New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-17
Story of Commissioners
Resignation Attributed
by News Agency to Most
Responsible Authority
Whalen Possible
Successor to Post
Fire Chief Kenlon Never
Considered for Place;
Whitman Not Informed

The persistent rumors which have
been current for some time regard
ing a change in the office of Police
Commissioner took definite form last
night.
Police Commissioner Richard E.
Enright will resign within twenty
four hours and his successor be
named by Mayor Hylan, according
to information which reached a local
news association last night and was
regarded as SO reliable by that or
ganization, which ordinarily does not
send out rumors and gossip on itB
tickers, that it Transmitted the story.
to all the newspapers in the city taxi
ing it's service.
From Reliable Authority
The source Of the information. ac-
cording to the news association.
i. a man whose integrity and
knowledge of administration affairs
are beyond question. He insisted
that his identity be kept secret, and
this wish was observed by the news
association, which did not even d.
vulge his name to it's subscribers In
confidence.
He asserted that Chief John Kenlon
of the Fire Department, whose name
had been mentioned in connection with
Enright's post in earlier and un--
authenticated rumors, never had been
under consideration. but that the next
Police Commissioner has been picked
and that his name would be announced
within twenty-four hours. within which
time Commissioner Enright's resirna-
tion would have been received and ac-
cepted.
Scouts Idea of Uniformed Man
"In the first place." said the news
associations informant. "it would be
ridiculous on the part of Mayor Hylan
to accept Enright's resignation and
then fill his place by a man now a uni
formed officer in another city depart
ment.
If Commissioner Enright, who Was a
lieutenant before being appointed to
his present high Office, and who was
given every opportunity to make good.
failed to succeed in the eyes of thes
public, it would be most improbable
that any uniformed officer from any
other department would succeed in fill
ing the difficult Office acceptably."
Whalen Considered Possibility
One of the first names to pop into
the mind of one familiar with the
Eylan administration, is that OF
Grover c. Whalen, Commissioner of
Plant and Structures. He has been the
Mayors chief lieutenant in his munic-
ipal operation of traction lines, for
merly was his secretary and is credited
with being his confidential adviser in
many matters.
Commissioner Whaien. however, was
prompt to deny any knowledge Of the
reported resignati of Enright.
II don't know thing about it." he
said.
1t was news, also, to former Gov
ernor Charles S. Whitman, who is con-
ducting the inquiry into the city ad-
ministration and has been hsmpered
in his work by Commissioner EnriRht's
H. K.
Whitman said that he had heard notf.-
ing whatever, except the ordinary Cos
sip that is bred of such an investiRa-
tion as is now under way, concerning
the resignation Of Commissioner En-
right.
Rumor Current Several Days
This gossip has been current for Sow
eral days. In it's most concrete form
it prophesied that Commissioner En-
right would resign February A. That
was the first time a definite date hai
been set. The rumor was set before
Commissioner Enright, who made ii,
direct reply to it, but brushed it aside
with the comment 'n. it was greatly
exaggerated.
Within the last few weeks Cornmis-
sioner Enright accepted his own resie-
nation from the uniformed department..
Having served as long as he has as
Pollce Commissioner, the acceptance
Of his own resignation as lieutenant
in the uniformed force means that
whenever he sees fit to retire as Police
Commissioner he will do so on the
pension accorded to the chief inspcc-
tor, the highest paid officer in the
force, instead of on that of a lieuteu-
ant.
Succeeded Bugher in 1918
Enright, long head of the Police
Lieutenants' Association and passed
over many times by previous Police
Commissioners when names were se-
lected from the eligible list for pro-
motion to captain, was appointed Pc
lice Commissioner by Mayor Hylaa
the latter part Of January, 1918, when
Frederick II. Bugher had resigned from
the post rather than submit to dicta-
ton from the City Hall.
AS to who his successor would be.
the informant of the news association
gave slight hint, beyond saying that he
was man who had played no part IN
the administration Of police affairs and
in whom Mayor Hylan had the utmost
confidence. Some who were told Of the
new rumor put little credence in it,
pointing out that except for the bfief
span given to Enright, it was little
more definite than others which haS
preceded it.
kenIon Has Criticized Police
Its author seemed to have been in.
sspirred by the injection Of Chief Ken.
Ions name into the reports concernin~