The New York herald., 1922-04-12
TWO TRADE BODIES
. INVESTIGATE POLICE
Chambers of Commerce
Open Inquiries To-day
and Tomorrow.
VIOLENCE CONTINUES
Banton Admits Situation Is
Serious and Blames
Trial Delays.
ENRIGHT AGAIN SCORED
He May BE Called as Witness
in Invcstigation-Reservists
to Carry Guns.
ENRIGHT AGAIN SCORED


State Of New York and the Brooklyn
Chamber OF Commerce began yester-
day an inquiry into a police admins
tration which, as is widely admitted
seems helpless to stem the tide O
criminal activities.
As these important business asso
Citations went into action toward {
searching investigation OF the polio,
machinery the whole city again re
sounded with echoes of crimes Of vic
flence-gun fights and holdups IL
Manhattan. robberies in Brooklyn, /;
roundup of fourteen negroes by clean
up squad detectives in Harlem, {
Jack the Ripper" murder in Man
haitian side street near the Brooklyn
! Bridge and safe blowings in variou;
localities.
The crisis in public order and safet,
was admitted by one of the official,
who will be held responsible by Gov
Miller for an Improvement in condi
ditions-District Attorney Joab Fl
Banton.
"Contempt for Authority"
Speaking before the Board of Alder
TO meet the salaries of additional mem
bers Of his staff as approved by the
Legislature and the Governor Bantor
said:
Serious consideration must be
given to existing conditions in view
| OF the number of murders now being
committed daily, the absolute con-
tempt for the duly constituted au-
thorities fand the absolute boldness
being shown by the lawless element
i'm the oity and county as exhibited
| by recent crimes of violence and
robbery in the homes of our citizens
as well as upon our most promi-
nent thoroughfares.
! 1t is deemed most urgent that the
city authorities take such action as
| will assist the District Attorney and
1 criminal courts to proceed without
delay to check the utter disregard
for human life ana property now
existing. and more adequately to
cope with the situation The calen-
dar of the Court of General Sessions
| has grown to such proportions that
| any malefactor who obtains his re-
| lease OH bail Is practically immune
| from trial for about two years.
thereby permitting him to prey on
the community.
The constantly increasing num-
ber of crimes of violence and rob-
1 berry necessitates that immediate re-
lief be granted and al. least two or
more additional parts be added to
| General Sessions to assure prompt
trials of defendants whether in or
out of prison.
| 1t is my belief that when crimi-
nails are convinced that they will re-
ceive n speedy trial and sentence it
4 will do more to deter the COM
mission OF crime in this county than
the imposition of severe sentences
after long delays in the trial of such
cases. besides inducing a dangerous
element to leave the State.
Alderman Assails EnriSht.
The Aldermen gave about $4,000 to
| Banton for additional salaries and tc
nav for new office furniture. At the
same meeting Police Commissioner
Enright was scored by Alderman Fal-
coner, Republican.
The proposition of ways and means
to raise the money needed to pay the
salaries OF the new policemen author
lied was up for consideration. but the
Aldermen found they had only s400,o ,ooC
to spare, instead of the $l,2o0.OO0 needed
until January 1. 1923, for the salaries
of 1,192 new policemen. ana that the
best they could do for Enright now was
to appropriate for third of the mer
he is demanding. 1t was in this discus
\ sion that Falconer launched forth:
4 = hnt uf
dinner and study his face my heart
sinks and I cannot have confidence In
MIN. A year ago introduced reso-
luton in this. board calling on the
/ Mayor to remove the Police Commits
sioncr. If we give him one-third the
men he asks for that Is all we can
do for the city In 1929. III we want
the Commissioner removed there is
no use asking the Mayor to remove
him; we must ask the Governor.
Chamber Inquiry Tomorrow.
Darwin p. Kingsley, president OF the
I Chamber OF Commerce OF the State OF
New York, sad that the two committees
OF the chamber apparently best fitted to
investigate the police situation, the COM
mittee OF public service and the commit
tee OF public welfare. will meet to-mor-
1 row at +. vi. III the IHdTineT OF CoUl-
mcrce building 70 agree on method OF
| inquiry. Union n. Bethel. chairman OF
the public welfare committee. is in
capacitated. having suffered broken
leg. william McCarroli is chairman of
the committee of public service. Mr..
Kingsley said that the two committees
might find IL necessary to select a joint
head who can direct the inquiry. He
continued:
II shall try to be present myself
The inquiry beginning Is Of tremen-
dous Importance, for I do not recall
any such serious situation as now
exists in this city. At the same time
do not think II is fair to attack
either the Police Department or the
Police Commissioner Unfortunately.
/ am not convinced that Enright is
not the best man for the place. At
all events. we shall try TO satisfy
ourselves az public spirited citizens
as to what is wrong with the dcpart-
ment, and we shall try TO make con-
structive suggestions"
One OF the suggestions made Is that
subcommittee representing the Cham
Der of Commerce request the Commits
slonei 20 lay before 1t all the facts and
consenN 30 reply to whatever questions
the subcommittee might think neccs-
sary to put. II Is intimated also that
the chambers fiWr'rfr NAV '