The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-07
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lam Siebert. superintendent of surface
operations of the B. r. T., were in con-
ference at Brooklyn Police Headquarters
with Borough Inspector Thomas H Muir
ply, Chief Inspector DAILY ana all tho
district inspectors.
When he left the meeting Mr.. Siebert
said that service would be suspended at
10 o'clock on the advice Of the police.
I'VE will make thousand runs in the
morning II the police will protect them"
he said. 1--WE usually operate about
1900"
A short time later this formal state-
ment came from the company's offices
AT the suggestion of the Police De-
partment and for reasons OF safety the
operation Of all lines, subway. elevated
and surface. will be shut down begin
ming at 10 P. NJ. and remaining closed
until 5 A. M, at which time only those
cars having policemen on them will 60
out"
1t was stated that the Police Depart
ment, already busy with 112 little
strikes in Brooklyn, could not supply
the men for duty last night. but will
have them IN the morning.
The exchange Of letters between the
Mayor and Mr.. Garrison. resulting in q
promise of a policeman for every car
operated on the B. r. T., came late In
the afternoon. after the strikers had sue
ceeded in reducing the service to q
shadow of its rush hour self. Mr.. Gerri-
son averred that he could run the cars
IL he had the police protection and the
Mayor replied that he would give him
the police protection IL he could run tia
cars.
Mr.. Garrison showed himself caustio
with regard to the police protection af-
forded during the day and the Mayor re-
nj lad y haA hoA-
ter meet a committee of his employees"
Nevertheless the orders for the cops
were issued promptly from the confer
ence room where the Mayor was closeted
with Commissioner Enright, and the ar
rangements In Brooklyn were put under
the command Of. Chief Inspector John
DAILY. He rushed 500 more patrolmen
from Manhattan to Brooklyn. and by
o'clock the first Of the police protected
cars were beginning to move.
When he read to the newspaper men
the letter he was sending to Mayor Hy-
Ian, Mr.. Garrison said: t-
II have been informed that there are
10000 policemen available N Brooklyn
and that there are many thousands Of
the men on reserve In the police stations
and at various strategic points. They
won't do any more good there In pre-
serving order on the lines. than the allied
armies in Europe. We must have . po-
licenan on each car"
Garrison's Letter to Mayor.
Mr.. Garrison's letter to the Mayor fol-
lows:
my DEAR Mr.. MAYOR: Since writing
you this morning had an interview
with Deputy Police Commissioner Porter
In the presence Of Inspector Murphy.
The Commissioner stated that he in
tended to AFFORD adequate police pro-
lection to prevent disorder and protect
the operation OF cars. The difficulty
with the situation Ii that holding the
police in reserve in the station houses
or elsewhere or placing some policemen
here and some there does not AFFORD Ads-
quate precautions against diprder or.
any protection to the operation Of the
cars. Disorders are continuing and
growing moro numerous and intimida-
ton is driving more of our men into the
car barns with their cars, not being will
ing to 90 out again unless assured Of
protection -<-..s
1T is out of the question for the Do
lioe authorities. even It. they have the
entire force at their immediate disposal,
or in fact many times the number OF the
| entire force, to patrol the many miles of
streets through which cars run. The
element is to go from place 10 place and
modest a car here and a car there-cut
the trolley pole ropes. and in other in
stances doing actions which prevent the
operation Of the car, and threatening
the men in charge with personal violence
II they continue TO operate. and In some
| instances men in charge of cars have
been assaulted.
The source of attack in each instance
ln Il
place along the road upon which such
car travels. Disorder is created by at
tacks made on cars and the men there
on. The place to quell the disorder and
| to protect the public and the operation
| Of the transportation system IL where
the car IL. Unless the police are where
the disorder Is. and that is where tho
| car is, their presence elsewhere Is futile.
| II am fully convinced that unless
something effective Ii done, and done
promptly. the situation will get out Of
hand and New York city will suffer the
humiliation of being in the hands OF an
irresponsible and disorderly element and
out OF the control of the constituted
authorities. The only adequate measure
of projection IL tho presence of the police
on the cars. There is the place Of trou-
BILE. There Is the place for those whose
business It Is to suppress disorder, pro-
|
the supremacy OF law and order
II am apprehensive Of the situation
tonight. / do not feel justified under
the circumstances to subject the men
who have Loyalty stood by their posts
and. the public who ride upon the cars
to the great risks attendant upon opera
ton at night without adequate effective
police protection. AS have said above,
such adequate effective police protection
under the circumstances can only be af-
forded by the presence on the cars Of
policemen.
UNLESS, therefore, you can arrange
/ for such protection before niRhtfali I
| shall be obliged to suspend operation.
You will. ] am sure. appreciate my
necessity OF promptly hearing from you.
"LINpLEr M GARRISON, Receiver"
Hylan's Reply to Garrison.
To this the Mayor replied:
DEAR Mr.. GARRIsoN-I received from
you at o'clock to-day q letter request
ing that a police oficer be stationed on
every car that you are prepared TO OBJ
crate on the lines OF your company, and
! notifying me that unless such protection
was granted you would be compelled to
discontinue service by nightfall This
communication followed one received q
short time before In which you requested
protection.
when I received you first letter i'm
mediately conferred with the Police Com
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