The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-22

based on the findings. or the Mayor fail
ing, action by the Governor.
Both resolutions reviewed crime con
ditions and declered that the citizenI
have lost confidence In the ability o
Enright to cope with the situation. Th'
charges In the statements of Mrs. ElleI
A. O'Grady. recently resigned Deput,
Police Commissioner, and the late Lieut.
Floyd Horton were cited.
The resolution OF Henry NJ. Curran
President OF the Borough of Manhattan
In the Board of Estimate calling for s
Legislative investigation of the city ad
minlstration, with particular attention
10 be paid to the Police Department, wa.
voted down by the Tammany majority
amid such derision and charges OF bac
faith against Mr. Curran that he finally
had TO appeal to Mayor Hylan for the
exercise Of enough common courtesy
to allow him to be heard in behalf of his
own resolution.
LIN Guardia Makes Threat.
When the defeat of the Curran reso.
luton was apparent. La Guardia. who
cast the only favorable vote besides Cur
rams. said:
with a Republican Governor and &
Republican Legislature. think can &c
to them and get n committee for m
investigation without putting II up Il
this Democratic Board of Estimate"
The Mayor retorted that the Currar
resolution would not forestall investiga-
ton Of the Manhattan Presidents build
ing bureau. HIS references were to the
Board OF Estimate city contract inquiry
and to the activities OF David Hirshfield,
indicted Commissioner Of Accounts
Curran said he welcomed any investiga-
ton
The board session was so acrimonious
that Comptroller Craig threatened TO sue
President La Guardia for criminal libel
That incident arose when. in connection
with a discussion OF automobiles for the
Police Department, Mr.. La Guardia ac-
cused the Comptroller Of having "camou-
tagged" an Appropriation for supplies SC
as to permit the Comptroller to acquire
a personal automobile
"That's q dirty lei" shouted Mr.
Craig.
Mr.. Craig tried 10 get La Guardia to
withdraw the statement, and when the
Aldermanic President refused the Comp
troller said:
'If the President of the Board OF
Aldermen will put his statement in writ
Ing will have a warrant for criminal
libel for him before he gets home"
The Police Commissioner request for
more men stated that the department
had had no additions to its force for
eight years. Comptroller Craig declared
that statement untrue and said that last
year an increase of 500 men had been
granted by the Board of Estimate, but
that the Commissioner never had awaited
himself of that authorization. although
he had asked for more men In the 1920
budget. Despite the Commissioners re-
quests, the Comptroller continued. the
departmental budget had failed to ask
for the money to pay the additional men.
1--WE should ask fun ana. unequfvocal
statement from the Police Commission
err" said the Comptroller. "as to whether
his force is manned to the extent for
which provision has been made
Enright issued a statement last night
that the additional men authorized for
the force will begin intensive training
not later than Monday and that 500 will
be ready for training by New Years
Day. AS many as possible, he added,
Will be used for plain clothes duty at
night while attending training school.
Tho Board of Aldermen authorized the
Police Department to buy $1,000 worth
of gasolene for operating crime hunting
automobiles which Commissioner En-
right has introduced. John DAILY. Dep
utv Police Commissioner, said that per-
mission was necessary to purchase the
fuel at once.