The evening world., 1890-04-03

Keenan,, in 1889, having accepted The posi-
ton at tho advice OF Mr.. whitney, who
always had taken great personal interest
In his former secretary.
Mr.. Boattie held this position up TO June.
1855. when hs was appointed Surveyor Of
the Port by President Cleveland, at the same
time that Edv q. l.. Hoddon. who was
afterwards removed. was appointed Collec-
tor.
He held his position In the Custom House
with Collector Magone all through Presi.
dent Clevelahd's admi nistration. resi- gIin q
about year ago. whom his successor was
appointed by President Harrison.
since that time he has been occupied
mainly with political organizations. having
joined the Tammany Hall organization in
the Thirteenth District about . year ago.
In November, 1850. an attempt was made
by Louis Bieral . discharged Custom
House Inspector, TO take Mr.. Beattie's life.
Bieral walked into the Surveyors Office,
pistol in hand, whilo Mr.. Beattie was sitting
at his desk.
without any warning the would-be assassin
aimed his revolver at the Surveyor and hred
several shots at him, wounding him in the
groin and in the left hand.
When the clerks In the adjoining office
came in after hearing the shots fred they
found Mr.. Besttie lying unconscious on the
floor and Bieral standing over him, tho
smoking pistol in hand.
Although the Surveyor was dangerously
wounded, his injuries were not 40 serious as
at firsv supposed. After several months
confinement in his house he fully re-
covered. Bieral is now serving out his term
in the State prison.
While Mr.. Beattio Was the leader of the
County Democracy in the Thirteenth Dis
trict he became very prominent in' National
as well rs local politics. and was regarded AZ
one Of the ablest political organizers in the
city.
His judgment was relied upon by many
men older than himself and even more
prominent in political affairs At that time
he was Secretary OF the County Democracy
Executive and Ways and Means Commit
tees. and was also secretary OF the New Am
terdam Club.
He has served as delegate in several State
and National Democratic conventions. and
in 1882 was mado one of the secretaries OF
the State Convention at Syracuse which
nominated Mr.. Cleveland for Governor.
When Mr.. BeAttie resigned from the
County Democracy in November, 1888, his
retirement created quite > sensation in po-
litical circles.
m letter which Mr. Beattie wrote at the
time he implied that he had lost sympathy
with the County Democracy and that he did
not approve OF the course II had adopted
during that campaign.
He was particularly dissatisfied with the
denomination Of Abram s. Hewitt for
Mayor. and declined to do any work for him
during the campaign.
He was also particularly strong in his de-
nunciAtion Of the man Agsmsnt t.of the Street
Cleaning Department on the ground that
cheap Italian labor, subject to the imposi-
tions OF thieVish padrones, waA employed to
clean the streets. while citizens who could
not compete with these Italians remained
idle.
Mr.. BeAttie WAS always interested in this
branch OF the city government, and his ap-
pointment as head OF the Street Cleaning
Bureau is regarded with particular favor on
this ground.
There is nothing to be sAid OF the reasons
which led TO my appointment Of Mr..
BeAttie. said Mayor Grant. He is
thoroughly known TO all our citizens IS .
man Of great executive ability, and l con-
slider the city very fortunate in getting such
man TO accept the position