New-York tribune., 1920-03-19
Police, Gagged
By Hylan, Seek
Law i'm ALBANY
Now Forbidden
BY Mayor and Enright
! From Opposing Bills Crit
icizing the Department
Ask Rights in Measure
CITY Executive Is Accused
of Furthering Legislation
Over Heads of the Men
From a Stof Correspondent


ALBANY, March 1s.-Mayor Hylan
ard Police Commissioner EnNght have
issued joint order forbidding patrol
men Of the New York Police Depart
ment TO criticize police legislation or
TO appear in Albany against it. AS a
result, legislation aimed at preventing
Hylan and Enright from putting the
gag on patrolmen was introduced in
the Legislature to-day by Senator
Alvah W. Burlingame jr., Republican,
OF Brooklyn.
The bill would give the police the
right-now denied them by Hylan and
Enright-- to appear before committees
OF the Legi gislature to advocate or op-
pose any pending legislation affecting
them
Joseph j. O'Reilly, social secretary
of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Associa-
tion and who holds the same Office in
the Uniformed Firemens Association,
brought the remedial legislation to Al
bany to-day.
Under the present rules of the
Police Department" said O'Reilly,
members of the uniformed force can
take no part in favoring or opposing
legislation affecting them unless given
permission to do 80 by the Police Com
missioner. And this permission never
is granted by the present administra-
tion unless the men want to come here
to advocate legislation which is to the
liking Of the Police Commissioner.
Oily last week when Police In
spectogs- Henry, McElroy and Fennelly
came here to attend hearing in favor
OF COMMISSIONER Enright's bill giving
inspectors a permanent rank and pro-
tecting them from being denoted the
patrolmen's association in New York
passed resolutions against it. They,
howeye1, could not get permission to
come to Albany 10 express their views
IN opposition to the bill
The patrolmen are not afraid to
have both sides of any bill they GEEK
presented. This is true also of the
fremens They desire having all their
bills before the public for criticism and
analysis and they should be allowed to
come ESre and appear in their own
behalf. Senator Burlingame's bill
merely restores 20 them constitu-
tional right.
Such bill was passed two or three
years ago, but was vetoed by Governor
Whitman. who held that it was unnec-
essary. as they have that right under
the constitution. But under the pres
enr administration they are no,
allowed TO exercise it,
Reilly said that the uniforme d
fremen Of New York City were behind
the patrolmen in seeing that the Hylan
administration gives the man on the
beat square deal. Like aid has been
promised the New York City patrol
men by the police organizations and
the flremen's organizations of most of
the principal cities of the state
Last year Speaker Sweet iammed
through bill which Hylan and En-
right wanted perpetuating the police
reserve and empowering the Hylan ad-
miHlstratlon to give the reserves what
ever salaries he wished.
This bill sent here by them was
vetoed after all the police organiza-
tfons N New York City appeared in
opposition 10 the measure The bill
thlnly disguised, is before the Legisl la
ture again this year-sent here by
Mayor Hylan himself
One OF the bills favored by Hylan and
Enright would give life job with the
1ank OF Inspector TO a physician who
was gwen job vacated by another
physician who went to France with the
troops and who on his return went to
work al smaller salary than he re-
ceived when he joined the colors. In
eidentally this veteran is now ranke d
oy the man who was given his old
Derth when he started for France