The New York herald., 1922-04-07
State Commerce Cham
ber to Find Out If
Force Is Able to Com
bat Criminals.
GOVERNOR COMMENDED
Banton Pledges His Entire
Strength to See That
Law Is Enforced.
PATROLS RAISED BY 200
Enright Shifts Platoon Sys-
TEN, Giving Fewer Holidays
to Men on Beats.
PATROLS RAISED BY 200

Pubic apprehension over the rising
tide of crime in New York found en-
phatic expression yesterday when the
Chamber of Commerce of the State OF
New York, at its monthly meeting. in
structed it's committee on public SER
vice to find out whether it is pos.
sible TO receive proper police protec
is now organized
AS rejecting the attitude of the au-
thorities SO pointedly held TO responsi
bility by Gov. Miller, District Attorney
Banton sent friendly letter to the
Governor expressing his appreciation
for what the Governor had done il
adding to the criminal courts and the
District Attorneys staff. and pledgins
himself &c do all in his power to en-
force the criminal law in this county
Police Commissioner Enright took
various concrete measures to stiffen
police work and reassure the citizens
He changed the patrol system from
ten platoon arrangement to a nine
DldlOOH ScINlIts 6diiiiiS thtttPg tht
services of total of 500 men, or zoo
to every eight hour shift for walking
beats
Moreover. the Commissioner pre-
pared to go before the Board of Esti-
mate this morning with facts ana
figures to back up his demand for an
additional 1872 men. lie instructed
his inspectors and captains to stir
their subordinates to the last ounce OF
vigilance.
Pistol Permits for 35.IOO.
Another development which indicated
the widespread feeling of apprehension
OF violence, following the Shattuck rob-
berry In Washington square and numcr-
GUS other bold holdups and burglaries
was the revelation that 35,100 pistol
permits had been granted. In the Wal
Street district. among the bankers and
brokers and trusted employees OF big
financial houses. pistol practice clubs
were being organized and successful re
quests were made to the Police Depart.
ment for permission to use the pistol
practice galleries in the basement II
Police Headquarters between five and
eight every evening.
The outstanding event OF the day In
relation to the crime. situation. the &C
tion taken by one of the most important
business associations In the city tht
State Chamber OF Commerce. came abour
when Joseph NJ. Price. addressing tho.
members. said:
ssff-t.. f,.lA Hnf
we are not getting sufficient police pro-
lection. and think It should be ascer-
tained whether that is the fault of the
Police Department or whether Il is oc-
casioned by circumstances over which
the Police Department really has no
control. At any rate, the situation is
getting to be such that the citizens Of
New York should be, at least reassured
one way or another.
"If there is not n sufficient force 20
patrol the streets the citizens should
know 1t. and a request should be made
for a proper appropriation from the
Board Of Estimate 20 provide additional
patrolmen, but ! take Il there is no diff
ference Of opinion here with respect 10
whether the streets OF the city should
be properly patrolled.
"I would suggest that this body In
previous years has taken a leading part
In civic matters and l think Il Is en-
tirely appropriate that a special com
mittee be appointed to seek the cooper
alton of other civic bodies, 10 ascertain.
or 10 make an investigation OF the Po-
lice Department situation for reassu--
ing the citizens wherether II Is possible
or not to receive police protection from
the department as II is at present o.
ganized.'
"Much sympathy for Police"
Darwin p. Kingsley, president of the
chamber, said that Mr.. Price had al
most taken the words out of his mouth.
Mr. Kingsley continued;
The situation is very serious Such
happenings as the one in Washington
square the other night are about as
serious as anything that can happen
in peaceful community, when what
really amounted to wholesale murder
was attempted. and the whole family
OF Mr. Shattuck and the servants cs-
capped death only because OF the fact
that Mr. Shattuck is a man of great
deal OF nerve and resource. Otherwise
what the results might have been No
one can tell.
II confess that In this emergency
while 7 sympathize entirely with what
the previous speaker has said have
individually. a good deal OF sympathy
for the police. They face a new and
unprecedented situation to-day Things
are happening now in civil life that
happened during the war. All the In
strumentalities OF modern civilization
all the wonderful discoveries or modern
tsskt tl1.