The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-15
-
ENRIGHT ACCUSED
OF TAXING REPORTS
Leonard A. Wallstein Cites
Specific Cases of "Demon-
strated Untruthfulness.''
SECRET RECORDS KEPT
Citizens Union Also Hears
Charge That Commissioner
FavOrs Police Politicians
SECRET RECORDS KEPT

speaking at the annual meeting OF tho
Citizens Union. at $50 West Forty Soc
ond street, last night. Leonard M. WALL
stein. counsel OF the City Government
Committee. suggested that changes IN
the manner OF reporting police work.
coupled with the demonstrated untruth-
fulness OF the Commissioner in his de-
partment report" tend to shatter conh-
dence in the present police administra-
ton and lead people to suspect that
camouhage has been attempted In CIV
Ing out statistics for public consumption
Mayor Hylan wrote a letter to Com
missioner Enright April IL charging the
newspapers with publishing inaccurate
statements about burglaries and other
crimes committed In the city The
Mayors letter was In Acknowledgment
or one written 10 him by the Commits
stoner, asserting that in January, Febru-
airy and March. 1919, there had been
fewer Mi~rlaries than during the oorre-
spondir,s period in previous years. The
likelihood Is that the Commissioners sta
tistics were incorrect and inaccurate. ac-
from reliable sources.
For instance. l am Informed the
so-called 'suueal book at the station
houses has been abolished and instead
individual cards. easily destroyed II the
record wouldn't show up WELL are made
out for each complaint. In addition
there is the so-called canned book in
which the confidential records are kept
under lock and key. entry of cases be-
i've -
told, and unless the police work on a
case is successful. there Is small like
nhood OF facts being forwarded to Po-
Nce Headquarters. and unless there Is
report to headquarters I am informed.
10 individual card is filed rega riding the
case.
Suspicious of Enright's Statements
AS further evidence of the untrust-
worthiness OF data furnished by the
Commissioner for public consumption,
Mr.. Enright had hardly warmed his
Commissioners chair when there were
rumors, later confined by him in his
report. that the bureau of statistics.
established in the Woods administration
TO compile accurate statistics for In
forming the public OF the work Of the
department. had been abolished. The
Mayor In his letter of April II refers
to statistics thus accurately compiled.
contrasting them with later statistics
rs furnished by Commissioner Enright.
The contrast Is indeed significant. for
II shows a greater number OF crimes
under a system Of careful compilation.
compared with an allegation Of a smaller
number of crimes reported under
dwarfed makeshift for keeping account
OF the voluminous statistics
THE Commissioner states I'm his own
report the work Of the bureau of sta
tistics, in which there had ben twenty
FIVE men, were transferred to the bureau
okrecords. where eight men We're assigned
20 these duties This shrinkage certainly
facilitates making showing of a de-
crease in the number of crimes when, all
outward evidence is to the contrary.
Any statement emanaung from the
Police Commissioner about the work OF
the department and his achievements as
Commissioner is subject to considerable
suspicion as to its entire truthfulness.
arising from the proved half truths on
the basis Of which he claimed economies
effected in the civilian personnel He
published in his report a glowing table
showing economies as the result Of not
filling vacancies in the civilian force at
Police Headquarters. As a matter of
fact in numerous instances policemen
have been detailed to perform the work
Of civilians who resigned or were forced
out so that favored policemen, who
should be doing actual police work, could
be given soft berths under shelter. This
is not only decided unfairness toward
the policemen who do patrol duty but
withdraws Just so many policemen
como OF them officers OF police benevolent
ssociations-from work on the preven-
ton and detection of crime and the
catching of Grimm a q uhau if1a in tba
city is manifestly rampant.
Jobs FILLED by Policemen.
The Commissioner falsely stated in
his report that certain civilian posi-
lions had not been filled. Although civil
fans are not In these places numerous
policemen are. Among them are Police
men Benjamin Tighe, William T. Major
John J. Lang Michael Cleary (secrctarv-
'-eesurer OF the Parolmen's Bencvo-
lent Association). Bernard ]. Lester
Matthew j. Mccain, Martin Walsh,
,ieorge p. Obach and Thomas j. Arm
strong. each receiving. $3.50 a year ac
first grade patrolmen. Also there are
James Nemetz, second grade patrol
man at $1,000. and Lieut. John A.
Park. at $2,450. In each and every one
of the above named cases the police sal
airy is greater than that paid TO the
civilian who was replaced. The group
~ eleven above shows on an annual
basis a salary total of siS.sO0. thus
exposing the false claim OF economy.
since this cost is SOFA more than the
corresponding civilian payroll had been.
There are other cases of course which
were not in the report. as for instance
Policemen George Baxter, HUFFMAN
and Charles ], Hoffman. first grade
pstrolmen. at $3.50 each. and Lieut.
William +. Brennan, at S2.450. an Of
hcer OF the Police Lieutenants Benevo-
lent Association. These four represent
IN increase of s3.140 over tine payroll Of
the civilians they replaced And there
are other cases too
In view OF the mendacity thus ex-
posed confidence in the Police Commits
s;oner is impossible. 1t would be better
n he devoted more time 70 coping with
crime conditions and less time to COM
posing deceptive reports"
William Jay Schieffelin, president, rem
dered his annual report. Lawrence Ar
mold Tanner. adviser OF the State Tax
Commission. spoke on The City's Tax
Problem" and Walter T. Arndt, secre-
ntala