New-York tribune., 1919-02-11
Nem York Newspapers
Demand the Full Facts
in COstigon Demotios,

New York papers demanded yester-
day to know why Inspector. Costigan
was reduced and what was the stua-
ton in the Police Department. The
editorials follow:
To-day's "World.7
When Police Inspector Costigan was
dropped to captains rank Commits
slcner Enrlght explained that he had
one Inspector too many for his budget
allowance. Later, when pressed for a
more adequate reason, he accused the
veteran inspector of having made few
arrests, while many were made over
him from Headquarters.
Deputy Police Commissioner Gof. in
rcslgnlnG from the department, states
IN Tribune interview that Inspector
Costigan "was on the toboggan from
the moment Enright went in," and that
he knew it; that Costigan was "an hon
est and competent officer and working
as hard as he could to make good with
the limits placed upon him "from Head
quarters, by which "hs powers were
gradually shorn"; that it is "quite
within the realm of possibility" that
the underworld forcsaw the dcmotion
OF It's enemy
Confronted with the records, Com
missioner Enright now admits that men
under Costigan made 800 arrests last
year but they were mostly for minor
Offences" which we should hope was
the casc-and that $50 per cent. of the
arrests were discharged by
magistrates an old story with the
police. These facts are far from bear
ing out the commissioners recent as
surance to the Mayor that "the worst
Af
against Costigan."
Inspector Costigan's s experience is Of
less consequence in itself than the real
reasons inspiring that disquieting act.
What were they? What kind of service
do Commissioner Enright and Mayor
Hylan desire of the Police Deuart-
meLt?
"The Evening World
so far Commissioner Enright has
backed up his own appraisal of Costi-
gan's work as inspector with nothing
more substantial than comparisons Of
Costlgan's expenses with those of his
predecessor, Inspector Kelly-the fig
ures may perfectly aell be taken to
indicate that Costigan spent more be-
cause he did more-and as TO Costi-
gan's record characteristic reiteration
OF the old, sweeping, serviceable and
70 certain type OF man who makes
lt) sufiicing pronouncement: Rotten
commissioner Enright has not
opened the police books to the public.
Nor does he mean to prefer charges
against the inspector, whose record he
calls the worst of the Department.
That might open the books, indeed!
is New York going to let its police
standards be showed backward twenty
years by Hylan- Enrieht admnistra-
tlon without protest or struggle?
hen let the fight begin with a de-
fhand for the full facts Of the Costi-
gan case.
."ln dealing with gambling and vice,
wherein does the Costigan policy con-
met with the Enright policy?
lhat IL thing the public is entitled
TO know to the fullest extent to which
police records can reveal it."
"The Evening Mail"
"To the average man Enrights
charges of inactivity against Costiean
fall without meaning or power Of CON
ylctlon. The statement by Third
Deputy Commissioner GoH. after his
resignation from the Police Depart
ment that 'Costigan was on. the to-
boggan from the moment Enright went
IN az Mayor Hyan's appointee. opens
up wide field of disquietng spccula-
ton
"Ihc dcmotlon OF Honest Dan COST