The New York herald., 1922-01-19
HYLAN FINDS POLICE
BEST SINCE BYRNES
Tells Fifth Avenue Merchants
of DR.. Harriss's Work in
Traffic Field.

Mayor Hylan told 500 men represent
ing Fifth avenue business interests and
various civic organizations at luncheon
yesterday at the Hotel Biltmore that
New York city's Police Department un-
der Richard +. Enright Is in better
shape now than at any time since the
days of Inspector Byrnes, and that the
motorized Fire Department makes 1t
the best in the world. He also praised
Dr. John A. Harriss. Special Deputy
Police Commissioners, for his work In
the traffic department.
The Mayor was the principal speaker
at the intercty luncheon of the Fifth
Avenue Association Mayors of New
Jersey, Connecticut and upstate towns
also were guests TO help promote closer
relations. both social and commercial.
The city administration, the Mayor
said. was better than any preceding ad-
ministration because every department
had progressed in the last four years
and he defled any one to deny it. He
asserted that lawyer controlled gov
ernment'' had been put out OF power
in New York and that the city was
being conducted along business lines.
He continued: Notwithstanding many
improvements in the Dock. Fire and
Police departments. as well as other
branches of the city government. the
net funded debt has increased only a
little more than s3.000,000. l defy any
one to say that we have not progressed
in every department in the last four
years more so than any other preced-
ing administration"
The Mayor then turned to the guests
from out of the city and added that
the people of this city are warm hearted
and want the people Of other cities and
towns to como here. He expressed a
hope that the press might "be per-
suaded to say kindlier things about the
city," and closed by extending to the
visitors the freedom of the city.
Robert Grier Cooke. president of the
Fifth Avenue Association. reviewed the
history Of Fifth avenue and said the
association was In constant daily touch
with all departments Of the city gov
ernment. He added:
I'VE are not in politics, but we are
for our city, first, last and all the time.
There is no better opportunity than the
present to pay our heartiest tribute to the
many city officials, from the Mayor down,
for their splendid work with and for us,
and also to the newspapers Of this and
other cities, who have stood by us in
our work and have been Of great ma
terial assistance.
1.-THE interests Of Fifth avenue and its
contiguous territory are thoroughly In
terwoven, and just so We feel that kin
dred interests throughout all our cities
are mutually interdependent. l sincerely
hope that this is but the beginning of
series Of similar and even larger
assemblages in this and other cities. as
a guarantee Of a splendid forward move
ment all along the line"
Arthur Brisbane. the final speaker,
said that Mayor Hylan never had for
gotten that once he was locomotive
driver and had soiled hands. and that
he represents those who have soiled
hands now.
Visiting Mayors included Clarence d.
Kerr Of Englewood. John J. Treat OF
Stamford, Edwin w. Fiske of Mount
Vernon. Alexander Archibald Of Newark
and William A. Lord of Orange. John
H. Towne. chairman of the Fifth Ave-
nue. Association, presided and Samuel
w. Taylor, editor Of Rider and Drfver,
was toastmaster.