New-York tribune., 1921-09-23
Brown Sums Up Revelations Of
Week i'm City Craft Inquiry
Denounces Outside Influences Working TO Detri.
ment of Police Efficiency and Methods
Used Toward Lessees of Piers

Elon r. Brown, counsel for the
Meyer Legislative committee investi-
eating the Hylan administration, at
the conclusion of yesterdays hearing
summed up the developments Of the
week in an address to the committee
members. He recalled the Police De-
partment irregularities revealed and
! touched on the evidence which showed
that pull" is needed by ship owners
to have their pier properties properly
guarded.
He pointed out that the weeks hear
ings have shown that political influ-
ence has played an important part in
Police Department appointments, to the
| detriment of the departments efficiency,
and expressed himself regarding the
testimony which revealed that appoint
ments to the force have been made
| solely upon the recommendation Of the
| Mayor, and that certain Police Depart
/ ment favors are won not through merit
| but because of outside Influence.
Would Weed Out Police
I Mr.. Brown asserted that the Police
| Department discipline was not what it
/ should be and spoke of the necessity
of wedding out men who have shown by
places on the force. He praised the
force as whole, saying that he be-
lieved it to be "self- respecting"
He said that the committee had passed
the week in hearing evidence regarding
Police Department Irregularities and
the policing of the piers Eat rather a
greater length than the subjects would
warrant in view of the very important
questions that are pending before the
committee"
"The important matters that have
come up for consideration this week."
said MIR. Brown, s'may be divided into
several heads, the first of which l de-
sire to refer to as the subject of ap-
pointmcnts in the Office or department.
of the Police Comm issioner. You have
heard the evidence upon the subject
of appointments. Without saying or
attempting to foreshadow the findings
OF the committee in relation to the
subject, as counsel I take the liberty
of pointing out the necessity in the
Police Commissioners office of having
the appointments made By, through and
for him in the administration Of the
office without the interference Of polit-
ical influence from any source what
ever. 1t seems to mo that the evidence
shows clearly at several periods dur
iilS li.c IcItA OIL UlllCS OIL the present
Commissioner and it may be of pre-
vious commissioners, but certainly
during the term of this Commissioned,
that such appointments were made ex-
clusively upon the recommendation Of
the Mayor and none made without the
recommendation of the personal name
OF the person appointed
Il do not think, for my own part,
that this can tend to strengthen the
efficiency of the Police administration
OF the city; but. as | said, that is my
personal opinion, which I make Of
record now, so that it may be called
to your attention when the subject
of making the report is taken up.
Transfer Methods Exposed
Second, desire to refer to the sub
ject Of transfers. Now, 1 have very
great resr~t for the Police Depart
ment. | believe that the great BODY
Of that force is true to the interest
which it is created to protect. l be-