New-York tribune., 1921-06-14
Committees Request for
Captains Help Refused
and O'Brien's Aid De-
mands Seat at Inquiry
Funds of Police
To Be OverElauled
Alleged Effort by Hylan
Forces TO Hamper Graft
Hearing Spurs Probers


Meyer joint legislative investigating
committee when Police Commissioner
Enright refused the request of SEN
stor Meyer for the assignment of Po-
lice Captain Daniel Costigan as an aid
70 the committee.
Corporation Counsel o'Brien supple
mented this opposition by sending re-
quest to the committee that members
Of his staff be allowed to enter the
hearing room in order that witnesses
might be protected" against the COM
mittee's "onslaughts."
Police Commissioner Enright's han
ding Of various police funds is engag-
Ing the attention OF the committee.
particularly the disposition Of the mon
eys raised at police games.
Police Funds Scrutinlzed
The Police Reserve Fund was organ
iEed in 1918, when the receipts from
the annual police games were turned
into il. On February 20. 1921, the total
collections aggregated $3s4,61504. Up
10 December 81, 1920, the Commission
eY's figures indicate that he had paid
cut s273,693.S2 for uniforms and
equipment" leaving a balance of more
than $4,000.
Another fund that is being scru-
sinized is the Police Relief Fund,
created in 1914 to extend relief to
widows and orphans of policemen who
are not entitled to pensions. The re-
ceipts of this fund in 1920 were $685.
204.S7. The last balance appears to
leave S4S6,945.45 on hand with Com
missioner Enright. Then there is the
Police War Relief Fund, organized in
1918, and "reorganlzed" in 1919, when
1t was msrged with the "Welfare and
Contingent Fund"
The bookkeeping of these funds is
somewhat bewildering to the commit
tecmen, End they will have to have
enlightenment from Commissioner En-
right and some of his men little
later. Senator Meyer has subpoenaed
Captain Stephen A. Rudd. secretary Of
the Second Deputy Police Commits
sioner, and Captain Charles A. zanes,
ehlof OF the headquarters division of
supplies.
Enright Answers Committee
Police Commissioner Enright re-
turned from Steuben County on Friday
IN refusing to accede to the request Of
Senator Meyer that he assign Captain
Costigan where he might be of as
sistance to the committee Commits
sloner Enright wrote the following let
tel to the Senator:
Dear Six: Upon my return from a
vacation to-day I found before me
your communication of the Sd, re-
guesting that Captain Daniel Costigan
be assigned to the service of your
committee l beg to refer you to an
opinion OF the Corporation Counsel of
June q, 1921, rendered upon the appli-
cation OF the Commissioner Of Ac-
counts, occasioned by your request on
J the Commissioner Of Accounts to as
sign employees of his office to the
work OF the committee, as follows:
there is not conferred upon the
committee or its chairman the
power to require such an assignment
as Is requested. The resolution does
not contemplate the transfer of
employees to the legislative committee,
You are therefore advised that, COM
plying with the opinion of the Cor
poratlon Counsel and the law as con-
strued by him, am unable to accede
10 your request for the assignment of
shls officer to the work of the commit
tee' and for the further reason, in INV
oplnlon, that such an assignment would
NOT be conducive to the best discipline
OF the Police Department.
very truly yours,
ORCHARD E. ENRIGHT
w. "Police Commissioner
., When told last night COMMISSIONS,
Enright had sent letter denying the
committees request for Captain COST.
gan, Senator Meyer said:
have not received the letter Of the
rohce Commissioner. He probably
gave 1t to the press first. His attitude
Is IN line with other officials who airs
not prone to cooperate with the com.
mletee' His answer is just as ! ex.
Senator Meyer said he would consult
counsel for the probers, as to the next
steps to be taken.
OBrien Makes Demand
Corporation Counsel O'Brien yester.
rSay sent one of his assistants, Thomas
quarters. "e"o
y was sent over by Mr.. O'Brien.'
SAID Mr.. Curley, "Ato demand that | be
pefmitted to enter the hearing room in
oroer that witnesses may be protected
aeainst the onslaught of the commit.
gees counsel, Mr. Wallstein and Mr.
oerger. We went to see that city EN-.
pioyees and officials get fifty-ffty
oreak at the hearings"
Mr.. Curley presented his ultimatun
10 Senator Theodore Douglas Robin.
son, one Of the committee, who tolc
ssim ann that he would refer the matter tc
senator Meyer, reminding Mr.. Curley
aifesh that Senator Meyer had decided
mat Mr. O'Brien's assistants had been
pared from the hearing room. Mr.
hurley said that the justification fo,
nis request to be let in was that las
week Senator Harris, sitting as sub
committee of one in Mr.. Berger's office
hao brought before him Tax Commits
ss'cner Richard Williams, of Queens
senator Harris tried to get the Commits
sioner to tell whether or not he hae
contributed TO Maurice Connolly's cam
paign expenses. Mr.. Williams refused
70 give the desired information.
eenator Meyer said yesterday tha
.ne committee had not had any inten
.ion Of summoning before the comntte.
Lorlllard Reynolds, the former Tam
many man, who was shot mysteriously
as Daytona, Fla, last Thursday.
homestead, Virginia Hot Springs
poalsss poasssy t.nn,. th9,roushorsSs famous goIl
1SoklnKs rff