The New York herald., 1921-01-16
ENRIGHT DODGES
REPORT HE QUIT;
HYLAN DENIES IT
Whitman Springs Surprise
by Summoning Both to
Appear Before Grand
Jury Tomorrow.
KENL0N IS RETICENT
Fire Chief Refuses to Deny
Offer to Take Charge of
Police Departments
Affairs.
REMOVAL TALK REVIVED
1ammany, Worried by Promi-
nence of Cop Issue, Turns
OH Swami, Whose Inquiry
Threatens New Scandal.
REMOVAL TALK REVIVED

| For the ninetieth time-he has
been keeping tabs-the resignation OF
Police Commissioner Enright was ru-
mored yesterday. 1t was said that his
offer of abdication was in the hands
of the Mayor would become effective
on February 2 and on that day John
Kenlon, now Chief of the Fire De-
partment, would succeed him as head
of the Police Department.
The Mayor denied It, Mr.. Enright
ridiculed but did not deny it, Mr..
Kenlon said the rumor concerning
himself was not true, so far as l
know" adding. 81 guess l would have
something 10 say about il" and then,
when asked IL the Police Commis-
sionership had been offered him, said
II do not want TO answer that ques-
ton: / cannot answer that question"
Publication of the rumor almost
synchronized with the service on the
Mayor and the Police Commissioners
OF subppnas, prepared at the sug-
4
quiring them to appear tomorrow be-
fore the Grand Jury. when they will
be asked why they refused to assign
detectives to aid in the Whitman in
vestigation of the city administration
as requested by District Attorney
| Swami.
Yesterday afternoon Mayor Hylan
| ,caI
! O'Brien. David Hirshfield, Commis issloner
I OF Accounts. and Grovcr Whalen, Com
missioner OF Plant and Structures. and
| the Mayors former secretary and trusted
adviser. IL was evident that something
unusual was afoot. There were signs of
1 possible truth this time in the stock
gossip of change in the Police Com
missionership.
Tammany Getting Uneasy.
There have been hints in the Criminal
! Courts Building that the lines of inquiry
reach further into the Police Depart
ment than any of those thus far pub
l'cly exposed. There have been hints
that Mr. Whitman would ask Gov. Miller
! 10 remove Mr. Enrght Tammany has
/ been getting restless because the Po-
] department..
| tics. has loomed up as the subject OF the
| livest issue IN the municipal campaign.
| And in Albany a movement is under way
TO repeal the law of 1915 permitting a
man who has served in the uniformed
force and has been n commissioner or
deputy six months to retire on half a
chief inspectors pay. s3,750 year. IL
is doubtful If a repeal would affect the
status Of Commissioner Enright. for ne
took advantage of the law on December
| 20 by retiring himself from the force
as lieutenant on pension of S3,75O. to
take effect when he ceased to be Com
| missioner
But altogether politics and one thing
and another are breaking badly for the
Police Department. and 1t Is not unlikely
| that Mayor Hylan is being pressed to
| take some action that would remove II
! from the field Of debate in this Mayoralty
year In this relation the popularity
which Chief Kenlon has enjoyed and his
reputation as a discplinarian, shrewd
handler OF men, are being spoken OF as
assets justifying his appointment as boss
OF the Police Department as happy
solution OF the difficulty, as seen by
perplexed Tammany.
John Kenlon has a habit OF bluntness
rather than evasion. When THE NEW
York HERALD asked him last night II he
was going TO be Police Commissioner no
laughed and said do you think I'm
looking for trouble? I'm contented
where / am" Then he said: II think
the public has regarded me as fairly sue
cessful as a fire chief but might not be
so successful in the Police Department.
THAT requires a man OF great executive
ability. you know. The Police Depart
ment has a good executive now. They
| ought 10 leave him alone and give him
chance"
KcnIon Denies Resignation.
The published rumor had n that Ken
Ions resignation was in tho Mayors
hands and would 60 into effect on Feb
ruary /.
rs II in the Mayors hands?' the Fire
Chief was asked.
That Is not true" he said.
Are you going 70 be Police Commits
sioner?"
$50 far as ! know, that is not true.
guess ia have something TO say about
IT,"
"well. how about this question: Have
| you been asked TO take the Police Com
missionership7"
| IL was here that Chief Kenlon saio.
/ IL cannot answer that question:" and
closed the conversation
"There 10 absolutely nothing TO IT,"
was the word from the Mayors office re-
/ garding the Enright-Kenlon story. Al
/ Police Headquarters a note OF inquiry
/ was carried TO the Commissioner by
Lieut. Buckley. The note was sent back
with this written on it: The report has
| been exaggerated
Later MIR. Enright read the story IN
an evening newspaper and was quoted