The New York herald., 1922-04-08
CITIZENS ADVOCATE
CIVIC CRIME INQUIRY
Washington Square Associa-
tiOn Calls on Commerce
Chamber for Action.
MASS MEETING PROPOSED
Helpfulness, Not Hostility, to
Hylan and Enright, Is
Given as Objective.

The suggestion OF an investigation Of
the Police Department by an Impair
tial non-partisan' committee represent
ing the civic bodies OF the city was con-
tanned yesterday in a letter sent by Gus
tavus T. Kirby. president Of the rash-
ington Square Association. to Irving :.
Bush. chairman OF the executive commit
tee OF the Chamber of Commerce OF the
State of New York
Mr.. Kirby urged that a mass meeting
of civic bodies be called to select such
a committee and inciosed in his letter
set of resolutions adopted by the ex-
ecutive committee of the Washington
Square Association pledging its support
both in service and money" to such an
investigation.
Albert r. Sha tuck. whose home in
Washington Square was robbed sunday.
Is former president of the Washington
Square Association and at present is q
member of its executive committee.
Among those ut the meeting yesterday
were David II. Knott. former Sheriff,
who is The treasurer; Ernest Collyn,
secretary; John L. WillSie, J. Herbert
Johnston. the Rev. DR.. Howard Duffield
of the First Presbyterian Church. who
represented Darwin Kingsley. president
of the State Chamber of Commerce.
John Farr. Clarkson Cowl. Pierre Mali.
Belgian Consul; DR.. Edward l.. Par
fridge Frank r. Ford and Henry
James.
The Washington Square Association
believes that the time is ripe for a
thorough impartial non-partisan invests
CATION of the protection OF persons and
property in the city of New York." Mr..
Kirby wrote, land In this the associa-
ton believes that it voices the desires
of various other civic bodies of the city
in all of the boroughs of which an un-
precedented amount of crime has been
and is prevalent, and of the citizens
thereof who no longer have that safety
which should be theirs in a community
properly and effectively governed.
The Washington Square Association
desires to In no way criticize the prss-
ent administration of the city of Now
York and feels that its citizens should
patiently withhold judgment thereof ur-
til due and proper consideration can he
given to the problems for effective pro-
lection of person and property by non-
political, non-partisan committee ap-
pointed for the purpose of cooperation
and not merely condemnation.
THE Washington Square Association
Is small district organiza tion only re-
Gently brought into conspicuosness BY
reason Of this atrocious burglary. 1t
believes 1t has neither the position in
the community nor the means to con-
duct city wide investigation of tn,
conditions referred to. and moreover
that the privilege of such an undertak-
ing should be that of an older, better
recognized and terri.orialiy less exclu-
sive organization
Mr.. Kirby said after the meeting he
understood the State Chamber of Com
merce would call the meeting OF civic
bodies.
we have no desire TO slap Enright,
TO slap Hylan, or to slap anybody" he
said. In fact we believe an investiga-
ton of this kind would have the suppoft
OF the city government and we believe
that Enright would be only ton pleased
10 appear and tell his side of the case"
Mr.. Kirby admitted he had received
upward OF 250 letters making sugges-
tions for curbing crime and improvinf.
the workings of the Police Depa artment.
These suggestions. he said. would be
turned over to the committee selected
by the civic bodies il such q COMMITTEES
Is organized.