The New York herald., 1921-08-14
POLICE GET DAY Off
AS URGED BY CURRAN
10-Shift System Suddenly Put
Back When Candidate
Makes 1t an Issue.
DELAYED BY TAMMANY
Democrats Held Up Plan While
They Sought to Add 400
to Enright's Force.

The Republican-Co Coalition candidacy
OF Borough President Henry H. Cur
ran for Mayor bore It's first fruits yes
terday when William J. Lahey. Chief
Inspector Of Police, ordered the ten
squad system of duty hours back into
effect, beginning next Tuesday at
1901 A. M.
That is an improvement for which
Curran has made persistent fight
in the Board of Estimate and Board OF
Aldermen for several months, without
result. He took his fight to the people
in the first speech Of his campaign
last week. The department order fol-
lowed Immediately.
The ten squad system was inau-
gurated by Commissioner Enright
giving each patrolman one day of
each week. The system works out Sc
that between 400 and 500 men are off
duty each day.
When the crime wave got beyond the
control of the police last winter Enrigh
revoked his order and restored the Tor
mer nine squad system, which gives
each patrolman one day or in twenty
seven.
Although the crime wave suDsided
repeated appeals from the men OF tht
department. requests OF disinterestec
ci,izens and a continued fight by Mr.
Curran have failed to persuade Com
missioner Enright to restore the ter
sn,,ad system. Even a direct appea
over Enright's head to Mayor Hylan DS
the rank and Ale of the department
failed 10 move either the Commissioner
az the Mayor until after Curran made
the matter an issue to be voted on tnis
autumn.
The reason for the opposition OF En-
r;eb. and Hylan TO giving the patron
men one day Off a week was ooscur'
and extremely puzzllng until Repub'
lican Alderman undertook TO iorce ti''
issue a month or two ago oy introuuc'
ing a resolution putting the Aldermen
on record as asking Enright to restore
the ten squad system
Then II came out The Republican
rasoIution for which Curran made
rersonal battle, went into committee
and there II stayed until the Tammany
side of the chamber had time to intro
duce a resolution to the same purport
The latter carried prov tnat 4os
additional patrolmen be added TO tne
nolice force at cost Of approximately
81. 900. 600 a year.
EnriRht sent a representative 70 the
Aldermen. The envoy explained that
the Commissioner didn't see how ne
could possibly nestore the ten squad
system unless the additional men
were granted. The Republican side Of
the chamber, however, was unable %
see the necessity of placing such pa
tronage at the disposal of Tammany
Hall. since for several years Enright
already had been demonstrating that ne
could operate on the ten squad plan.
So the Tammany resolution failed to
muster the fifty-five votes needed to
authorize the appropriation.
That was at the last session of the
summer. but this Tammany majority Of
the Aldermen succeeded in having the
resolution restored to the calendar for
reconsideration when the board frs.
meets in October. at which time they
hoped to have better luck.
Not only has Mr.. Curran's taking the
issue before the people frustrated that
plan and saved the appropriation which
Enright sought. but It has gained for
the patromen also ths reinstitution of
tho half hour meal time rule whicl,
Lahey added to his ten squad order of
Yesterday.