The New York herald., 1922-04-07
Governor Miller's Concern for
Crime Ridden New York.


Crime Ridden New York.
District Attorney BANToN at last
has" all the power he asked the New
York Legislature to give him for the
swift trial and punishment of crimi-
nails now overriding this city in what
is little short Of reign Of terror.
The District Attorney may make
up his own calendar, instead of hav-
ing this done as heretofore by the
General Sessions Court, with the con-
troll of the moving of the trial of in
dictments. A provision has been es-
tablished for two extra criminal parts
Of the Supreme Court and for two
additional parts Of the General Ses-
sions. Six more Assistant District
Attorneys are authorized, bringing
the total up to twenty, with three at
$4,000 year, eight at $40, 900 year
and nine at $500 year.
And in signing the legislative bills
which so strengthen the hands of the
District Attorney Governor MILLER
gave plain warning as to what
he expects to be done to make New
York safe place in which to live.
He said: "You can do much to make
It safe. The Police Department can
do much to make 1t safe. We shall
now know whom to hold responsible
il 1t is not made safe."
Coming from man like Governor
MILLER this stern warning is enough
to put the management OF the Police
Department on its mettle IL anything
will. But the citizens Of New York
who are exposed to rampant robbery,
thuggery and murder even in day
| light and on our crowded streets;
the residential communities that are
organizing modern vigilance commit
tees: the civic associations that are
holding mass meetings Of protest and
signing petitions of appeal against
the unchecked outbursts of lawless-
ness-this long suffering city under
the present police administration will
not look for the stamping out Of the
crime plague until there is change
in the head Of the department upon
whom the responsibility for the de-
moralization of the police force al
ready is signally fixed.
New York does not believe that the
fault lies with the rank and file Of
the police. New York feels that the
men in uniform are as capable to-day
as ever they were of running down
thieves and murderers, of putting the
fear OF Con into their hearts and Of
eliminating at least the boldness and
defiance of the crimes that startle
and shock the city almost every day,
sometimes almost every hour Of the
day.
But so big a body Of men as the
10000 police of New York cannot be
efficient in respect Of the teamwork
that Is essential to the success of the
efforts Of such numbers working to
common end, will not be increasingly
vigilant and cannot be devotedly GEN.
tered on their duty unless they have
leadership. Ten thousand policemen
or 10000 soldiers or, for the mat
ter of that, 10000 industrial workers
cannot escape Generalization n when
they require to be wisely and ably
led they are miserably mieled.
The police force OF New York has
not had the right kind Of direction
under the present administration be-
cause Commissioner ENRraHT Is not
fitted by capacity. experience or tenn
permanent to direct them. He is not
natural born police leader; he Is
not even a natural born policeman.
He Is a policeman-politician to-day
as he was when Mayor HYIAN picked
him from the police ranks to COM
mand the great New York police
force, which never had been In finer
mental, moral and physical condition
than It was at the hour when 1t was
handed over to him.
The Governor Of New York, in the
Judgment of THE NEW YORK HERALD,
will not see the crime ridden city OF
New York made safe by the new
powers bestowed upon the District
Attorney. No District Attorney and
TO court can exterminate criminals,
can diminish the activity Of crimi-
nails, can make the community safe
from criminals, without police lead
ership and a police cooperation will
ing and able to do the first part, the
bigger part and the more lasting part
Of the Job OF thief catching and crime
suppressing. New York has had
long enough term OF Commissioner
EYRroHT and long enough reign OF
terror by thieves and murderers to
know that the courts and the Dis
trict Attorneys cannot get from the
present control Of the Police Depart
ment the help they need to check this
horrible crime wave.
The Fate Of Young Otto.