New-York tribune., 1920-06-16
Aldermen Hear
Baseball Clubs
Called Stingy
Motion Scoring Hiring of
Police to Force Return
of Balls Knocked Into
Crandstand Is Tabled
Quinn i'm Bitter Attack
Republicans and Democrats
Fight to Get Credit for
the Two Platoon Bill

Fight to Get Credit for
the Two Platoon Bill
The Board Of Aldermen yesterday
laid on the table resolution intro
duced by Alderman William F. Quinn
protesting to the Mayor and the Police
Commissioner against the employment
of policemen by the Brooklyn Baseball!
baseballs which drop into their hands
in the grand stand or the bleechers.
Alderman Quinn declared that it was
considerate neither of the fans nor of
the Legislature, which permitted Sun
day baseball, for the Brooklyn club
to employ such small tactics. The
resolution read in part:
Whereas, The Brooklyn Baseball
Club, notwithstanding the generosity
of the public and the favorable recent
Sunday baseball legislation, now has
the audacity to announce that in future
the members of the New York Police
Department will be detailed inside its
grounds, not only to enforce law and
order, but also to help it in its
stupid, short-sghted, niggardly policy
Of making spectators return 50 balls
which happen to fall into their hands
/ by accldent;
Politics at Meeting
Resolved, That the aldermen of this
board, in view of the generosity of the
New York baseball public and its Of
fcials toward baseball, hold that this
club should no longer pursue its present
miserly policy, and from now on per-
to remain in the hands of spectators
who may happen to get same, rather
than the present policy of trying to
compel the return Of these baseballs,
sometimes by force, which causes fights,
confusion and dangerous excitement to
prevail.
Resolved further, that this Board
of Aldermen do hereby energetically
protest to the Police Commissioner and
the Mayor Of the city against the
Police Department, or any member of
its force, being used by these private
corporations for the purpose Of fore
ing baseball spectators to return into
the grounds baseball batted into their
hands.
Politics played prominent part at
the meeting yesterday. Half a dozen
membe froE. both the Republican and
Democratic sideE of the board tried to
get the floor at the same time to get
the credit for putting through an ap-
preparation of s3o5, ,150 for the Fire De-
partment, which will provide for in
cIeasing the number Of fremen, so that
the two-platoon system can be estab-
hshed throughout the entire depart
lnent. 1t is in effect in 80 per cent
OF the fire houses at present.
The two-platoon system figured
prominently in the last local elections,
many of the Aldermen adopting it in
their campaigns and promising TO work
for it. Major F. H. La Guardia, Re-
publican President of the board, and
Borough President Henry H. Curran.
also made use of it. They all scrambled
yesterday 10 go on record as having
fulfilled their campaign promises.
brennan Makes Plea
Fire Commissioner brennan appeared
before the board and spoke in favor
OF the appropriation. He said that in
the houses where the system had been
put into effect the efficiency of the
fremen had increased and the men
were now living as they should. 1t
only remained, he said, to place the
they would "all be a happy family"
Calling Vice Chairman Kennealiy TO
the chair, Major La Guardia took the
floor and advocated the passing of the
| resolution.
The commissioner says that tho
fremen are happy family" he said
well, that may be, but don't see how
any man having a. family to support
ca can aod De happy on a salary Of $1,000,
The Aldermanic President called at-
ha k,A
Gated increases in the salaries of tho
hremen and policemen before and
after his election and was always in
favor of improvement of the condi-
tlons of the members of either depart-
ment. He criticized Fire Commission
er brennan for dragging politics into
the Fire Department., by ordering
three representatives of the fremen
from the room when they appeared at
the public hearing on the two platoon
resolution before the Finance Commit
tee OF the Board Of Aldermen last
Monday. Major La Guardis declared
that the commissioner acted in de-. a
nance Of the law, and said it was the
right OF fremen and policemen to ap-
pear before any committees and
boards in the city government to
plead for their rights.
~ Alderman William T. Collins. the
Iammany majority leader, was quick
to get the floor to attempt to dispel
the impression that Major La Guardia.
or any Of the Republicans, were re-.
sponsible for the two platoon resolu-
ton. He declared that the Finance
committee reported it out because
Mayor Hylan wanted it and Demo
cratic Board Of Estimate wanted II
and not because President La
Guarda and Borough President Cur
ran ran wanted it," AS to higher salaries.
Alderman Collins said the Democrats
were with Major La Guardia.
All Claim Credit
Alderman Ferrand, Republican
minority leader, and several other Re-
publican aldermen, Joined in the DO
litlcai give and take, contendinQ that
the two platoon system orieinated
with the Mitchell fusion administration
IN 1915. One alderman said it had
been under discussion by tho various
CITY authorities since 1905.
The board passed resolution
authorizing ast' the issue of s2s,Soo :SSS''Gn in
special revenue bonds for the pur.
chase Of fifty motorcycles and two
hundred bicycles for the Police De-
Uartment THU %