There were less
burglaries in 1919 than there were In
1915. 1915. 1917 and 1918. In the frst
three months Of 1919 there were 1885
less burglaries than in the FIRST three
months Of 1915 and 7s5 less in 1919 than
in 1918.
Charges a Plot by the Press.
There is an organized movement, 40
Am informed by the old $4,000, 900
slush fund crowd and the papers which
supported them to discredit the admin
| istration by publishing inaccurate state
ments about burglaries and other crimes
| committed in the CITY, The press and
| news CATERERS as you know are very
| unfriendly to this administration and
are endeavoring In every possible way to
discredit the administration, particularly
the Police Department"
Before this document had passed into
history the Mayor. in conjunction with
Frank L. Bowling. President of the Bor-
ough OF Manhattan, had made II evil
dent by remarks before the Board OF
Estimate that II Is beginning to impress
| itself on both that signs-what one
might call faint hints or shadowngs-
Indicate that there's something up in
crook circles here.
However, lest any one jump 10 rash
| conclusions. 1t should be stated that
| they both believe 1t In not the fault Of
the administration, but is due TO the
fact that so much outside talent is SWELL
Ing the ranks OF the homegrown thugs
And Borough President Bowling
| wouldn't take II amiss II any citizen
| would ask the next criminal he sees
| committing a crime for his name and
| address--just to verify the fact that the
criminal is not a native of Spotless
| Town.
This searching analysis OF the whole
| situation was brought to bear at the
meeting after the report OF the commit
| tee on salaries and grades. which rec
commended disapproval OF the request OF
the District Attorney OF Kings county
| for an increase from $4,000 to $4,000 in
the salary of Albert f. Richardson, an
| Assistant District Attorney. It was de-
cided to postpone action on the matter
for two weeks after an admission that
Richardson was good man. having
| been assistant prosecutor in the County
Court when Mayor Hylan was County
Judge.
| Bowling Arouses the Mayor.
''The city is In need OF good men and
! should keep them when II has them,
said President Bowling. especially at
the present time. when there is so much
crime In the city,
Well, II there is 30 much crime In
the city do you believe tho stateme nts
in the press that II is the fault OF the
administration asked the Mayor.
II do not believe that II Is the fault
OF the present administration" answered
the Borough President Many of the
newspapers are not in favor OF the pres
ent administration, and that Ia the rea-
son they try to put everything on It.
You'll find that the crimes are COM
mitted by men who do not live in this
city but who have come since the war.
I think II YOU could get the names and
| place OF residence of the men who are
committing the crimes you will find that
| thew do NOT live here"
Some day." the Mayor gave warn
ing. II am going to get a list OF these
men and give a statement to the press
so the people of the city can see who
these men are. for the press would lead
the people to believe that the admin
istration Is responsible for these crimes :
President Bowling complimented the
| police for their efficient work during
the war-and did not overlook the Fire
Department which is also said to con-
tain voters. The police force, he pointed
out, has not been increased in years
despite the great growth of the city
and something should be done about this
at once.
The board will meet on Thursday next
| instead of Friday,