New-York tribune., 1919-10-01
Hylan Changes
Mind ON Police
Meeting To-day
Permits Leaders Of Patrol
men and Firemen to At
tend After Telling Com.
missioners TO Prevent 1t

Mayor Hylan's attempt to prohibit
patrolmen and firemcn from meeting
o-day in City Hall Park to present
wage increase demands to the Board of
Estimate, brought criticism in such We
hemence yesterday that the Mayor
quickly reversed his attitude after
conference with Frank J. Prial, presi-
dent of the Civil Service Forum.
The Mayor had written to Police
Commissioner Enright and Fire Com
missioner brennan, directing them to
inform members of their departments
that they would no, be permitted to
assemble al the meeting The Mayor
referred to certain of the uniformed
men as "agitators, who were endeavor-
ing to create disorder Immediately
on receipt of his letter the commits
sioners issued direct orders forbidding
the men to take part in any public
demonstration or to appear before the
Board OF Estimate. without permissi ion.
This was at four o'clock.
Ueated Interview Results
A few minutes later Prial sought an
interview with the Mayor. He explained
that the men on the force were entitled
to representation through accredited
delegates. Prals interview developed
into heated argument, it was said, but
ended in the Mayor giving his assent to
the delegates being present.
Prial announced at a meeting of the
Forum held last night at 145 Riverside
Drive that Albert Guinness, president
ton, and Joseph P Moran, president
OF the Patrolmen's Bcneveont Associa-
ton, would attend the City Hall meet
ing as representatives. OF their respcc-
tive bodies.
The Mayors letter follows:
81 note that few agitators in the
Police and Fire departments, as we'll
as few agitators outside of the de-
partments, are endeavoring to place
the police and fremen Of the city in
an embarrassing position by making
II appear that they arc not satisfied
with the treatment of the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionmcnt in Civ
ing them $500 increase in salary in
tWo years
Saturday and Sunday last spoke
20 over fifty policemen on post in
various sections of the city Some
recognized me and others did not.
Out OF iifty-onc police officers spoken
tc, they were all pleased with the
treatment of the Board of Estimate
and Apportionment except two. OF
the several firemen I spoke to not
one seemed to be dissatisfied. They
said the $500 raise the Board Of Esti-
mate and Apportionment was giving
them in two years and the two
platoon system was more than they
expected
"The time has come when agitators
and trouble makers in the Police and
Fire departments should receive the
same treatment that agitators in the
otncr departments of the city VIII
receive
# am crcditibly Informed that ag-
tators are cndeavoring to create dis
order by attempting to call meet
ing in the City Hall plaza Tomorrow.
See to it that there will be no dis
orderly gathering at the City Hall
plaza tomorrow or any other day"
brennan Issues Instructions
Fire Commissioner brennan issued
the following instructions TO Chief
kenlon. They were sent out as "Spe-
clal Order No. 176" and posted in all
hrehouscs:
"lt would seem that during the last
te" days agitation by some members
of the uniformed force and by others
not connected with the department
has been created, subvcrsivc Of the
Gisc piine OF ihs Department.
since the beginning Of the PICS
en-. administration the salary Of the
fret grade fremen has been in
creased from 81 500 to 5 $50, and the
Boacd Of Estimate has given evidence
Of it's intention TO further increase
tnc.r salary to the sum Of 81 800.
Continued on page seven