New-York tribune., 1921-09-20
Hylan's Sway
Over Police Is
Now Revealed


begin until because of the absence
of some records which Mr., Brown had
forgotten to bring down to City Hall
from his apartment in the New Weston
Hotel. The Commissioner, however.
made his appearance promptly on
the dot of 2:30 and took seat
on the front row Of chairs occupied by
reporters, directly behind Counsel
Brown and his associates. When Alex
ander Otis. an associate counsel, re-
turned with the missing documents,
the Commissioner was requested to
take the stand.
He proved a cheerful witness, fire.
quently engaging in humorous tilts
with examining counsel, and at all
times appeared self-composed. Mr..
Brown was assisted in the examination
by former Deputy of Police Frank
Atkins Lord and Leonard Nj. Wallsteln.
Before proceeding with the invesu-
cation Senator Bernard Downing, Demo-
cratic member of the committee, an
nounced that Senator James Walker,
another Democratic member, had under
gone serious operation and would
probably be absent from the committee
meetings for some time.
In reply to questions Commissioner
Enright said he had been in the Police
Department for twenty two years, that
he had worked his way up from patrol
man and was made Commissioner on
January %, 1913, shortly after Mayor
Hylars took Office.
The matter of the police budget was
then gone into, and it was shown that
the expenses of the department had
risen from s19,394.0 .00o, the appropria-
tion of 1918, to $2S,3S9,0oo, the budget
for 1921. The increase of about
$9,000,000 the Commissioner said was
due to increase in salary all but
SS0o,000. These increases, he said, were
mandatory through the Board Of Esti-
mate and Apportionrent.
Asked if any economies could be ef-
fected without injuring the efficiency
Of the police force, he said he didn't
know of any and could make no recon-
mendations. He said that there was
not only no opportunity for decreasing
the cost of the department, but that
there was necessity for increasing the
force, and therefore the budget. He
said he has asked for about $50 more
men.
Mr.. Enright said he made ell appoint
ments himself, and during my term
of Office have been controlled in these
appointments by no other power"
"You are quite positive about that"
asked Mr.. Brown.
Rules On Appointments
every positive about that" replied
the commissioner.
The commissioner was here shown
letter written by Grover Whalen, then
secretary of the Mayor, to the Police
Department head, under date of January
20, 1918, which read in part: "Before
making any appointments, however, the
Mayor wishes you to confer with him
as to the necessity for any of the ap-
pointive positions in your department"
Mr.. Enright said he wasn't sure he
got the letter, as he came into Office on
January 23, but that that was his un-
derstanding. He said he was follow
ing out this course to-day and would
continue to do so.
In this connection the circumstances
of the appointment of First Deputy
Commissioner j. A. Leach was brought
up and the Mayors "hand" pointed to
in letter, written by Mr.. Leach TO
the Mayor three days after January %,
1918. the day he was appointed, in
which he expressed appreciation" Of
the Mayors having asked him to as
sumo tHe posItloN. ColnliiSsloHer Ell
right explained he had asked the
Mayor "as privilege" to appoint him.
From here on most of the questioning
revolved about letters issuing from the
Mayors Office suggesting appointments
and transfers for this or that place,
many Of them signed by Mr.. Whalen.
In large number of cases there was
evidence showing that the suggestions
had been carried out. The Commits
sioner protested, however, that the
consultations with the Mayors Office
were in accordance with the Mayors
orders that Appointments should not
be made that might involve additional
expense without getting the consent of
the Mayor, and that was not for any
pose of saving these positions. and